Introduction:

the Italian Higher Education System

·         Constitutional principles and aims

·         Brief history

·         University sector

·         Non-University sector

·         Practical information

1. Constitutional principles and aims

The main principles that lay the foundations for the Italian education system, and in particular Higher Education, are set down in the Italian Constitution adopted in 1947. Article 33 of the Constitution states that “...art and science are free and the teaching thereof shall be free”.

In defence of academic freedom, the article also states that all Higher Education institutions “have the right to establish their own regulations autonomously, within the limits set by national legislation”.

Furthermore, Article 34 of the Constitution establishes the principle of the right of individual citizens to Higher Education: “All those who can prove the necessary competency and commitment have a right to pursue the highest levels of education, regardless of their financial means”.

As defined by law, the main purpose of Higher Education, is twofold: a) to promote the scientific progress of the nation and b) to provide all citizens with education and training that will lead to employment.

2. Brief history

In Italy, as in other Western European countries, the tradition of university studies dates back to the Middle Ages (11^th-12^th century), when groups of students and scholars founded universitates studiorum in cities such as Bologna and Paris. These universitates were corporations initially conceived to defend the rights and privileges of the intelligentia. They soon became centres of cultural debate, study and research, open to scholars and students of any nationality.

During the following centuries, many universities were created by Popes, Emperors and Kings. The numerous universities of the different states in the Italian peninsula, were gradually turned into State institutions under the control of the respective public authorities. By the time Italy had reached unity in 1861, this process was complete. As a consequence of this process, the Italian University system was strongly centralised, maintaining this character until the late 1980s, despite a reform implemented in 1923.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the social demand for university education grew considerably, so that the massive increase in student numbers underlined the need for reforms. In fact, a significant reform process started in 1989, marking the first step towards the decentralisation of the university sector. The Ministry for Universities and Research was created as a separated body from the Ministry of National Education, which until then had been responsible for all educational levels, from primary to tertiary. Furthermore, it was established the principle of university autonomy in management, financial and budgetary issues, teaching and research.

The decentralisation process has carried on during the period 1990-1998, leading not only to the implementation of full institutional autonomy for universities, but also to a significant number of transformations and innovations of faculties and degree courses, reorganisation of student welfare services and the introduction of a quality assurance system.

In addition to these changes, an even more substantial reform was recently approved in 1999 and introduced with the academic year 2001-2002, seeking to

a)       implement teaching autonomy;

b)      bring the Italian Higher Education System in line with the European two-tier university model;

c)       make the Italian university system more student-focused;

d)      increase flexibility and quality within the system.

The current Italian higher education system is structured in a binary system, consisting in two main sectors:

ü      The university sector

ü      The non-university sector

3. University sector

Today, the University Sector is made up of 77 university institutions[1], which are classified in:

-         55 state universities

-         3 technical universities

-         14 non state universities (legally recognised)

-         2 universities for foreigners

-         3 university institutions specialised in postgraduate studies

These institutions are entitled to award qualifications with legal validity (“valore legale”) all over Italy.

State universities are public entities endowed with scientific, teaching, managerial, financial and book-keeping autonomy; they have full legal capacity in matters of both public and private law.

The three technical universities are called Politecnici (Polytechnic University) and are situated in Milano, Torino and Bari. They concentrate exclusively in the fields such as Engineering and Architecture.

Non-state institutions are often called libera/libero (free) and are legally recognised by the competent national authority. Their degrees have the same validity as the corresponding degrees awarded by state institutions.

The University of Siena together with the University of Perugia are the two Italian Universities for Foreigners, specialised in teaching and researching for the development and diffusion of Italian language, literature and culture.

Finally, the three university institutions specialised in postgraduate studies are the “Normale” Higher School of Pisa, the “Sant’Anna” Higher School for University Advanced Studies of Pisa and the Higher International School for Advanced Studies of Trieste.

3.1. The current University system

ü     New Academic Degrees

The reform has abolished the old diploma universitario (3-years degree) and the old laurea (a 4-years degree) and has introduced new academic qualifications organised in three cycles. Only Medicine still lasts for 6 years.

ü     Aims

The reform has established a defined set of learning outcomes for each level of degree course.

ü     Credit System

The university reform has introduced a system of university credits (Crediti Formativi Universitari) in order to make studies more student-centred, to reduce the gap between the official and the actual length of courses and to lower the drop out rate.

The credits represent the total student workload (class time, individual study, exam preparation, practical work, etc), where one credit is equivalent to 25 hours.

One academic year is equivalent to 60 credits, thus 1500 hours of workload. Never the less, universities can increase or decrease this total workload by minimum 20% (1200-1800 hours) but they must justify this change. Credits are earned once student has passed the assessment for each course or activity.

ü     Entry Requirements

The basic entry requirements to the new degree courses are defined as follow.

When the admission to a degree course at any level is requested on the basis of a foreign qualification, it is the responsibly of the universities to evaluate the qualification concerned and decide its suitability. Institutions apply the recognition criteria and procedures as established in their statute and teaching regulations as well as any relevant bilateral and international agreements in force (for further information about equivalency see “Procedures” paragraph).

3.2. Classification of Courses

The reform has set up a new classification of degree courses of the same level. There are 47 different classes for the Laurea Triennale and 109 different classes for the Laurea Specialistica. Degree courses may be given different names by the different universities but they have the same learning outcomes and teaching/learning activities.

All classes belong to one of five subject areas. Each area is subdivided in the following main subject sectors:

1)       Health: dentistry, pharmacy, human medicine & surgery, midwifery, nursing, physio-and-rehabilitation therapy, preventive care, technical sanitary assistance;

2)       Humanities: arts (performing, visual; fashion, music), cultural heritage, education, geography, history; Italian and classical/oriental studies, language mediation (applied foreign languages, interpreting, translating), modern languages and cultures (glottology, linguistics, literature, philology, etc.),

3)       Sciences: agriculture, animal production & husbandry, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, environmental sciences, food industry & forestry, maths, natural sciences, physics, statistics, etc.;

4)       Social studies: administration, business, communication, cooperation & development, defence & security, economics, law, physical education & sports, psychology, political science and international relations, social service & sociology, tourism;

5)       Technology: architecture & building engineering, design (industrial), engineering (civil, industrial, information), regional & environmental planning, urban planning, etc.

3.3.    Distance Learning

There are three main consortia for distance learning in Higher Education in Italy. Their degree courses come under the Italian University legislation as much as other university institutions. Therefore, at the end of the course, the university where the individual student is enrolled awards a degree.

The three consortia are:

1.       Consorzio Nettuno: a non-profit association for distance higher education promoted by the Ministry for Education, Universities and Research. It is made up of both universities and companies and offers programmes in continuing education as well as degree courses. For further information, please visit the website www.uninettuno.it.

2.       Consorzio FOR.COM: a recognised non-profit organisation which offers students working full-time or living abroad the opportunity to study on line. For further information, please visit the website www.forcom.it

3.       ICON (Italian Culture on the Net): a consortium made up of Italian universities to promote Italian Language and Culture for Foreigners. For further information, please visit the website www.italicon.it .

4. Non-University sector

It had traditionally been the sector devoted to arts. However, since 1999 it has expanded into other areas such as interpreting and translations professions as well as psychotherapy at postgraduate institutes, courses at military academies, higher technical education and training as well as vocational post-secondary professional education and training by Regions.

Nowadays, the non-university sector includes 4 mainly education typologies:

1)       Higher Education in Arts and Music:

ü      Polytechnics for the Arts. The university reform law envisages the establishment of art polytechnics, consisting in consortia of higher education institutions in the arts and music and universities which decide to cooperate on the basis of their proximity and of the complementariness and possible integration of the respective study programmes.

ü      Academies of Fine Arts. The main purpose of academies of fine arts is to provide education and training for the practice of artistic professions. They offer the highest level of traditional art education under State supervision. Engaged in education, specialisation and research in the artistic sector, academies also carry out related production activities. They set up and run 1^st level programmes (admission by school leaving qualification and entrance exam) as well as advanced and specialisation courses, on completion of which they award specific academic diplomas at 1^st and 2^nd level as well as diplomas of advanced or specialisation studies, or of training to research in artistic fields.

·        Among all the academies, we point out the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera (‘Brera Academy of Fine Arts’), in Milano. Courses at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts last four years. Brera has four 'traditional' departments (Decoration, Painting, Sculpture and Theatre Design) and, since 1997-98, four 'experimental' ones whose yearly intake is limited to 20 students (Contemporary Sacred Art, Restoration of Contemporary Art, Communication and Education applied to Art, and Multimedia Communication). It is allowed to extend the course duration for one year, bringing the maximum overall course duration to five years. For further information, please visit the website www.accademiadibrera.milano.it .

ü      Higher Institutes for Applied Arts. ISIAs are State institutions of advanced education, specialisation and research in industrial design; they also carry out related production activities. ISIAs set up and run 1^st level programmes (admission by school leaving qualification and by a competitive entrance exam), advanced and specialisation courses; they award academic diplomas at 1^st and 2^nd level as well as specialisation diplomas, diplomas of training to research, of advanced studies (Diplomi di Perfezionamento), or Masters, all of them in industrial design.

ü      Music Conservatories and recognised Music Institutes. Music conservatories are State institutions belonging to the system of advanced education, specialisation and research in the arts and music (AFAM). Their objectives are the promotion of higher education, specialisation, and research in music, and the development of related production activities.
Recognised music institutes are non-State institutions, which have been recognised by ministerial decree through comparison to music conservatories.

·        Among all the conservatories we point out the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (‘Santa Cecilia National Academy’). The didactic programme is intended for instrumentalists, composers and singers who are holders of a diploma or other valid artistic qualification. The programme includes musical studies specialisation courses (for a duration of not more than three years), Open Courses, Seminars and Master Classes.
At the end of the course, whose duration is fixed by the teacher (and in any case cannot be more than three years), students who have passed the final exam receive a special diploma. The open courses and seminars integrate the Specialisation Courses, extending the range of the latter's didactic proposals. Both Open Courses and Seminars are of variable duration and are held annually. Participating students are issued with an attendance certificate on request. The Open Courses programme also includes the project "Opera Studio" for specialisation in operatic singing. Opera Studio is a cycle of specialisation courses organised by the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia for the purpose of encouraging the training of new voices for Italian opera.

Master Classes are highly specialised sessions, which the Academy may also organise with the collaboration of guest artists engaged for the symphonic or chamber music seasons. For further information, please visit the website www.santacecilia.it.

ü      Higher Institutes for Musical and Choreographic studies. They run courses for the education and training of dancers, choreographers, and dance teachers.

·        Among all, we point out the Accademia Nazionale di Danza (‘National Dance Academy’) in Roma. In addition to the traditional techniques of the statics and motion of the human body, the academy teaches also the modern technique of bodily harmony and eurhythmy. It used to award the following diplomas: licensed dance teachers, choreographers, and solo dancers. As a consequence of the 1999 reform of higher education in the arts and music, the Academy new teaching regulations provide for the setting up of 3-years 1^st level programmes, and 2-years 2^nd level ones.

For further information, please visit the website www.accademianazionaledanza.it.

ü      National Academies & National Schools of Drama. They run courses for prospective stage actors and directors. Admission is based on a public competition, which consists of three different parts and is open to candidates between the age of 18 and 25, except for foreigners and observers. Courses last 3 years; participants' number is limited, daily attendance is compulsory; curricula include general cultural subjects as well as technical and specialistic ones related to acting and direction. The academy also runs some "special" programmes.

ü      National School for Cinema Studies. The Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia (CSC), also known as Scuola Nazionale di Cinema, is a private foundation with juridical personality. CSC, an institution of higher education in cinematography, aims at developing the art and techniques of cinema and audiovisual production by running basic, advanced, and updating courses, and by promoting research and experimentation in the film and TV sectors. Its teaching activity is finalised to the education and training of future professionals.

Quite a number of art sectors are not included in state artistic education, especially applied arts or more recent developments in such areas as advertising, communication, design (cars, jewellery, industrial, visual, etc.), fashion, photography, graphics multimedia, etc. Courses are organised by Regions, Provinces or Municipalities and have a strong professional orientation. For further information, please visit the website www.snc.it.

2)       Higher Education in Language Mediation: Higher Schools for Language Mediators.

The courses provide students with a solid mastery in at least two foreign languages and develop specific technical language skills both written and oral for professions in language mediation.

Among all we point out the Scuola Superiore per Mediatori Linguistici ‘Carlo Bo’ (‘Carlo Bo Higher Education in Language Mediation’). It has different headquarters in Milano, Roma, Bologna, Firenze and Bari. For further information, please visit the website www.ssmlcarlobo.it.

3)       Higher Integrated Education (FIS): programmes of Higher Technical Education & Training (IFTS).

It has the main objective of re-qualifying the whole system of professional education and training by better exploiting existing resources and facilities. It is addressed to people who already have a school leaving qualification and who want to access a type of higher education other that the traditional academic one provided by universities. IFTS programmes generally award an “Attestato/Certificato di Competenza”

4)       Other specific fields (e.g. Archiving, Palaeography, Diplomatic, Restoration, Military Studies, etc.) which, along with their respective institutions, fall under the supervision of ministries other than that of Education.

5. Practical information

ü      Academic Calendar

The academic year in Italy is made up of two semesters. The first semester starts in September/October and ends in January/February. The second semester starts in February and ends in July. The actual start and finish dates will vary in the different universities but each semester lasts around 20 weeks and is made up of a teaching period lasting around 14 weeks and an exam period lasting around 6 weeks.

ü      Assessment

Exams are held after the teaching period and are mainly oral exams although some courses will have written tests taking place during the semester or before the oral exam. Each exam will have a number of dates offered during the exam period and students can choose which date they wish to take the exam. They are also entitled to turn down a mark and take the exam again if they are not satisfied with the result. Rules apply as to how often a student can take an exam within an examination period.

ü      Grading systems

Examinations are graded according to a scale ranging from 0 to 30, with 18 as a pass mark. A “cum laude” may be added to the highest grade (30 e lode) as a mention of special distinction. All examination results are used to calculate the overall degree mark on a scale of 0 – 110. The final result is based on exam results plus the presentation of a project or dissertation in front of a Board of Examiners. The pass mark is 66 and students who obtain full marks of 110 may also be awarded “summa cum laude” (110 e lode).

ü      Fees and costs

Universities and other Higher Education Institutes establish their own fees: the average fees a student has to pay is somewhere between 850 and 1,000 euro per year, since this varies from one university to another and also depends on the chosen course of study. Private universities are clearly much more expensive.

Admission to master universitari and other specialisation courses have much higher fees. Doctoral students who receive a grant from the university do not pay fees, but non-grant holders are required to pay the fees, which will vary again according to the university chosen.

ü      Scholarships and financial aid

All international students are entitled to the same student assistance services as Italian students, on basis of the same requisites of financial means and/or merit. This applies to scholarships, student loans, housing assistance, refectory meal tickets and fee waivers.

ü      Canteens

This type of service is available to all students. For those who benefit of regional grants the service is free, the others pay a low cost depending on income and merit.

ü      Language centre

The Language Centre of each institution develops and co-ordinates language facilities. It provides language courses for the students enrolled at the institution concerned, for those on international exchange programmes, and for the institutional. The Language Centre provides a fundamental support service by facilitating learning processes and encouraging students to keep on improving their language competences.

ü      Sport

The Sports Centre (C.U.S.) promotes physical activities with regard to the institution commitment in the field and, to the physical and educational well-being of its students. It offers the necessary facilities and promotes sport courses for beginners and professionals.

ü      Office for public relations (U.R.P.)

The Office for Public Relations (U.R.P.) provides information on institutional planning, counselling and job-placement; it also manages some of the services offered by the institution concerned.