Italian Senate approves National University Council reform

The Italian Senate has approved a reform of the National University Council (CUN), aimed at modernizing the central body to better reflect the current university system. The reform reduces the number of members from 58 to 38 to increase efficiency and agility.

Key structural changes include the reorganization of faculty representation, with 28 members now representing 14 disciplinary areas. Student representation is also being restructured; while the number of student representatives decreases from eight to seven, their overall weight within the CUN increases from 13.7% to 18.4%. This new composition includes five nationally elected students, one doctoral student, and one specialist.

The reform strengthens the CUN’s advisory role to the Minister of University and Research. The Council will now provide mandatory opinions on scientific qualification requirements for university teaching and the distribution criteria for the ordinary financing fund for universities. Additionally, the CUN’s oversight will extend to the entire system of direct appointments. The bill now moves to the Chamber of Deputies for examination.