1 Impact and experiences of the Bologna Process at EU Universities The University of Trieste A Case Study

University of Trieste Students (approximately) Students (approximately) International vocation since its foundation thanks to the multilingual/multicultural environment International vocation since its foundation thanks to the multilingual/multicultural environment 2

Immediate acceptance of the BA/MA- System Immediate acceptance of the BA/MA- System Problem: Fear of not being competitive with other Italian universities and seeing a fall in the number of students Problem: Fear of not being competitive with other Italian universities and seeing a fall in the number of students Consequence: too large a number of courses not all of which are sustainable as many of the teaching staff are shortly to retire without replacement. Consequence: too large a number of courses not all of which are sustainable as many of the teaching staff are shortly to retire without replacement. 3

Now: Teaching programmes providing students with a very solid basic education in fundamental subjects Now: Teaching programmes providing students with a very solid basic education in fundamental subjects Philosophy of UniTS: Philosophy of UniTS: young people need both a very solid education in fundamental subjects characteristic of every study course and young people need both a very solid education in fundamental subjects characteristic of every study course and work experience during the period of study work experience during the period of study 4

9 years after the introduction of the university reform in Italy Alma Laurea (meeting point for graduates, universities and the business world) stresses that: 9 years after the introduction of the university reform in Italy Alma Laurea (meeting point for graduates, universities and the business world) stresses that: 1.students achieve their degrees earlier 1.students achieve their degrees earlier 2. the number of graduates has increased fourfold 2. the number of graduates has increased fourfold 3. students attend lessons more regularly 3. students attend lessons more regularly 4. the threefold increase of work experience has significantly improved the relationship between students and the job market. 4. the threefold increase of work experience has significantly improved the relationship between students and the job market. 5

UniTS UniTS Achievement of BA Degrees with 25.5 (national average: 26.2) Achievement of BA Degrees with 25.5 (national average: 26.2) Length of studies: 3.9 (national average 4.5%) Length of studies: 3.9 (national average 4.5%) Employment rate with BA Degrees: 48.5% (after 1 year) (national average :48.7) 36% of BA Graduates neither work nor seek work (national average: 37.6) Employment rate with BA Degrees: 48.5% (after 1 year) (national average :48.7) 36% of BA Graduates neither work nor seek work (national average: 37.6) 32.3 out of 36% are attending a university course (MA-Degree) out of 36% are attending a university course (MA-Degree). 6

MA Graduates MA Graduates MA Degree at 27.1 (national average: 27.3) MA Degree at 27.1 (national average: 27.3) Length of studies: 2.6 (national average: 2.7) Length of studies: 2.6 (national average: 2.7) Employment rate after one year is 53.8% (National average: 55.9) Employment rate after one year is 53.8% (National average: 55.9) 24.9% neither work nor seek work (national average: 17.8) 24.9% neither work nor seek work (national average: 17.8) 19.4 out of 24.9% are attending a further university specialist course (national average: 12.7) 19.4 out of 24.9% are attending a further university specialist course (national average: 12.7)

Unemployment rate of MA graduates of UniTS: 13.2% (national average: 17.1%) Unemployment rate of MA graduates of UniTS: 13.2% (national average: 17.1%) MA graduates, therefore, pursue their doctoral studies or other specialist courses (e.g. at the Faculty of Medicine). MA graduates, therefore, pursue their doctoral studies or other specialist courses (e.g. at the Faculty of Medicine). 8

International Student Mobility International Student Mobility BA Degree: BA Degree: 15% have had a period of study abroad (national average 10.6%) 15% have had a period of study abroad (national average 10.6%) 7% out of 15% with an Erasmus programme 7% out of 15% with an Erasmus programme MA Degree: MA Degree: 23% have had a period of study abroad 23% have had a period of study abroad 12.5% out of 23% with an Erasmus programme 12.5% out of 23% with an Erasmus programme 9

6.762 graduates speak English, French, Spanish, German 716 il Russian, 465 Arabic, Slovene, 1099 Croatian, 277 Serbian, 52 Japanese and 136 Chinese graduates speak English, French, Spanish, German 716 il Russian, 465 Arabic, Slovene, 1099 Croatian, 277 Serbian, 52 Japanese and 136 Chinese 10

Erasmus outgoing students: 338 (1999: 312). Erasmus outgoing students: 338 (1999: 312). Difficulty to increase the number of outgoing students Difficulty to increase the number of outgoing students 1.The present economic situation 1.The present economic situation 2. Very low Erasmus grants 2. Very low Erasmus grants 3. Fear of wasting time if exams at the host university are not successful 3. Fear of wasting time if exams at the host university are not successful 11

Work experience Work experience BA Degree: BA Degree: 65% have had work experience (not only in Italy, but in other EU-countries in the framework of ErasmusPlacement) (national average: 54.5%) 65% have had work experience (not only in Italy, but in other EU-countries in the framework of ErasmusPlacement) (national average: 54.5%) MA Degree: MA Degree: 60% have had work experience abroad (national average: 53%) 60% have had work experience abroad (national average: 53%) 12

Joint and double degrees Joint and double degrees TRIESTE (SSLMIT) / REGENSBURG (Philosophische Fakultät IV)- Studi Italo Tedeschi - Deutsch-Italienische Studien – BA Degree (started in 2005). TRIESTE (SSLMIT) / REGENSBURG (Philosophische Fakultät IV)- Studi Italo Tedeschi - Deutsch-Italienische Studien – BA Degree (started in 2005). TRIESTE (Faculty of Natural Science) / PARIGI (Paris Diderot e Paris Descartes) – Functional Genomics – MA Degree (started in 2007) TRIESTE (Faculty of Natural Science) / PARIGI (Paris Diderot e Paris Descartes) – Functional Genomics – MA Degree (started in 2007) TRIESTE / LJUBLJANA – BA Degree in Mathematics (started this academic year). TRIESTE / LJUBLJANA – BA Degree in Mathematics (started this academic year). 13

Increasing number of incoming Erasmus and International students: 286 (86 in 2000) together with a high number of foreign students enrolled at UniTS. Increasing number of incoming Erasmus and International students: 286 (86 in 2000) together with a high number of foreign students enrolled at UniTS. Enrolled students coming from abroad: (392 from Eu-States and 1339 from non EU-States) Enrolled students coming from abroad: (392 from Eu-States and 1339 from non EU-States) Percentagewise UniTS is the first Italian University as far as the number of foreign students is concerned. Percentagewise UniTS is the first Italian University as far as the number of foreign students is concerned. 14

Faculty of Economics Faculty of Economics - First Level Degree in Economics, International Commerce and Financial Markets - curriculum "Economics of financial and insurance markets" - First Level Degree in Economics, International Commerce and Financial Markets - curriculum "Economics of financial and insurance markets" - First Level Degree in Economics and business management - curriculum "Economics and management of Innovation“ - First Level Degree in Economics and business management - curriculum "Economics and management of Innovation“ 15

Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences - Second Level Degree in Physics - international curriculum in collaboration with ICTP - Second Level Degree in Physics - international curriculum in collaboration with ICTP - Second Level Degree in Functional Genomics – international curriculum in collaboration (Double Diploma) with the Universities of Paris Diderot-Paris VII and Paris Descartes-Paris V. Courses of the second year are taught in English: Gene expression, Structural and comparative genomics - Second Level Degree in Functional Genomics – international curriculum in collaboration (Double Diploma) with the Universities of Paris Diderot-Paris VII and Paris Descartes-Paris V. Courses of the second year are taught in English: Gene expression, Structural and comparative genomics 16

Faculty of Engineering Faculty of Engineering Master in Assistive Technology Master in Assistive Technology Master in Management in Clinical Engineering Master in Management in Clinical Engineering Faculty of Political Sciences Faculty of Political Sciences Master in International Peace Operators Master in International Peace Operators Etc. Etc. 17

7th Framework Programme ( ) 7th Framework Programme ( ) 1 ERC Advanced Grant,1 Marie Curie Industry Accademia Partnership and Pathways (IAPP)1 Marie Curie Network for Initial Training (ITN), 1 Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES), 1 Marie Curie European Re-Integration Grant (ERG), 1 Collaborative Project for specific cooperation actions dedicated to international cooperation partner countries (SICA), 1 No contract Type, Support Action (SA) - Notte dei Ricercatori ERC Advanced Grant,1 Marie Curie Industry Accademia Partnership and Pathways (IAPP)1 Marie Curie Network for Initial Training (ITN), 1 Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES), 1 Marie Curie European Re-Integration Grant (ERG), 1 Collaborative Project for specific cooperation actions dedicated to international cooperation partner countries (SICA), 1 No contract Type, Support Action (SA) - Notte dei Ricercatori 2009 Support Action (SA)- Notte dei Ricercatori 2010 Support Action (SA)- Notte dei Ricercatori

Research Doctoral Programmes Research Doctoral Programmes 49 Foreigner Students enrolled at Doctoral Courses at UNITS 49 Foreigner Students enrolled at Doctoral Courses at UNITS Joint Course with Teaching Staff and Students Exchange – Joint Degree (Univ. Düsseldorf) Joint Course with Teaching Staff and Students Exchange – Joint Degree (Univ. Düsseldorf) Joint Course with Teaching Staff and Students Exchange – Joint Degree (China Earthquake Administration e Chinese Academy of Sciences) Joint Course with Teaching Staff and Students Exchange – Joint Degree (China Earthquake Administration e Chinese Academy of Sciences) 19

Co-Supervision Thesis - 15 Agreements: Co-Supervision Thesis - 15 Agreements: International Mobility of Doctoral Students; International Mobility of Doctoral Students; Qualification valid in 2 Countries Qualification valid in 2 Countries European Universities European Universities 20

Units is now the first Italian University in the Times Higher Education ranking and is among the first 450 universities in the QS ranking Units is now the first Italian University in the Times Higher Education ranking and is among the first 450 universities in the QS ranking 21

Positive aspects of the Bologna Process for UniTS: Positive aspects of the Bologna Process for UniTS: internationalization and internationalization and more efficient organization of more efficient organization of educational programmes educational programmes 22

More double or joint degrees at each level (BA, MA and Doctoral level) More double or joint degrees at each level (BA, MA and Doctoral level) More courses offered in English – even risking a linguistic impoverishment owing to the use of English by non-native speakers More courses offered in English – even risking a linguistic impoverishment owing to the use of English by non-native speakers Reduction of the length of the period of study Reduction of the length of the period of study Closer connection with the job market. Closer connection with the job market. 23

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