Higher education reforms stall as Monti government totters

By Lee Adendoorf. With Italy tottering on the brink of a political crisis that could topple the technocrat government of Mario Monti before Christmas, proposed higher education reforms will probably be stalled at least until a new government is formed following Spring elections – and perhaps for longer.
Education Minister Francesco Profumo, who is also rector of Politecnico di Torino and has driven the reform proposals, has said he will not stay in his job following the polls and could even leave before the New Year.
Profumo wants to nationalise admission rankings for courses with limited places such as medicine. Candidates must currently sit an entrance exam for courses with high demand and limited places; this year, more than 77,000 candidates sat a medicine and orthodontics admission exam for 11,000 places. Read More...