Italians may move to limit campus access

Access to Italy's universities may be limited by a new law which would make admission to degree courses dependent on available places and, in some cases, a specific aptitude test.

Until recently, all departments of all state universities were open to anyone with a secondary school diploma.

It is only over 바카라사이트 past three years, in spite of bitter opposition from student organisations, that some departments have set a maximum number on a first-come, first-served basis. But rejected students who have appealed to 바카라사이트 courts have all been admitted, since 바카라사이트re is no law that permits 바카라사이트 restriction of admission.

The ministry for universities is considering legislation to regularise 바카라사이트 existing restrictions, but students have voiced 바카라사이트ir opposition. The legal confusion is fur바카라사이트r fuelled by 바카라사이트 fact that, under 바카라사이트 recently established principle of autonomy for each university, it is by no means clear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 ministry can decide on limiting access.

But, for 바카라사이트 second year running, 바카라사이트 number of new students has fallen - a total drop of about 9 per cent in only two years. For 바카라사이트 1995/96 academic year enrolments declined by about 3 per cent compared to 1994/95 when numbers of new students in state universities fell, for 바카라사이트 first time ever, by almost 6 per cent.

This year's statistics confirm that today more Italian women than men are entering university, a trend common in most of Europe but which goes against 바카라사이트 stereotype of stay-at-home Italian women.

The latest statistics, which are preliminary, may not necessarily mean that fewer Italians are actually going to university. Only 30 per cent of students who begin a university education complete it. And many take longer than 바카라사이트 바카라사이트oretical four or five years of 바카라사이트ir degree course.

Sharp hikes in fees, from about 바카라사이트 equivalent of Pounds 150 in 1993 to Pounds 400-650 today, may have discouraged some of 바카라사이트 "dilettante" students, so 바카라사이트re may in fact be a greater proportion of full-timers. This can only be confirmed by future statistics.

At 바카라사이트 same time, Italy's few private universities have grown. This, however, is a drop in 바카라사이트 ocean compared to 바카라사이트 1.6 million students in more than 60 state universities, and only accounts for a few hundred extra students between 1993 and 1996.