Assessment time
Italy’s proposed university reform must be
linked to performance
As Rome burned last week during anti-government riots, many
of those present were focusing on the plight of Italy’s underfunded
and underperforming universities, which face major
reform. There is no doubt that reform is needed. The question is
whether the government will deliver it correctly.
Islands of excellence exist in Italian universities, particularly in
the north of the country. And they survive despite such low levels of
government investment that little cash remains for infrastructure or
research once salaries have been paid. But malaise is widespread, and
money is not the only question. University workforces are riddled
with dead wood, a legacy of too little competition for academic posts
or research grants. And universities are not penalized if they choose to
hire staff on the basis of personal contacts instead of talent.
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