Flavio Deflorian has been Rector of the University of Trento since 1 April 2021 (term of office: 2021-2027).

Flavio DeflorianBorn in Cavalese (Trento) on 4 May 1964, Flavio Deflorian graduated in Materials Engineering at the University of Trento. He earned a PhD in Materials Engineering from the University of Bologna, and a Master's in Advanced Materials Technology from the University of Surrey in Guildford (UK). He is full professor of the University of Trento where, in recent years, he has taught Corrosion and protection of materials and Materials science and technology at the Department of Industrial Engineering.
He has held various institutional positions for the University of Trento. From 2010 to 2013 he was the University's delegate for the Erasmus project; from April 2015 he was deputy vice-rector with responsibility for supporting the production system. He was a member of the Academic Senate (appointed and elected) on multiple terms from 2013. Since 2015 he has been a member of the Board of Directors of Fondazione Hub Innovazione Trentino (HIT), since 2017 a member of the Strategic Board of EIT Digital (KIC) representing the Trento node he chairs. Since 2018 he has been a member of the Board of Directors of Fondazione Bruno Kessler, and Vice President of the Foundation for the valorisation of local research (FVRT, Fondazione per la valorizzazione della ricerca trentina). Since January 2019 he has been a member of the Steering Committee of SMACT, the Industry 4.0 Competence Center for Triveneto, representing the universities and research institutes of Trentino Alto Adige. 
His academic career began in 1994 at the University of Trento where he carried out research in the field of durability, materials, surface engineering, advanced electrochemical techniques for the characterization of new materials. Since 2006 he has been in charge of the Coatings and Industrial Corrosion Control Laboratory of the Department of Industrial Engineering. He has published more than 200 scientific papers in international specialized journals and books, in addition to the many conferences he attended as speaker. As guest editor he oversaw the publication of five special issues for specialized journals and three books. 
He has participated in numerous international research projects, including in the role of coordinator, and has taken part in over a hundred international conferences. He has given 25 plenary and invited talks at international conferences (United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, South Africa, Malaysia, Iran). He has been visiting professor at the University of Mons (Belgium), UNAM in Mexico City (Mexico), Makerere University in Kampala (Uganda), Queensland University in Brisbane (Australia) and the University of Tehran (Iran).

His term of office expires on 31 March 2027.

Rector’s Office
Vice-Rectors and Rector's Delegates

Duties and responsibilities of the Rector - Article 4 of the Statute of the University of Trento

  1. The Rector is responsible for the pursuit of the aims of the University, he or she ensures unity in the strategic policies between the University’s governing bodies and he or she drives and coordinates teaching and research activities. The Rector is the legal representative of the University.
     
  2. In particular the Rector:
    • draws up the University multiyear strategic plan, together with the Academic Senate, and is responsible for its implementation after the approval of the Governing Board;
    • proposes the annual and multiyear budget to the Governing Board;
    • presents annually to the Governing Board the trends in academic research and the educational policy adopted by the Academic Senate;
    • draws up an annual report on the implementation of the University strategic plan and submits it to the Governing Board at the same time as the balance sheet;
    • identifies four full professors as members of the Academic Senate;
    • together with the President proposes to the Governing Board the appointment of the Director General;
    • in the event of necessity or urgency, is responsible, together with the President of the Governing Board, for temporary measures in areas within the remit of the Governing Board, presenting these measures for ratification at the next meeting;
    • appoints the Deputy Rector, who replaces him or her in the case of absence or impediment, from among the members of the Academic Senate;
    • exercises any powers delegated to him or her, as well as any other function not expressly assigned to other bodies.
  3. The Rector’s mandate lasts for six years and is not renewable.