Cross-border workers from Ticino: jobs are scarce, but not the right ones
Lombardy is short of nurses, yet the Insubria University courses remain half-empty. And with robots learning on the job and PhD candidates rejected abroad, the labour market struggles to match supply and demand.
Contesto
In Varese, the nursing courses at the University of Insubria closed 2025 with just 166 applications for 249 available spots. The figures paint a paradoxical picture: while healthcare facilities in Ticino and Lombardy struggle to find staff, university classrooms stand empty. The Magell project, launched by the Gulliver Centre in collaboration with Lombardy Region and the university, aims to bridge the gap with targeted training paths. But the issue extends beyond healthcare. In China, a bioengineering student was rejected from a PhD program in the Netherlands not due to her qualifications, but because her home university is linked to defense projects. A situation pushing many young people to seek opportunities abroad, even with a PhD in hand. Meanwhile, at a Chinese tech startup, robots are learning tasks like folding T-shirts or moving boxes. Not yet fully operational, their algorithmic training raises a question: who is really seeking work? Humans or machines? Emma, a social robot developed in Munich, works instead in German nursing homes. Designed to combat loneliness among the elderly, it offers a concrete solution: one in five people over 80 in Germany report severe loneliness. Here too, the labor market struggles to match supply and demand. In Lombardy, for example, nurses are in short supply, yet university course spots remain vacant. At the Gulliver Centre in Varese, the Magell project is working to reverse the trend with accelerated training programs and paid internships in Swiss and Italian healthcare facilities. ### The paradox of university courses The University of Insubria’s data is clear: for the 2025/2026 academic year, the nursing degree programs in Como, Varese and Busto Arsizio had 249 available spots, but only 166 applications were received. This...
Dettagli operativi
The issue of underenrolled courses in Lombardy and Ticino is not just educational, but systemic. Ticinese and Lombard healthcare facilities struggle to recruit nurses, yet young people prefer faster career paths or less regulated sectors. The Magell project aims to bridge this gap, but structural solutions are needed. Meanwhile, robotics and artificial intelligence are entering the job market, creating new roles while making some traditional professions obsolete. ### Before vs. After: What Has Changed Until a few years ago, becoming a nurse in Lombardy or Ticino required a three-year degree followed by public exams. Today, courses at the University of Insubria remain underenrolled, while Ticinese and Lombard healthcare facilities grapple with staff shortages. The Magell project is a partial response: it offers accelerated training pathways and paid internships, but it does not address the root of the problem. Many young people now favor sectors like logistics, IT, or commerce, where entering the job market is quicker and less constrained by formal requirements. ### The Role of Cross-Border Workers For cross-border workers who live in Lombardy but work in Ticino, the situation is even more complex. Ticinese healthcare facilities rely heavily on foreign staff, but language barriers and bureaucratic hurdles often hinder the hiring of Italian nurses. The Magell project seeks to overcome these obstacles with Italian-language courses and internships in Ticino’s healthcare facilities. However, more inclusive policies from Ticinese institutions are also needed, as they often favor locally trained personnel. ### Robots vs. Humans: Who Wins? Artificial learning is becoming a reality in many sectors. Robots that learn to perform repetitive tasks, such as folding T-shirts or...
Punti chiave
If you work in Lombardy and are interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare sector in Ticino, the Magell project offers accelerated training pathways and paid internships. Here’s how it works and what you need to know to participate. ### Step 1: Check the requirements The Magell project is aimed at young people under 35 with a high school diploma or a professional qualification. No specific language requirements are mandatory, but a basic knowledge of Italian is recommended for working in Ticinese healthcare facilities. The courses are free of charge and include a monthly scholarship of 1,200 CHF for participants. ### Step 2: Enroll in the training pathway The courses are held in Varese, Como, and Busto Arsizio, in collaboration with the University of Insubria. Applications for 2026 will open in June 2025. You can apply online on the Centro Gulliver website (Centro Gulliver) or at the information desks of the university campuses. The call specifies that candidates with experience in the healthcare or social sector will be given priority. ### Step 3: Attend the selection interview Selected candidates will be invited to a motivational interview at the Centro Gulliver in Varese. During the interview, language skills, motivation, and teamwork attitude will be assessed. Results will be published by September 2025. ### Step 4: Start your internship in Ticino Once you have completed the training pathway, participants can undertake a paid 6-month internship at a Ticinese healthcare facility. The internships are organized in collaboration with the EOC (Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale) and include constant support from expert tutors. At the end of the internship, participants may be directly hired by the host facilities. 📊 Required documents - Copy of high school dipl...
Punti chiave
[{"q":"Is the Magell project open to those with prior work experience in the healthcare sector?","a":"Yes, the Magell project welcomes both young graduates and individuals with prior work experience in the healthcare or socio-assistance sector. During the selection process, both educational qualifications and professional skills acquired on the field will be assessed."},{"q":"How long does the internship in Ticino last and what is the remuneration?","a":"The internship lasts 6 months and includes a monthly grant of 1,200 CHF. Additionally, a flat-rate contribution of 300 CHF per month is provided to cover food and accommodation expenses during the stay in Ticino."},{"q":"Do I need to know German to work in Ticino after the internship?","a":"It is not a mandatory requirement, but a basic knowledge of German is highly recommended for working in Ticino’s healthcare facilities. However, many institutions accept Italian as the primary language of communication, especially in facilities operating in border areas."},{"q":"Which Ticino healthcare facilities are collaborating with the Magell project?","a":"The participating facilities include EOC (Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale), the main private clinics in Lugano and Bellinzona, as well as some Residenze Sanitarie Assistenziali (RSA) distributed across the canton."},{"q":"Can I participate in the Magell project if I live in Ticino and work in Lombardy?","a":"The Magell project is primarily aimed at Lombardy residents who wish to work in Ticino. However, applications are open to everyone, and eligibility will be assessed during the selection interview, with no restrictions based on residency."}]
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Magell project open to those with prior work experience in the healthcare sector?
- Yes, the Magell project welcomes both young graduates and individuals with prior work experience in the healthcare or socio-assistance sector. During the selection process, both educational qualifications and professional skills acquired on the field will be assessed.
- How long does the internship in Ticino last and what is the remuneration?
- The internship lasts 6 months and includes a monthly grant of 1,200 CHF. Additionally, a flat-rate contribution of 300 CHF per month is provided to cover food and accommodation expenses during the stay in Ticino.
- Do I need to know German to work in Ticino after the internship?
- It is not a mandatory requirement, but a basic knowledge of German is highly recommended for working in Ticino’s healthcare facilities. However, many institutions accept Italian as the primary language of communication, especially in facilities operating in border areas.
- Which Ticino healthcare facilities are collaborating with the Magell project?
- The participating facilities include EOC (Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale), the main private clinics in Lugano and Bellinzona, as well as some Residenze Sanitarie Assistenziali (RSA) distributed across the canton.
- Can I participate in the Magell project if I live in Ticino and work in Lombardy?
- The Magell project is primarily aimed at Lombardy residents who wish to work in Ticino. However, applications are open to everyone, and eligibility will be assessed during the selection interview, with no restrictions based on residency.