ROME- Students from Rome’s LUISS Guido Carli University were back on Italian soil last Friday after completing a unique “embedded” experience in Shama in the South of Lebanon with the Italian military contingent. The experience, in its first run, was arranged by the Italian Defence General Staff and the university, which saw 15 undergraduate students of Law, Political Sciences and Economics tackle a mission in a military environment.

 Preparation for the trip to Lebanon was extensive, preceded by a course taking place in a simulation centre in Bracciano, north of Rome, and a week-long experience on the field.

 The students called the experience interesting and positive, as they had the opportunity to see various aspects of Italy’s involvement in the UN mission in the Middle Eastern nation first-hand. From operations to civil military cooperation with the contingent, the students examined the ways in which a multinational peace mission is established and upheld.

 Asides from operations, the students also met Italian Minister of Defense Roberta Pinotti, Defence General Staff chief, general Claudio Graziano whilst visiting the theatre of operations, and Lebanese local authorities.

 Their experience also included cultural visits to the city of Qana and to the Roman ruins of Tiro, where the fifteen individuals attended Holy Mass celebrations lead by the Maronite Christian church, also meeting students from the Islamic university there.