Higher education University Education in Italy Introduction Italy has played an important role in European higher education: it is one of the four countries that was first involved in creating the so-called "European Area of Higher Education" (Sorbonne Declaration, May 1998), thus starting that type of higher education reform which, known as the "Bologna Process" (Bologna Declaration, June 1999) is being implemented all over Europe. Today Italy ranks among the 8 most industrialised countries in the world. Alongside some big companies, both state-owned and private, she has developed a sound network of small and medium-sized undertakings, promoted a few scientific parks, and is encouraging basic and applied research in a great variety of fields (biology, ICT, medicine, physics, etc.). University Education System Italian university education is structured in a binary system, consisting of two main articulations:- the university sector- the non-university sector.At present, the university sector is made up of 82 university institutions which are classified in:- 63 state universities- 16 non-State universities (legally recognised by the State) - 03 distance-learning universities. Definitions and characteristics of higher education institutions: university sector State Universities State universities are public entities endowed with scientific, teaching, managerial, financial and book-keeping autonomy; they have full legal capacity in matters of both public and private law. Their major tasks are scientific research and higher education. Due to the principle of university autonomy, each university may draw up its own statutes and regulations, issued by rectoral decrees. At this implementation stage of the 1999 reform, all universities have adopted their autonomous statutes which define the organs for institutional governance, and teaching and research structures.The main governing authorities within a university are the Rector, the Academic Senate, the Board of Governors.- The Rector chairs the Academic Senate and the Board of Governors, supervises the general running of all university structures and services, is responsible for disciplinary matters, draws up agreements for external cooperation, plans all the teaching and research activities of the institution. The Rector is elected among full professors and is the legal representative of the university.- The Academic Senate establishes the general guidelines for the activities of the university and plans its development. It approves the university regulations, coordinates teaching activities and has the authority to plan, coordinate and control university autonomy. The Senate is made up of the Rector, the Faculty Deans, and other representatives of the academic community, all elected in conformity to the rules of the university statute.- The Board of Governors supervises the whole administrative, financial, patrimonial and personnel management of the university; in particular, it approves the budget. Continua »