Italian University: one system, many exceptions
Giuseppe Novelli
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 16:21 UTC
I am writing regarding the Nature Editorial “Situations vacant” and Ruggi’s Correspondence “You’re the best man for this job, son. What a coincidence!” (Nature 456, 142; 2008; 456, 870, 2008) which both focus on criticisms of Italian University organization and recruitment systems. It is true that Italian Universities suffer from cultural and organizational inefficiencies including a lack of meritocracy and nepotism, however, it is not acceptable to allow such an all-encompassing negative view to disregard the work, productivity and commitment of many teachers and young investigators at these Universities. These components still keep our Universities, within the first fifteen in the world (http://www.topuniversities.com/worlduniversityrankings/results / 2008/safe_system_strength) and within the first eight ranked worldwide for the number of scientific papers published (http://scientific.thomsonreuters.com/news/2007-06/8392239/).
As the Dean of the Tor Vergata Medical School in Rome (quoted as an example of “academic dynasty” in Ruggi’s Correspondence, that during the last three years published 8,200 ISI products of which 2,570 by the Medical School alone), I think that we have the right to be judged as individuals and as institutions, each in relation to own merits and shortcomings.
We have the right not to suffer of generalizations and public opinion climate that offend us and hurt our University spirit, as well as discredit our hard working students, researchers and professors.
We ask generalized criticism be replaced by rigorous assessment, including evaluation of evidence-based merits and, as appropriate, determination of penalties for those who fail in their duties. Without this process, which is strongly and urgently required, nothing will change for the better and the media will simply continue to pick-up cases and trigger scandals with generalized stories in the press.
It is to be pointed out that new concrete tools against nepotism and clear directions towards meritocracy are provided in the recently published law (DL 180 – Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 263 del 10 novembre 2008) set for immediate and consistent implementation nationwide.
Giuseppe Novelli, Dean of the School of Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy
School of Medicine, Tor Vergata University,
Via Montepellier 1
00133 Rome, Italy
novelli@med.uniroma2.it
-
Replies
-
Dean,
thank you very much for writing on this forum.
Surely, the points that you have made in your letter find large agreement with the readers of this forum. Although we do know how accurate may be the accusations that are directed, from abroad, to our often unhorthodox recruitment pratices, this should never discourage the Italian research community from doing the very best to convince our foreign peers that Italy is often more than what may seem.
A few months after the publication of the decreet 180, which may be found here on the Lower Chamber website, one does wonder whether any signs of meritocracy are becoming evident. As the Dean of a major Italian University, you are perhaps in an ideal position to make such judgement.
Yours Truly,
Massimo Pinto
-
