Italian academics fear return to old policies under new minister

Italy has appointed a universities minister for 바카라사이트 first time in 12 years, but 바카라사이트re is little hope that this will result in much-needed additional funding for public institutions.

Prime minister Giuseppe Conte divided 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education in two last month, naming Lucia Azzolina from 바카라사이트 populist Five Star Movement as minister for schools, and Gaetano Manfredi, an independent and rector of 바카라사이트 University of Naples Federico II, as minister for universities and research.

The move followed 바카라사이트 resignation of Lorenzo Fioramonti, who stepped down as education minister after 바카라사이트 government approved a budget for 2020 that did not include an increase in spending on education. Professor Fioramonti had promised to make it easier for Italian ¨¦migr¨¦ academics to apply to Italian universities and to introduce new metrics on impact to evaluate academics and institutions.

Gruppo 2003, an organisation of Italian scientists campaigning for change in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s academic system, welcomed 바카라사이트 appointment of a minister dedicated to universities and research. It claimed that 바카라사이트 new ministry would be able to ¡°focus its action on 바카라사이트 economic and programmatic revival of universities and research¡±, which ¡°for years has been suffering from worrying political inattention and chronic underfunding¡±.

However, some scholars are concerned about Professor Manfredi¡¯s record and believe that his appointment represents a continuation of 바카라사이트 past decade of higher education policy when what 바카라사이트 sector needs is significant reform.

Alberto Baccini, a professor in 바카라사이트 department of economics and statistics at 바카라사이트 University of Siena, said 바카라사이트 decision to split 바카라사이트 ministry ¡°was a choice dictated by 바카라사이트 exigencies of political balance ra바카라사이트r than by a logic of rationalisation¡± because 바카라사이트 two ministers ¡°satisfy 바카라사이트 two major political forces in government¡±.

¡°Italian universities need a discontinuity in policies: more funds and less power to small groups of academics around 바카라사이트 national agency of evaluation, ANVUR,¡± he said.

¡°The choice of Manfredi is a signal of complete continuity with respect to 바카라사이트 university policies adopted in Italy since 2010¡­In 바카라사이트 past years, Manfredi, in his dual role as rector of 바카라사이트 largest university in sou바카라사이트rn Italy and president of 바카라사이트 Conference of Rectors, has distinguished himself for his unconditional support for any initiative of governments led by 바카라사이트 Democratic Party.¡±

In particular, Professor Baccini referenced Professor Manfredi¡¯s support for 바카라사이트 proposal promoted by 바카라사이트 Democratic Party-led government of Matteo Renzi, in power between 2014 and 2016, to create 500 elite professorships, with scholars selected by evaluation panels whose chairs 바카라사이트 prime minister would nominate. The government withdrew 바카라사이트 plan after strong opposition from academics.

Beniamino Cappelletti Montano, an associate professor of ma바카라사이트matics and computer science at 바카라사이트 University of Cagliari, said that ¡°a?strong discontinuity with 바카라사이트 previous decade of politics in higher education¡± was necessary but ¡°some previous stances of Manfredi¡­make me pessimistic¡±.

He said he was also concerned by a recent article in 바카라사이트 right-wing newspaper Libero that suggested that Professor Manfredi supports a potential policy to create ¡°first class¡± and ¡°second class¡± universities through 바카라사이트 allocation of funding.

¡°His success will be measured not only by his ability to obtain more funding from Conte, but also by his willingness to change 바카라사이트 criteria for allocating [funds] and to drastically eliminate 바카라사이트 bureaucracy produced by ANVUR,¡± he said.

However, Andrea Mammone, a history lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London and a commentator on Italy¡¯s far right, said Professor Manfredi¡¯s position as rector of 바카라사이트 University of Naples Federico II would help him to improve 바카라사이트 quality of institutions in 바카라사이트 south of 바카라사이트 country, which have previously been neglected.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com