Delegations of the Italian and the German Rectors Conferences, CRUI and HRK, met in the University of Padova on 9 March 1996 to discuss recent developments in higher education in the cooperation between Italy and Germany. The meeting was characterized by a friendly atmosphere and fruitful discussions.
The meeting concentrated on
- analysis of the existing bilateral cooperation between Italian and German institutions of higher education
- evaluation of the Vigoni-Programme and its further development
- possibilities to implement new joint Italian-German projects
- financing the higher education system in both countries
- proceedures for assessing and enhancing the quality of teaching and research in higher education institutions
- cooperation of the Rectors’ Conferences on the European level.
The delegations analysed the present level of cooperation between Italian and German higher education institutions. They stated that cooperation has reached a good level with 650 cooperations and an equal exchange between Italy and Germany. Nevertheless they stressed the need to intensify staff and student exchanges between institutions of higher education in both countries.
The main problem in academic exchange is the knowledge of language and culture. Therefore both delegations expressed their view that students should be able to communicate in three European languages.
Both sides welcomed the sucessful implementation and development of the Vigoni-Programme for the promotion of young academics' mobility to improve joint research programmes. Given the present number of projects in the fields of humanities and social sciences they discussed the necessity and the possibility to give some preference to cooperation projects in these fields. Due to common European history and culture they suggest the European Union to support multilateral research projects in these fields as well.
In order to intensify the German-Italian cooperation in the higher education sector, both delegation agreed to promote the implementation of new German-Italian projects, i.e. the foundation of a Center for Italian Studies at the University of Bonn. They propose to organize binational research cooperation and summer schools between smaller groups of higher education institutions as a basis for multinational cooperation on a European level. They decide to set up a small bilateral working group in order to analyze and propose solutions for the difficulties of lecturers of foreign languages due to different laws in both countries.
In both countries the institutions of higher education have to face high percent-participation rates, despite the fact the public funding of the higher education system in Italy and Germany has not increased in proportion to student numbers. The Rectors’ Conferences discussed in this respect the necessity to improve financing the higher education sector.
Both delegations acknowledged the need for regular internal and external quality review as part of the process of assuring and enhancing the quality of higher education.
Both sides agreed that the cooperation between the Rectors’ Conferences on the European level should be enlarged and intensified having in mind the challenges and opportunities of new developments within the European Union.
Padova, 9 March 1996