Italy
Recent developments:
- University governance partly reformed through the 2010 law, including changes on/inclusion of:
- executive head: selection criteria, dismissal procedure, fixed and non-renewable term of office
- composition and size of university governing bodies, with mandatory inclusion of external members in board/council
- revised academic structures
- A new national accreditation agency for teaching and research was established in 2011, the approval of which is required for all degree programmes before introduction, now also including doctoral programmes
- Developments in public funding modalities to universities, with the introduction of a performance-based and ‘standard cost’ component, which shares in the overall funding model, are rising annually
Organisational autonomy: medium high
The law prescribes both the selection criteria for the executive head and the confirmation of their appointment by the ministry. It also outlines their term of office and the procedure to be followed for their dismissal. Universities now must include, and can select, external members in their governance structures. Guidelines on academic structures are outlined in law.
Financial autonomy: medium high
Universities are not restricted in the internal allocation of the public funding they receive. They may keep surpluses and can borrow money up to a maximum percentage defined by law. They can own and sell their buildings without restrictions. Universities can set the level of tuition fees for all students at all levels, respecting a global ceiling set by an external authority on the overall amount generated from the fees.
Academic autonomy: medium low
Universities decide on overall student numbers and control student selection. All new degree programmes must be submitted to a prior accreditation by the national agency before being introduced, which now includes doctoral programmes. Universities therefore cannot select either external quality assurance mechanisms or providers. Universities face some constraints in the design of the content of their academic programmes as the authorities specify educational activities and objectives.
Staffing autonomy: medium low
There are restrictions specified in law as to how senior academic staff can be recruited. The number of posts is regulated. Salaries for senior academic and administrative staff are set by an external authority as staff have civil servant status (all senior academic staff and a majority of senior administrative staff) and dismissals are strictly regulated according to civil servant status. Universities cannot decide on promotion procedures for academic staff as the academic promotion system is regulated by law and operated through public competition. Promotions for administrative staff are also regulated by law and subject to public competition.
Organisational weighted 65% unweighted 59%
0% Selection procedure for the executive head
The selection of the executive head is validated by an external authority
This applies to 11 other countries: Brandenburg, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
75% Selection criteria for the executive head
The law states that the executive head must hold an academic position
80% Dismissal of the executive head
Other restrictions
0% Term of office of the executive head
The exact length is stated in the law
100% External members in university governing bodies
Universities cannot decide as they must include external members
This applies to 23 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Universities can freely decide on external members
60% Capacity to decide on academic structures
100% Capacity to create legal entities
Universities can create legal entities without constraints
This applies to 18 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Serbia, Spain, United Kingdom
Financial weighted 70% unweighted 62%
60% Length of public funding cycle
One year
100% Type of public funding
Block grant and there are no restrictions on the allocation of funding
This applies to 15 other countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Hesse, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
80% Ability to borrow money
Universities can borrow money up to a maximum percentage
This applies to 4 other countries: Brandenburg, Ireland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia
100% Ability to keep surplus
Surplus can be kept without restrictions
This applies to 15 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hesse, Latvia, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Ability to own buildings
Universities can sell their buildings without restrictions
This applies to 9 other countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Wallonia, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom
40% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level
Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority
This applies to 4 other countries: Hungary, Iceland, Portugal, United Kingdom
40% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level
Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority
40% Tuition fees for national/EU students at doctoral level
Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority
40% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level
Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority
40% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level
Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority
40% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level
Staffing weighted 44% unweighted 42%
83% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff
The number of posts is regulated by an external authority for some staff
This applies to one other country: Croatia
83% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff
The number of posts is regulated by an external authority for some staff
0% Salaries for senior academic staff
Salaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for all staff
58% Salaries for senior administrative staff
Salaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for some staff
0% Dismissal of senior academic staff
Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff
0% Dismissal of senior administrative staff
Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff
57% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff
Other restrictions
57% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff
Academic weighted 56% unweighted 55%
100% Overall student numbers
Universities decide independently on the number of study places
This applies to 6 other countries: Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom
100% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level
Admission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 8 other countries: Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, United Kingdom
100% Admissions procedures at Master's level
Admission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 18 other countries: Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, France, Hesse, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom
0% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
0% Introduction of programmes at Master's level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
0% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
100% Termination of degree programmes
Universities can terminate degree programmes independently
This applies to 25 other countries: Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Language of instruction at Bachelor level
Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes
This applies to 19 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Language of instruction at Master's level
Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes
This applies to 20 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom