The Vice Rector for Research of AAB College, Prof. Assoc. Dr. Hasan Saliu, participated as a speaker at the first global scientific conference dedicated to the intellectual legacy of Umberto Eco, organized by the University of Bologna.
The prestigious international conference, “Inheriting Eco. Umberto Eco, the University of Bologna and All the Knowledge in the World,” held from 27–29 May 2026 in Bologna, brought together hundreds of international scholars, researchers, professors, and experts in the fields of semiotics, philosophy, media studies, digital communication, and cultural studies, turning the University of Bologna into a global center of academic debate on Eco’s thought and influence in the digital era.
In his presentation, titled “Umberto Eco and Van Dijck: From Apocalittici e Integrati to The Platform Society,” Prof. Saliu examined the transformation of media from the age of television to today’s digital platform society, connecting Umberto Eco’s theories with the contemporary platform theory of José van Dijck. He emphasized that Eco’s reflections on mass culture, media manipulation, and the relationship between technology and society remain highly relevant in the age of social media, algorithmic communication, and digital platforms.
The conference marked a historic academic moment, as it was the first scientific conference ever organized on Umberto Eco, held exactly ten years after his death, in accordance with Eco’s own wish that his work should be academically revisited only after a decade of critical distance.
One of the most symbolic moments of the conference was the official transfer of Umberto Eco’s personal library — consisting of approximately 40,000 books and scholarly materials — to the University of Bologna, where Eco spent much of his academic career. Founded in 1088, the University of Bologna is widely recognized as the oldest university in the world.
The participation of Prof. Hasan Saliu in this major international academic event further reflects AAB College’s commitment to the internationalization of scientific research, global academic cooperation, and active engagement in contemporary international scholarly debates.
More information about the conference: https://eventi.unibo.it/conference-umberto-eco-2026
