Italian professors report decline in textbook use among university students

A survey of 463 professors from 34 Italian universities reveals that students are increasingly underprepared for exams due to a declining habit of reading full textbooks. According to the study, conducted by Talents Venture for the Associazione Italiana Editori (AIE), 68% of educators identify the loss of comprehensive textbook study as a primary cause of poor exam preparation.

While 88% of professors consider textbooks the most effective teaching tool, only 17% believe they are widely read by students. Instead, there is a growing reliance on condensed materials, such as course slides (69%) and lecture notes (52%). Approximately 83% of teachers reported a shift in study methods over the last three to five years, noting that students struggle more with lengthy or complex texts.

Educators expressed concerns that this trend diminishes critical thinking and analytical capacity. Other noted deficits include superficial knowledge and difficulty connecting different academic topics. Additionally, 55% of professors view the impact of artificial intelligence as negative when used passively to obtain answers rather than to facilitate understanding.