Italy from Re.ViCa

Partners situated in Italy:

• International Telematic University UNINETTUNO

Italy as a state

Administrative division

Italy is a democratic republic and a developed country with the 20th highest GDP per capita, the 8th-highest Quality-of-life index, and the 20th-highest Human Development Index rating in the world. It is a founding member of what is now the European Union, having signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957.

Italy's total area is 301,230 km², of which 294,020 km² is land and 7,210 km² is water, subdivided into 20 regions.

In May of 2007, Italy officially reached more than 59.4 million persons. Italy currently has the fourth largest population in the European Union, and the 22nd largest population in the world

Italy as a field of education

33rd and 34th articles of Italian Constitution establish the freedom to teach and learn sciences, arts and professions.

The Italian school system at present is based on primary, secondary and higher education. The primary level starts at the age of 6 until the age of 11. Younger children can go to the nursery school from the age of 3 years until they are 6. This school is not compulsory but is now rather normal to send the childern to these schools. With the Italian school system in vigour it is not always easy for the nursery schools to be accepted as a normal and real istitution of education.

Compulsory education

Primary school: duration 5 years (6 y/old - 11 y/old children)
Secondary School: duration 3 years (11 y/old - 14 y/old)

After the primary school follows the secondary school until 14 years of age. At that age the compulsary education is completed. The compulsory education is free, families have to pay for the books only at the secondary school.

Secondary education

Secondary high school is composed of different kind of schools with their own finality, duration and programmes, i.e.:

• Artistical education: Nat. Accademy for drammatic art, Nat. Accademy for dance, Conservatory, School for art, Artistical high school, Musical high school;
• Technical education: School for aviation, school for agronomics, school for expert in managment and school for correspondent in foreign languages, school for commercial techniques, school for feminine techniques, school for land surveyor, school for industrial techniques, school for nautical techniques, school for tourism;
• Humanistical education: cultural education (classical high school, scientifical high school, high school for languages), pedagogical education (magisterial school and the experimental magisterial school);
• Military education: School for the Air Force, school for the Carabineers Service, school for the Army, school for the Revenue Guard Corps, school for the Navy, school for the National Guard.

University System in Italy

In conformity to the 1999 reform, Italian university studies are organised on 3 cycles
(references: ECTS - The Italian University System / CRUI (Conferenza dei Rettori delle Università italiane ).

I. First cycle

Undergraduate studies consist in Corsi di Laurea-CL (1st degree courses) aimed at guaranteeing undergraduate students an adequate command of general scientific methods and contents as well as specific professional skills.

General access requirement is the Italian school leaving qualification (Diploma di Superamento dell'Esame di Stato conclusivo dei corsi di Istruzione Secondaria Superiore), awarded on passing the relevant state examinations, after completion of 13 years of global schooling; also foreign comparable qualifications may be accepted. Admission to individual degree courses may be subject to specific course requirements.

First degree courses last 3 years. The Laurea-L (1st degree) is awarded to undergraduates who have earned 180 credits.

II. Second cycle

Graduate studies include

1. Corsi di Laurea Specialistica-CLS;
2. Corsi di Specializzazione di 1° livello-CS1;
3. Corsi di Master Universitario di 1° livello-CMU1.

CLS are aimed at providing graduates with an advanced level of education for the exercise of a highly qualified activity in specific areas. Access to CLS is by the Italian 1st degree (L) or a foreign comparable degree; length is 2 years.

CS1 are devised to provide the knowledge and abilities needed for the practice of highly qualifying professions; they may be established exclusively in application of specific Italian laws or EU directives.

CMU1 consist in advanced scientific courses or higher continuing education studies, open to the holders of a Laurea-L or a foreign comparable degree;

III. Third cycle

Postgraduate studies consist of the following typologies of degree courses:

1. Corsi di Dottorato di Ricerca-CDR (research doctorate programmes);
2. Corsi di Specializzazione di 2¡ livello-CS2 (2nd level specialisation courses);
3. Corsi di Master Universitario di 2¡ livello-CMU2 (2nd level university master degree courses).

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