Italian Education Profile - Education - The British Council Italy


	THE ITALIAN EDUCATION PROFILE

	Higher education Tertiary education There are 65 universities (università) in Italy, most are state institutions with the normal range of teaching and research, but there are some private universities recognised by the state, together with some specialised university-level institutions teaching a restricted range of subjects. Universities award the following academic qualifications: university diplomas (course lasts for two to three years) Diploma Universitario. This qualification was introduced in 1990 in an attempt to sit alongside other EU short-cycle higher education courses. The first degree holders emerged in 1994. degree certificate (course lasts from four to six years) Diploma di Laurea specialisation certificate ( courses last a minimum of two years and are aimed at training specialists in determined professional sectors) Diploma di Specialista research doctorate (studies last a minimum of three years) Dottorato di Ricerca special purpose schools (courses last between two and three years) Scuole dirette a fini speciali These courses aim to provide students with a cultural and professional training within a university atmosphere, in order to train specialised technicians in specific sectors. This system of SDAFS is at present being integrated into that of degree certificates. In recent years there has been a growing tendency to introduce 'entrance tests' and other devices to control the admission to higher education. Since 1997 most degree courses have been operating to numero programmato. Entry requirements for higher education are the Diploma di Maturità (or a comparable foreign qualification) plus admission examinations. University instruction is carried out by the following personnel: ordinary professors (1st level) associate professors (2nd level) contract professors university researchers foreign language assistants Ordinary and associate professors and researchers are employed as public officials following a normal qualification and examination (concorso). Contract professors and foreign language assistants arrange private contracts for temporary employment with the university. In the case of contract professors, the employment should not exceed one academic year, the maximum is two years; in the case of foreign language assistants the contract can be for a maximum of five years. Ordinary and associate professors must guarantee a minimum of 250 hours of teaching per year; they also carry out scientific research and participate in the running of the university. Researchers contribute to scientific research and may also carry out educational functions. Postgraduate education Up to 1997, the entry requirements for admission of Dottorato di ricerca (Ph.d) were an Italian Laurea (or a foreign equivalent academic degree). In addition, candidates had to pass examinations organised at national level by the Ministry for Universities, which was the authority responsible for the setting up of DR programmes, the selection of candidates and the conferring of the final degree. Since 3 October 1997, reform has abolished national selection. Present admission requirements are the holding of a Laurea and the passing of an examination organised by the university responsible for the DR programme. As a consequence of the 1997 reform, DR programmes are no longer established at national level by MURST but locally by individual universities. Each institution is responsible for the setting up of its DR programmes, their running and administration, selection of candidates, evaluation of programmes and the conferring of the final third level academic degree Dottorato di Ricerca in a certain field along with the corresponding title Dottore di Ricerca. All state and non-state, but legally recognised, Italian universities are now authorised to directly award third level doctoral degrees/titles. Since the last cycle of DR programmes, a national competition was announced by MURST on 6 August 1996, and the selection was finalised in Janaury 1997, DR degrees awarded by MURST may still be awarded over the next four to five years. Individual universities may start conferring their DR titles. Index \| Previous \| Next