The main problem of Italian university system is its reputation, internally and abroad as well, except for some departments such as Literature and maybe Archeology, which refer to a typical Italian cultural and historical heritage.

But why the Italian University is not attractive even if has within internationally renowned professors? Probably because of the missing funds and innovation, the raising of the average age of these professors. All these sheets contribute to the perception of a slack scenery with few job opportunities, especially in those scientific fields where professors themselves encourage their most valuable students to carry on the internships abroad.

On the other side, not many foreign students come to study in Italy, because many Departments don't have an international focus. Exchange opportunities are not many and they’re hard to find, assistance for students from abroad is missing and the teaching of English is very shallow.

What Italy is missing is an attitude to invest on young students, either Italian or foreign, and not believing in the institution of the University, according to its mismanagement.

It’s true that the education in Italy seems to be too much theoretical, but on the other hand it often happens that departments can’t afford the structures to make it more practical because of the missing funds. And worst of all, government policies don’t seem to be interested in investing on education. A possible solution could be encouraging partnerships between university and corporations and stimulate recruiting from the just graduated students.

Regarding the missing funds, I find shortsighted and ideological the habit of the university’s administrations of criticizing private funds, which wouldn’t privatize the Departments, as they say. These funds should be strictly regulated instead of hindered, since they represent the only way to make Italian Universities financially independent.

Capital increases take place investing and opening to new economic solutions such as sponsorships and partnerships, and not only begging public funds.

I believe it would be wrong to define universities “out of business” or “bankrupt”, since they aren’t corporations but institutions of knowledge, amd they should probably be managed like ones, at least on their economic side.