Not in The 70s. Not in The 80s.
At a ceremony in Bologna, students protested against a government move to erase the legal value of university degrees in public recruitment procedures. The move is intended at avoiding discrimination between students who have obtained their degrees in tough universities and others who have achieved the same result in a mediocre academic institution. In the same proposal, the government has also planned to close “on-line” universities, which are considered diploma-factories.
More hustle was created by a declaration from a young Vice-Minister, who said that "whoever gets his degree after he’s turned 28 is a “loser”. Finally, to add more spice to the situation, Mr Monti said in an interview that having a fixed job is “boring”: he did not intend to say that workers should be continuously threatened to be fired. What he actually meant was that Italians should start having the culture of “switching jobs” - like it happens in the US.
These statements were not popular: Italians are not keen in accepting abrupt changes. Mechanisms that they have long given for granted - in this case, that everyone should be able to get a degree, no matter how useless it is in the job market - are now under threat. Italians - and especially old generations - firmly believe in the single career stream: you study, you try to find a contract that you can keep through life, you settle down.
But Italy desperately needs changes both in the job market and in the academic system. Italians need to face their issues without the sense of denial that has characterized these last years. As it stands, without reforms, Italy is soon to collapse.
So, what changes should the country implement in order to create “growth and jobs” - in this strict order, as jobs can’t be created if the economy is not picking up?
1) It is a fact that certain universities in Italy are more serious than others. A university rank would certainly avoid unfairness and it might drive Italian students to move in order to access the best institutions.
2) Access should be secured through nationwide tests. Studying should only be accessible to those who really want to commit to it. Everyone should have the right to study, provided that he is willing to do it: the choice should bear a “cost” in terms of sacrifices and hustle. It is too easy, especially for rich families, to park their kids in universities for years to push them to get a useless degree. Money should never discriminate between who can study and who can’t: accessibility to graduate studies should be given according to motivations and skills, not to money and "birth".
3) Good universities are currently located in cities where real estate is extremely expensive. Fair opportunities could only be assured if a real “student housing and expenses support” policy is implemented. Cities should start building student housing and low cost facilities (laundries, bookstores, etc.).
4) On-line universities should be banned, because the quality of teaching is really low: on the other hand, universities should give full on-line access to students. Open source software should be implemented, ideas sharing should be promoted through online forums of discussion. Books should be available through downloading and e-mail communications with the Professor and his team should be steady.
5) Studies should not last too long. Useless courses and subjects should be eliminated. There is really no time to waste. Students who do not make the “cuts” - the number of exams in an academic year - should pay their full tuition fees, except in case they work and study at the same time. Student jobs should be regulated by the law.
5) A real “training path” should be provided for people who do not want to engage in intellectual studies. It is crucial to give dignity and importance to skilled workers. Italian families should also not be scared of pushing their sons and daughters to become mechanics or plumbers: a switch in this mentality is essential.
6) Why can’t people change jobs if they are unhappy with what they are doing? Why can’t people go back to University? Why should it be a taboo to change jobs? Only in a flexible market - where flexible workers can acquire different skills in a short amount of time - unemployment can really be tackled. Young people should also be prepared to move cities to find the best suitable job for their skills.
7) It is impossible to defend firewalls that have been set in the 70s in a different job market and in a different economic situation. Young people should understand that they can only benefit from more flexibility.
8) On the other hand, entrepreneurs should not think that we are still in the '80s. They should bear in mind that the only way out of the crisis is through innovation, competitiveness, highly attractive salaries and incentives to workers. Underpaying young workers will just create a generation of totally unmotivated people.
9) Finally, 70 years old former bank advisors and university professors and 35 years old spoiled brats should be careful when they open their mouths...
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