The conference of Italian university
deans CRUI sounded the alarm on Thursday saying college funding
could be cut by over 500 million euros under a planned
ministerial decree.
The deans said even covering personnel expenses could become
unsustainable under possible cuts to the FFO fund for
universities.
CRUI representatives on Thursday had originally planned to meet
with University Minister Anna Maria Bernini to suggest talks
with her ministry as well as the economy ministry over changes
to the decree, including to discuss an "excess of limitations"
on the autonomy of universities.
The meeting, however, was cancelled.
Overall, the deans said in a long document, funding would be
slashed by some 173 million euros compared to last year.
Meanwhile university ministry sources on Thursday said the deans
had mounted a "specious controversy" while the fund was still
under discussion "publicizing unfounded and alarmist figures
over alleged cuts to universities".
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