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Impact and experiences of the Impact and experiences of the Bologna Process at EU Bologna Process at EU

UniversitiesUniversities

The University of Trieste The University of Trieste

A Case StudyA Case Study

University of TriesteUniversity of Trieste

• 20.000 Students (approximately)20.000 Students (approximately)

• International vocation since its International vocation since its foundation thanks to the foundation thanks to the multilingual/multicultural multilingual/multicultural environmentenvironment

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• Immediate acceptance of the BA/MA-Immediate acceptance of the BA/MA-SystemSystem

• Problem: Fear of not being Problem: Fear of not being competitive with other Italian competitive with other Italian universities and seeing a fall in the universities and seeing a fall in the number of studentsnumber of students

• Consequence: too large a number of Consequence: too large a number of courses not all of which are courses not all of which are sustainable as many of the teaching sustainable as many of the teaching staff are shortly to retire without staff are shortly to retire without replacement.replacement.

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• Now: Teaching programmes Now: Teaching programmes providing students with a very solid providing students with a very solid basic education in fundamental basic education in fundamental subjects subjects

• Philosophy of UniTS: Philosophy of UniTS:

• young people need both a very solid young people need both a very solid education in fundamental subjects education in fundamental subjects characteristic of every study course characteristic of every study course and and

• work experience during the period of work experience during the period of study study

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• 9 years after the introduction of the 9 years after the introduction of the university reform in Italy Alma Laurea university reform in Italy Alma Laurea (meeting point for graduates, universities (meeting point for graduates, universities and the business world) stresses that:and the business world) stresses that:

• 1.students achieve their degrees earlier1.students achieve their degrees earlier

• 2. the number of graduates has 2. the number of graduates has increased fourfoldincreased fourfold

• 3. students attend lessons more regularly3. students attend lessons more regularly

• 4. the threefold increase of work 4. the threefold increase of work experience has significantly improved experience has significantly improved the relationship between students and the relationship between students and the job market.the job market.

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• UniTSUniTS

• Achievement of BA Degrees with 25.5 Achievement of BA Degrees with 25.5 (national average: 26.2)(national average: 26.2)

• Length of studies: 3.9 (national Length of studies: 3.9 (national average 4.5%)average 4.5%)

• Employment rate with BA Degrees: Employment rate with BA Degrees: 48.5% (after 1 year) (national 48.5% (after 1 year) (national average :48.7) 36% of BA Graduates average :48.7) 36% of BA Graduates neither work nor seek work (national neither work nor seek work (national average: 37.6)average: 37.6)

• 32.3 out of 36% are attending a 32.3 out of 36% are attending a university course (MA-Degree).university course (MA-Degree). 66

• MA GraduatesMA Graduates

• MA Degree at 27.1 (national average: MA Degree at 27.1 (national average: 27.3)27.3)

• Length of studies: 2.6 (national Length of studies: 2.6 (national average: 2.7)average: 2.7)

• Employment rate after one year is Employment rate after one year is 53.8% (National average: 55.9)53.8% (National average: 55.9)

• 24.9% neither work nor seek work 24.9% neither work nor seek work (national average: 17.8)(national average: 17.8)

• 19.4 out of 24.9% are attending a 19.4 out of 24.9% are attending a further university specialist course further university specialist course (national average: 12.7)(national average: 12.7)

• Unemployment rate of MA graduates Unemployment rate of MA graduates of UniTS: 13.2% (national average: of UniTS: 13.2% (national average: 17.1%)17.1%)

• MA graduates, therefore, pursue MA graduates, therefore, pursue their doctoral studies or other their doctoral studies or other specialist courses (e.g. at the Faculty specialist courses (e.g. at the Faculty of Medicine).of Medicine).

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• International Student Mobility International Student Mobility

• BA Degree:BA Degree:

• 15% have had a period of study 15% have had a period of study abroad (national average 10.6%)abroad (national average 10.6%)

• 7% out of 15% with an Erasmus 7% out of 15% with an Erasmus programmeprogramme

• MA Degree:MA Degree:

• 23% have had a period of study 23% have had a period of study abroadabroad

• 12.5% out of 23% with an Erasmus 12.5% out of 23% with an Erasmus programmeprogramme

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• 6.762 graduates speak English, 6.762 graduates speak English, 2.365 French, 1.837 Spanish, 1.337 2.365 French, 1.837 Spanish, 1.337 German 716 il Russian, 465 Arabic, German 716 il Russian, 465 Arabic, 1.197 Slovene, 1099 Croatian, 277 1.197 Slovene, 1099 Croatian, 277 Serbian, 52 Japanese and 136 Serbian, 52 Japanese and 136 ChineseChinese

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• Erasmus outgoing students: 338 Erasmus outgoing students: 338 (1999: 312). (1999: 312).

• Difficulty to increase the number of Difficulty to increase the number of outgoing studentsoutgoing students

• 1.The present economic situation1.The present economic situation

• 2. Very low Erasmus grants2. Very low Erasmus grants

• 3. Fear of wasting time if exams at 3. Fear of wasting time if exams at the host university are not successfulthe host university are not successful

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• Work experience Work experience

• BA Degree:BA Degree:

• 65% have had work experience (not 65% have had work experience (not only in Italy, but in other EU-only in Italy, but in other EU-countries in the framework of countries in the framework of ErasmusPlacement) (national ErasmusPlacement) (national average: 54.5%)average: 54.5%)

• MA Degree:MA Degree:

• 60% have had work experience 60% have had work experience abroad (national average: 53%)abroad (national average: 53%)

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• Joint and double degrees Joint and double degrees

• TRIESTE (SSLMIT) / REGENSBURG TRIESTE (SSLMIT) / REGENSBURG (Philosophische Fakultät IV)- Studi Italo (Philosophische Fakultät IV)- Studi Italo Tedeschi - Tedeschi - Deutsch-Italienische StudienDeutsch-Italienische Studien – BA Degree (started in 2005).– BA Degree (started in 2005).

• TRIESTE (Faculty of Natural Science) / TRIESTE (Faculty of Natural Science) / PARIGI (PARIGI (Paris Diderot Paris Diderot e e Paris DescartesParis Descartes) ) – Functional Genomics – MA Degree – Functional Genomics – MA Degree (started in 2007)(started in 2007)

• TRIESTE / LJUBLJANA – BA Degree in TRIESTE / LJUBLJANA – BA Degree in Mathematics (started this academic Mathematics (started this academic year).year).

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• Increasing number of incoming Increasing number of incoming Erasmus and International students: Erasmus and International students: 286 (86 in 2000) together with a high 286 (86 in 2000) together with a high number of foreign students enrolled number of foreign students enrolled at UniTS.at UniTS.

• Enrolled students coming from Enrolled students coming from abroad: 1.731 (392 from Eu-States abroad: 1.731 (392 from Eu-States and 1339 from non EU-States)and 1339 from non EU-States)

• Percentagewise UniTS is the first Percentagewise UniTS is the first Italian University as far as the number Italian University as far as the number of foreign students is concerned.of foreign students is concerned.

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• Faculty of EconomicsFaculty of Economics

• - First Level Degree in Economics, - First Level Degree in Economics, International Commerce and International Commerce and Financial Markets - curriculum Financial Markets - curriculum "Economics of financial and "Economics of financial and insurance markets"insurance markets"

• - First Level Degree in Economics and - First Level Degree in Economics and business management - curriculum business management - curriculum "Economics and management of "Economics and management of Innovation“Innovation“

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• Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences Natural Sciences

• - Second Level Degree in Physics - - Second Level Degree in Physics - international curriculum in international curriculum in collaboration with ICTPcollaboration with ICTP

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

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• Faculty of EngineeringFaculty of Engineering

• Master in Assistive TechnologyMaster in Assistive Technology

• Master in Management in Clinical Master in Management in Clinical EngineeringEngineering

• Faculty of Political SciencesFaculty of Political Sciences

• Master in International Peace Master in International Peace OperatorsOperators

• Etc.Etc.

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• 7th Framework Programme (2007-7th Framework Programme (2007-2013)2013)  

• 11 ERC Advanced Grant, ERC Advanced Grant,11 Marie Curie Industry Marie Curie Industry Accademia Partnership and Pathways (IAPP)Accademia Partnership and Pathways (IAPP)11 Marie Curie Network for Initial Training (ITN), Marie Curie Network for Initial Training (ITN), 11 Marie Curie International Research Staff Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES), Exchange Scheme (IRSES), 11 Marie Curie Marie Curie European Re-Integration Grant (ERG), European Re-Integration Grant (ERG), 11 Collaborative Project for specific cooperation Collaborative Project for specific cooperation actions dedicated to international cooperation actions dedicated to international cooperation partner countries (SICA), partner countries (SICA), 11 No contract Type, No contract Type, Support Action (SA) - Notte dei Ricercatori 2009Support Action (SA) - Notte dei Ricercatori 2009

• Support Action (SA)- Notte dei Ricercatori 2010Support Action (SA)- Notte dei Ricercatori 2010

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• Research Doctoral ProgrammesResearch Doctoral Programmes

• 49 Foreigner 49 Foreigner Students enrolled at Students enrolled at Doctoral Courses at UNITS Doctoral Courses at UNITS

• Joint Course with Teaching Staff and Joint Course with Teaching Staff and Students Exchange – Joint Degree Students Exchange – Joint Degree (Univ. Düsseldorf)(Univ. Düsseldorf)

• Joint Course with Teaching Staff and Joint Course with Teaching Staff and Students Exchange – Joint Degree Students Exchange – Joint Degree ((China Earthquake Administration e China Earthquake Administration e Chinese Academy of Sciences)Chinese Academy of Sciences)

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• Co-Supervision Thesis - 15 Co-Supervision Thesis - 15 AgreementsAgreements: :

• International Mobility of Doctoral International Mobility of Doctoral Students; Students;

• Qualification valid in 2 CountriesQualification valid in 2 Countries

• European UniversitiesEuropean Universities

2020

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

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• Positive aspects of the Bologna Positive aspects of the Bologna Process for UniTS:Process for UniTS:

• internationalization and internationalization and

• more efficient organization of more efficient organization of

educational programmes educational programmes

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• More double or joint degrees at each More double or joint degrees at each level (BA, MA and Doctoral level)level (BA, MA and Doctoral level)

• More courses offered in English – More courses offered in English – even risking a linguistic even risking a linguistic impoverishment owing to the use of impoverishment owing to the use of English by non-native speakersEnglish by non-native speakers

• Reduction of the length of the period Reduction of the length of the period of studyof study

• Closer connection with the job Closer connection with the job market.market.

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