Berlusconi and the case of the falling budget

[Noble]

Thanks Nardini but I was under the impression that should the Researcher from Milan try to do the same thing now, it would not be possible. Universities are not recruiting and there is no funding for research? Am I right?

[Nardini]

Originally Posted by Noble

Thanks Nardini but I was under the impression that should the Researcher from Milan try to do the same thing now, it would not be possible. Universities are not recruiting and there is no funding for research? Am I right?

Yes, Noble, you are quite right. Perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough. The chap I am talking about lost his research bursary in Milano - hence his new job as a teacher in the mezzogiorno. He is now an ex-research graduate.

[Nardini]

It is good to see that Silvio has his priorities "sorted" - at least, in the eyes of a prominent UK newspaper...

[Noble]

Great...we laughed out loud Nardini but remember Berlusconi said recently that he slept for 3 hours and then was up to making love for another 3...say no more.

[ram]

The best of the striscione at the university demo's read - Silvio, if it wasnt for research you'd be bald.

[iTALY BOUND]

I can't say i know much about the education funding issue that Italy faces except that some are calling for the privatization of universities if understand things correctly. Here in America, the state and the federal government give schools a huge chunk of money and while this may sound good on paper, the universities have no oversight except for the market value of education. As a result students graduating from American universities are faced with an average debt of $30,000 give or take. This is because students are at the mercy of the banks for loans to get through their higher education and the cost of education in America is far out pacing the rate of inflation. Simply put, there is not much stopping schools from charging whatever they want. Its almost like a national cartel.

In saying this i think that there is a place at the table for government oversight but obviously its a mess over there. To sum it up, by wanting complete privatization of the universities i don't think you guys know completely what you are asking for with all due respect.