How can living in a Hall of Residence support the students' personal and professional development? The case of the Collegio di Milano

Colleges,dormitories and halls of residence are crucial organizations in the students’ experience.The literature concerning these structures is generally focuseson freshmen, academic performance,and psychological diseases.Less attention is given to their contribution to students’ growth.This research aims at exploring the residents’ perspective concerning their experience at Collegio of Milano, and if and how living there contributes to their personal and professional development.The Collegio di Milano is a peculiar hall of residence: it was founded by seven Universities and it hosts students enrolled in diverse Universities.A phenomenological approach was adopted; 18 residents were involved;semi-structured interviews andLife-Space Drawing were used.Remarkable results emerged concerning how this experience helps students to develop soft skillsand their professional project.