“This personal tie between the professor and his assistants (instead of an organizational tie between the young professional and the institution) is one of the trademarks of the Italian academic system and it is usually referred to in the current language in Italy as a "feudal" relationship; Powerful chair-holders are usually called baroni”. In 1977 Guido Martinotti and Alberto Giasanti portrayed with these words the dynamics of the academic career in Italy. Over thirty years later, the situation was similarly described by Roberto Perotti affirming that “tutti i professori dell’università italiana sanno di decine di concorsi truccati, e moltissimi vi hanno partecipato, spesso acconsentendo loro malgrado a promuovere il protetto del barone locale per riuscire a promuovere in cambio almeno un candidato serio”. In synthesis, the "academic feudalism" has been for a long time a specific feature of Italian University scholars. The reforms of these last years have tried to intervene on this situation, and some changes are in action. On one side, the introduction of new practices of evaluation to all levels has transferred significant amount of academic power from the so called “baroni” to the "academic gatekeepers" On the other side, the reforms have introduced some remarkable novelties. Those novelties concern, first of all, the selective procedures for the access and, secondly, the progression in the academic career, in an attempt to combat university nepotism, to weaken the bonds between scholars and to guarantee fair selective procedures. Particularly, the law n° 240/2010 have limited the possibility to participate in selective procedures. The competition is foreclosed to those people who have family relationship or other relative connection with one of the professors, in the structure with the open position, or with the chancellor, the general manager or a component of the board of directors of the University. Furthermore, at least the 20% of the available positions must be reserved to external scholars of different universities. Moreover numerous subsequent provisions (so called anticorruption) extended the scope of conflict of interests influencing the university selective procedures and, specifically, the relationship between commissioner and candidate. In this context, the paper aims to offer, in a critical and juridical perspective, a syntethic overview of the open issues that arise in the interpretation and enforcement of the mentioned provisions, also through the analysis of specific cases decided by the administrative courts.
Marra, A. (2019). The Feudal Relationship in Italian University: Is Sunset Coming on?. Intervento presentato a: EDUCATION AND POST-DEMOCRACY, Cagliari (IT).
The Feudal Relationship in Italian University: Is Sunset Coming on?
Marra A.
2019
Abstract
“This personal tie between the professor and his assistants (instead of an organizational tie between the young professional and the institution) is one of the trademarks of the Italian academic system and it is usually referred to in the current language in Italy as a "feudal" relationship; Powerful chair-holders are usually called baroni”. In 1977 Guido Martinotti and Alberto Giasanti portrayed with these words the dynamics of the academic career in Italy. Over thirty years later, the situation was similarly described by Roberto Perotti affirming that “tutti i professori dell’università italiana sanno di decine di concorsi truccati, e moltissimi vi hanno partecipato, spesso acconsentendo loro malgrado a promuovere il protetto del barone locale per riuscire a promuovere in cambio almeno un candidato serio”. In synthesis, the "academic feudalism" has been for a long time a specific feature of Italian University scholars. The reforms of these last years have tried to intervene on this situation, and some changes are in action. On one side, the introduction of new practices of evaluation to all levels has transferred significant amount of academic power from the so called “baroni” to the "academic gatekeepers" On the other side, the reforms have introduced some remarkable novelties. Those novelties concern, first of all, the selective procedures for the access and, secondly, the progression in the academic career, in an attempt to combat university nepotism, to weaken the bonds between scholars and to guarantee fair selective procedures. Particularly, the law n° 240/2010 have limited the possibility to participate in selective procedures. The competition is foreclosed to those people who have family relationship or other relative connection with one of the professors, in the structure with the open position, or with the chancellor, the general manager or a component of the board of directors of the University. Furthermore, at least the 20% of the available positions must be reserved to external scholars of different universities. Moreover numerous subsequent provisions (so called anticorruption) extended the scope of conflict of interests influencing the university selective procedures and, specifically, the relationship between commissioner and candidate. In this context, the paper aims to offer, in a critical and juridical perspective, a syntethic overview of the open issues that arise in the interpretation and enforcement of the mentioned provisions, also through the analysis of specific cases decided by the administrative courts.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.