THE CHALLENGES OF FURTHER TRAINING IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALISATION

The debate at the Faculty of Economics with Maria Da Graca Carvalho

Bassi, the Rector: Italian universities are wasting talent Councillor Salvatori: a research system for the Euregio

In the society of knowledge access to training represents one aspect of democracy. However, knowledge is also the ultimate factor in development: using it to best advantage means rewarding the best so as not to waste talent. The relationship between these two aspects was discussed this afternoon at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Trento, during a debate chaired by Paolo Collini, with the participation Maria De Graca Carvalho, innovation and research advisor to President Barroso of the European Commission, the Rector of the University of Trento, Davide Bassi and the Councillor for planning, research and innovation of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Gianluca Salvatori. De Graca Carvalho illustrated the challenges faced by Europe, in the wake of the strategies outlined in Lisbon: demanding challenges, considering for example the resources destined for the university system in the EU. As a percentage of GDP, these are around half the amount made available in the USA. “However, while the public contribution is not that dissimilar, the contribution of the private sector is around seven times higher in the United States than it is in Europe.” However, the problem is not just a question of resources. It is necessary to break down the barriers between universities, giving them real autonomy and developing partnerships between further education and the world of business. “Today knowledge is not a private matter, it is a social value” – commented the Rector Bassi – “but Italian universities are wasting talent. Trento perhaps less than others. On the other hand we have the problem of size: a system limited to Trentino is not reasonable. Nevertheless, as compared to a few years ago we have made several steps forward. Following the recent reform fragmentation has diminished and we have begin to join forces and work together.” “This is true” – commented Salvatori, one of the main figures behind the reform of the sector in Trentino - “but the world is changing more and more rapidly. In the last ten years we have seen a new factor come into play: universities are no longer the driving force behind change. Economics has become central. Universities must keep pace and be increasingly open, although we know that in Europe this is more difficult than in the USA, also for historic reasons. In Italy some universities - including Trento – tried to introduce the concept of merit to the university funding system: they were mocked. In the meantime they are doing the same thing in China, on Chinese scale: their objective is to put 100 Chinese universities among the first 500 in the world by 2020. And they will succeed.” Coming to the research system, Salvatori stated that it is necessary to collaborate systematically at least at the level of the “Greater Tyrol”, bringing together Trento, Bolzano and Innsbruck. “I launched the proposal a year ago” – he added – “but we are still at an early stage, and it is not as if the idea is new, it is an obvious idea”. .