17 - Italy - Private education

There are three kinds of institutions at this level of education: institutes for linguistic mediators training universities and other higher education institutions. As far as the latter kind of institution is concerned, Law no. 243 of 1991 acknowledges the fact that private universities, legally recognised, set up by private individuals who have provided them with the necessary financial means for their operation and by local bodies, associations or foundations who provide these institutes with the necessary resources, have existed in Italy for a long time. Law of 29 July 1991, no. 243, establishes that non state universities operate according to article 33 of the Italian Constitutions, as well as the relevant legislation on university; they can obtain financial contributions from the state according to the number of students enrolled, study courses activated, the number of teaching and technical-administrative staff and financial conditions, with specific reference to incomes gained through fees and students’ contributions; within the arts sector, there are several institutions managed by local bodies or purely private subjects. These institutions issue non-legally recognised certifications, and therefore they do not fall under the competences of the Ministry.

The institution of new universities and legally recognised non-state institutes of university education, as well as the authorisation to award qualifications with legal value must be foreseen in the framework of university development planning and procedures by Decree of the Minister who approves at the same time statute and teaching regulations of each university (Presidential Decree no. 25 of 27 January 1998).

State universities have been granted a high level of autonomy as far as elections procedures, composition and responsibilities of the various university bodies are concerned; however, regulation autonomy granted to non-state universities, whose Statutes generally foresee the same bodies as state universities (Rector, Administrative Director, Senato Accademico, etc.), is even wider.

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Date: 2009
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