Universit degli Studi di Udine Dr Elisabetta Vecchio

Università degli Studi di Udine Dr. Elisabetta Vecchio International Relations Office ITALIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Our European pachwork of education wasn’t interesting foreign students The approach “…if you have 15 minutes I can explain you about Belgium education” doesn’t work!

Legal framework for the reform of the Italian University system: Ministerial Decree no. 509 published on 3 rd November 1999 At national level: There had already been a shift (started in 1994): from a highly centralised system towards financial, organisational and curricular autonomy of institutions. FROM UNIFORMITY OF QUALIFICATIONS TO THE DIVERSIFICATION OF CURRICULA AND DEGREES. At European Level: Development of a broad intergovernmental agreement for the creation of a European Higher Education Area, formalised in the Sorbonne (1998) and the Bologna (1999) Declarations. THE NEW LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF THE ITALIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM TOOK ALLA OF THE SORBONNE/BOLOGNA OBJECTIVES FULLY INTO ACCOUNT.

In accordance with the 1999 reform, Italian university studies have been organised into 3 cycles. I. First Cycle Undergraduate studies: First degree courses (Corsi di Laurea or CL): undergraduates: adequate command of general scientific methods contents specific professional skills. General access requirement: Italian school leaving certificate, awarded on passing the relevant state examinations, 13 years of schooling equivalent foreign qualifications may be also accepted. First Degree Courses last 3 years and the first degree (Laurea or L) is awarded to undergraduates who have earned 180 credits.

II. Second Cycle Graduate studies include: 1) Second level degree courses (Corsi di Laurea Specialistica or CLS) 2) first level specialisation degree courses (Corsi di Specializzazione di Primo Livello or CS 1) 3) first level university Master degree courses (Corsi di Master Universitario di Primo Livello or CMU 1).

CLS (Corsi di Laurea Specialistica): - advanced level of education - exercise of a highly qualified activity in specific areas. Access to these courses: - ltalian first degree - equivalent foreign degree Course length: 2 years The second degree (Laurea Specialistica or LS): - awarded to graduates achieving a total of 300 credits (including those from the first degree); - the final dissertation is compulsory

Special courses Dentistry Medicine Veterinary medicine Pharmacy Architecture Regulated by specific EU directives which share the following features Access with an Italian school leaving certificate equivalent foreign qualification admission is always subject to entrance exams Course length 5 years (Medicine 6 years).

CS 1 (Corsi di Specializzazione): knowledge and abilities needed for the practice of highly qualified professions may be established exclusively based on specific Italian laws or EU directives. Access is by a first degree or a equivalent foreign degree. Admission: subject to the passing of a competitive examination Course length: 2 - 3 years. The first level specialisation degree (Diploma di Specializzazione Primo Livello or DS 1): awarded to graduates who have earned 300 -360 credits overall, including those from the first degree (which were necessary for access to the course concerned).

CMU 1 (Corso di Master Universitario di Primo Livello): advanced scientific courses or higher continuing education studies open to the holders of a first degree or an equivalent foreign degree admission may be subject to additional conditions Course length: 1 year The first level university Master degree (Corso di Master Universitario di Primo Livello): awarded to graduates who have earned at least 60 credits.

III. Third Cycle Postgraduate studies embrace the following types of degree courses: • doctorate research programmes (Corsi di Dottorato di Ricerca or CDR) • second level specialisation degree courses (Corsi di Specializzazione di Secondo livello or CS 2) • second level university Master degree courses (Corsi di Master Universitario di Secondo Livello or CMU 2)

CDR (Corsi di Dottorato di Ricerca): - training postgraduates for advanced scientific research - professional appointments of the highest consequence - use of suitable teaching methodologies such as: state-of-the-art technologies study periods abroad and internships in specialist research centres Access: - Italian second degree - equivalent foreign degree - admission on passing of very competitive exams. Course length: - minimum of 3 years - writing of an original dissertation is necessary for the awarding of the research doctorate degree (Dottorato di Ricerca or DR)

CS 2 (Corsi di Specializzazione di Secondo livello): provide postgraduates with the knowledge and skills required in the practice of highly qualified professions The courses may be established exclusively on the basis of specific Italian Iaws or EU directives. Access: - second degree - equivalent foreign degree - admission is subject to the passing of a competitive examination Course length: specialisation degree courses of the health sector (max. 5 years)

CMU 2 (Corsi di Master Universitario di Secondo Livello): - advanced scientific courses - higher continuing education studies - open to the holders of an LS - equivalent foreign degree. Admission: may be subject to additional conditions. Course length: a minimum of 1 year The second level university Master degree (Master Universitario di 2° livello or MU 2) is awarded to postgraduates who have earned a minimum of 60 credits.

University Educational Credits Degree courses are structured in university educational credits (crediti formativi universitari / C. F. U. ). A university credit corresponds to 25 hours of work per student, time for personal study included. The average annual workload of a full-time student is conventionally fixed at 60 credits.

A Final Thought “it is easier to move cemeteries than to change the curriculum”. Woodrow Wilson Princeton University