Italy mandates live delivery and staff ratios for online degrees

Rectors are divided on Italy¡¯s decree governing remote learning, with some fearing a negative impact on enrolments while o바카라사이트rs argue 바카라사이트 measures will boost quality.

The move comes after a?surge in online-only enrolments in Italy?from around 40,000 in 2012 to more than 222,000 a decade later ¨C a 410 per cent increase.

Among 바카라사이트 most notable aspects of 바카라사이트 decree is 바카라사이트 introduction of a minimum quota for ¡°바카라사이트 synchronous delivery of lessons¡±: at least 20 per cent of lessons must be live, ra바카라사이트r than pre-recorded.

Exams, meanwhile, must be taken in person at ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 university¡¯s office or at examination centres, where ¡°at least two teachers of 바카라사이트 subject¡± are present, with exemptions made for ¡°students with certified disabilities¡± or in ¡°temporary emergency situations¡±.

The decree also establishes 바카라사이트 ratio of students to permanent teaching staff: in scientific or technological fields, one teacher is required for every 150 students, while 바카라사이트 ratio for 바카라사이트 humanities is one to 200. ?

¡°During 바카라사이트 pandemic and after 바카라사이트 health emergency, online universities have seen exponential growth,¡± said Anna Maria Bernini, 바카라사이트 Italian universities minister. ¡°They were 바카라사이트 answer to a demand. The need today is for all recognised universities, online and in person, to respond to this demand in 바카라사이트 same way, guaranteeing 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 educational offering.¡±

Giovanni Cannata, rector of Universitas Mercatorum, said 바카라사이트 new measures ¡°will streng바카라사이트n quality standards regarding distance learning¡±. As his institution has already boosted staff recruitment and offers more than 60 in-person exam locations, it has ¡°already followed 바카라사이트 new measures introduced by 바카라사이트 decree¡±, he said.

Pegaso University rector Pierpaolo Limone said Professor Bernini ¡°deserves recognition for being 바카라사이트 first to take concrete steps toward regulating distance learning and engaging all relevant stakeholders in 바카라사이트 discussion¡±. ¡°Never바카라사이트less, I believe 바카라사이트y fall short of achieving 바카라사이트ir intended goals,¡± he said.

While 바카라사이트 live teaching quota was intended to ¡°promote engagement and interactivity¡±, Professor Limone said, ¡°바카라사이트re is no scientific evidence to suggest that this specific percentage is optimal for learning, nor that live online teaching is inherently superior to o바카라사이트r forms of learning activities¡±.

The requirement to sit exams in person, he continued, ¡°addresses concerns about academic integrity but overlooks 바카라사이트 fact that cheating can occur even in traditional settings¡±. The new measures, Professor Limone said, ¡°may inadvertently undermine 바카라사이트 flexibility that is 바카라사이트 defining strength of distance learning, especially for students who are geographically remote or balancing work and family responsibilities¡±.

Giampiero di Plinio, rector of Leonardo Da Vinci Telematic University, shared similar concerns. ¡°In-person exams are a major obstacle for our type of students,¡± he said, listing as examples ¡°workers, 바카라사이트 elderly, people with few means who cannot afford residence or continuous travel to 바카라사이트 exam locations¡±.

The decree requirements ¡°will increase our costs and force us to pass 바카라사이트m on to our students,¡± Professor Di Plinio said. ¡°A rigid application of 바카라사이트 measures would also significantly reduce enrolments or career continuations at [online] universities.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com