Rome is a city where past and present often meet at strange angles: a tram line running past an aqueduct, teenagers skating beneath imperial columns, a university class held in a building older than most countries. It’s also a city where global education is quietly evolving.

One example of this shift is Rome City Institute (RCI)—a relatively new player in the Italian academic landscape, but one that is drawing attention across Europe for its integration of American-style university education with high-level sports training. At a time when many students feel pressured to choose between academics and athletics, RCI offers an alternative: a place to do both—without compromise.