The Dottorato di ricerca [6.4.3.] is regulated according to the following provisions:
• section 4 of law no. 210 of 3 July 1998, for the definition of the fundamental objectives and general criteria, from courses setting up and organisation, to candidates’ selection and scholarship assignments;
• Ministerial decree no. 224 of 30 April 1999, for the suitability of university seats to set up Dottorato di ricerca, according to Ministerial decree no. 117 of 23 March 2000 for the implementation of law 210/1998;
• Regulations no. 509 of 3 November 1999, which establishes that the laurea specialistica is the qualification required to be admitted to the Dottorato di ricerca courses; further- more, it defines the procedures for the acknowledgement of foreign qualifications for the admission to research doctorate courses.
Provisions on Dottorato di ricerca foreseen in the already mentioned sections of Regulation 509/1999 have been confirmed through Ministerial Decree no. 270 of 22 October 2004 which confers to the single universities the responsibility for starting up Dottorato di ricerca courses [6.5.3.].
The specializzazione di secondo livello courses are regulated by Ministerial decrees 509/1999 and 270/2004; courses can be started up exclusively according to specific national regula- tions or European Union directives; however, specialistic university education is offered by
laurea specialistica courses and first- and second-level Master universitario courses.
6.4. General objective
6.4.1. Non-university tertiary education
The courses of AFAM institutions have the following educational objectives:
• Course for Diploma accademico di primo livello: it aims at assuring an adequate mastery of artistic methods and techniques, as well as the acquisition of professional competen- cies in specific subjects [6.10.1.] [6.15.1.].
• Course for Diploma accademico di secondo livello: it aims at providing students with an advanced level education to offer them a full mastery of artistic techniques and methods
and techniques as well as the acquisition of high-level professional competencies [6.10.1.] [6.15.1.].
• Course for Diploma accademico di specializzazione: it aims at providing students with high-level professional competencies in specific sectors [6.10.1.] [6.15.1.].
• Course for diploma di perfezionamento o Master: it meets the requirements of cultural investigation in certain study sectors or of professional updating/requalification and life- long learning [6.10.1.] [6.15.1.].
The complete implementation of the reform foresees also the
• Diploma accademico di formazione alla ricerca in the art, music, dance, drama and design fields: it provides the skills required to plan and carry out highly qualified research activ- ities in the art and music fields [6.4.3.] [6.15.3.].
6.4.2. University tertiary education
The educational objectives of the study courses of first and second cycle are the following: • The laurea (L) course is designed to provide students with a high level of understanding
of methods, cultural and scientific aspects of their study field, as well as specific profes- sional understanding [6.10.2.] [6.15.2].
• The purpose of the laurea specialistica/magistrale course is to provide students with advanced competencies for highly qualified activities in specific sectors [6.10.2.] [6.15.2.].
• The specializzazione di primo livello course is designed to provide knowledge and abilities for particular professional activities for those who already have obtained a Laurea specilis- tica/magistrale [6.10.2.] [6.15.3.].
• The Master universitario course aims at ensuring scientific specialisation and high level permanent and recurrent training [6.10.2.] [6.15.3.].
6.4.3. Postgraduate level
The educational objectives of the third cycle university studies are the following:
• The Dottorato di ricerca course aims at providing the competencies required to carry out highly qualified research activities at universities, in public bodies and private structures [6.10.3.] [6.15.3.].
• the specializzazione di secondo livello course aims at providing knowledge and competen- cies to carry out particular professional activities [6.10.3.] [6.15.3.].
• The second level Master universitario course aims at guaranteeing scientific specialisation and high level permanent and recurrent training for those who have already obtained a
laurea specialistica/magistrale [6.10.3.] [6.15.3.].
The third cycle studies of Alta formazione artistica e musicale (AFAM) have the following educational objectives:
• The formazione alla ricerca course aims at providing competencies for planning and car- rying out high quality research activities. The final qualification is equivalent to the uni- versity Dottorato di ricerca.
6.5. Types of institutions
6.5.1. Non-university tertiary education
Institutes that provide high level art and music education Alta formazione artistica e musicale
(AFAM) are the following:
• Accademie di belle arti: according to section 6 of the decree approved by the Council of Ministers on the 20thof September 2002, the four-year degree of the old system is equiv-
alent to a first level degree. There are 20 Accademie di belle arti and 24 legally recognised Accademie di belle arti.
• Istituto superiore per le industrie artistiche (ISIA): they are state institutes offering a specif- ic training in the design field (graphic design). There are 4 ‘Istituti Superiori per le Industrie Artistiche’ in Italy: in Faenza (specialised in ceramic design); in Rome and Florence (specialised in industrial design); in Urbino (specialised in graphic design). According to Law 508/99, ISIA have fallen under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, University and Research.
• ‘’Silvio D’Amico’’ Accademia nazionale di arte drammatica: its seat is in Rome; it offers training courses for actors and directors to Italian and foreign citizens between 18 and 25 years of age.
• Conservatori di musica (57) and officially recognised Music Institutes (21): admission is based on an esame di idoneità; age limits are established according to the study path. • Accademia nazionale di danza, its seat is in Rome; admission is based on an esame di
idoneità and age limits are established according to the study path.
Other non-university higher education institutes:
• Santa Cecilia National Academy with its seat in Rome: it offers specialisation courses in music studies lasting no longer than 3 years and free courses, seminars and master class- es taking place in certain periods of the academic year. Students who are in possession of a ‘Conservatorio di musica’ diploma or an equivalent qualification can be admitted to the courses of the Santa Cecilia National Academy;
• National School of Cinema (former Experimental Centre for Cinematography), with its seat in Rome: it offers three-year courses providing a specific training in one of the fol- lowing sectors: Production, Acting, Direction, Script, Furnishing and Costum, Photography, Cutting and Editing, Sound Technique. Each course can accept 6 students, except from the Acting course which can accept 12 students (6 females and 6 males); • Central Institute for Restoration with its seat in Rome: it provides four-year courses in
the following teaching areas: murals, paintings on canvas, fabrics, leather, paper and poly- chrome wood-carvings; metals, ceramics, glass, enamels, goldsmithery, ivory, bone, amber and excavation objects; mosaics, natural and artificial stone-materials, stuccoes; fossil manufactures. The number of available places is established annually in the admis- sion announcement; attendance is compulsory;
• School of Restoration of the Mosaic is managed by the Environment and Architectural Goods Service of Ravenna in collaboration with the Central Institute for Restoration of Rome; it offers four-year courses providing restoration teaching in the following areas:
wall-mosaics, floor-mosaics, natural and artificial stone-materials, plasters, stuccoes. The number of available places is of 9 units every year, of which six for Italian citizens and 3 for foreigners; attendance is compulsory;
• the Opificio delle pietre dure has its seat in Florence. Its four-year courses are structured in a triennium destined to fundamental teachings and one year of specialisation. The num- ber of available places is set annually within announcement of the competitive exam according to the Institute’s availability;
• le Scuole di archivistica, paleaografia e diplomatica are instituted within some State Archives and cannot exceed the number of 17 schools all over Italy. Courses last two years, the number of available places depends on the various seats; admission requires get- ting through a Latin language test;
• Scuole Superiori per Mediatori Linguistici (SSML) [6.17.] are private higher schools for interpreters and translators; they offered three-year courses legally recognised according to Law no. 697 of 11-10-1986. SSIT, which change their own teaching orders in accor- dance with regulations provided by Ministerial Decree (MIUR) no. 38 of 10-01-2002, are called SSML; these schools issue qualifications destined to the linguistic mediation sector. Such titles are attained at accomplishment of three-year higher education courses, corresponding to 180 crediti formativi universitari; such courses aim at providing students with a valid cultural and linguistic basis at higher level, at least in two languages besides Italian, as well as a strong basis in the cultures of the chose languages; furthermore, these school provide to develop specific linguistic-technical skills, both oral and written, ade- quate to the typical professions of the linguistic mediation area. Admission requires the possession of an upper secondary school leaving certificate or another title attained abroad acknowledged by the school bodies responsible for teaching. Furthermore, teach- ing regulation requires an adequate initial linguistic training; in fact, it sets the necessary knowledge for admission and determines the verification terms. The perfect knowledge of the candidates’ mother language should be tested. Teaching is assigned to university professors and researchers or experts with an adequate translation and interpreting qual- ification as well as a documented professional experience obtained carrying out activities related to the subjects in question. Teachers’ academic and professional curriculum should attest their qualification. The rules in force on study right in the university sector under responsibility of the Regions apply also to students enrolled in these schools. SSML diplomas are equivalent to laurea (L) certificates issued by universities at the end of laurea (L) degree courses pertaining to class no. 3 (Class of University degrees in Linguistic mediation sciences). They permit admission to laurea specialistica courses of classes 39/S (Conference interpreting) and 104/S (Literary translation and Technical-sci- entific translation).
• Accademie militari: Accademia Aeronautica di Pozzuoli, Accademia della Guardia di Finanza, Accademia militare navale di Livorno, Accademia militare dell’esercito di Modena: they are all destined to those who want to start a military career or to prolong the national service as cadet officer or lieutenant. Admission is based on a competitive exam announced by the relevant Ministries and psycho-physical aptitude tests. Starting from year 2000 also women can enrol in military academies. The courses duration last 2 (cadet officer) or 5 years (lieutenant). All military academies allow to follow a degree course in various sectors.
• Higher Institutes of Religious Sciences (‘Istituti superiori di scienze religiose’): they are essential for catholic religion teaching, which can be carried out also by lay teachers, in every type of Italian schools at all educational levels. Admission is free and the duration of courses vary according to which study title the student wants to obtain (3 years for a diploma in Religious sciences and 4 years for Faculty of arts for intending teachers in Religious sciences ).
• ‘’Alfonso Gallo’’ Central Institute for the Pathology of Books: it is a body of the Ministry of cultural goods and activities, with its seat in Rome; it deals with research aimed at the safeguard and restoration of books. It organises short stages for professionals offering also a specialised training course;
• Foundation for the Preservation and Restoration of Books: it has its seat in Spoleto; with the support of the European Social Fund, it organises a three-year course aimed to obtain the ‘’restorer- keeper of library and documentary goods’’ vocational qualification.
6.5.2. University tertiary education
University higher education is provided in the 89 university institutes, sub-divided as fol- lows:
55 state universities located all over the national territory;
3 state polytechnic institutes with their seats in Bari, Milan and Turin;
17 free universities, or non-state universities that are legally recognised by the relevant state authority;
2 Universities for foreigners in Perugia and Pisa;
6 higher schools/institutes, called ‘special system high schools’ because they offer exclu- sively study courses and qualifications at the two more advanced levels;
6 telematic universities.
6.5.3. Postgraduate level
Regulation 509/1999 and Ministerial Decree no. 270 of 22 October 204 (universities teach- ing autonomy) confer the responsibility for starting up Dottorato di ricerca courses to each university; they establish the number of courses, admission procedures, educational objec- tives, duration and study programs. The courses can be started up also through agreements among more universities and with public and private subjects who have high level cultural and scientific qualifications.
Furthermore, each university establishes the amount and the requirements for the assign- ment of the grants foreseen for each Dottorato di ricerca course.
Furthermore, the universities organise specializzazione di secondo livello courses and second level Master universitario courses [6.4.3] [6.6.3.].
AFAM institutes organise courses for the attainment of Diploma di formazione alla ricerca
[6.4.3] [6.6.3.].