Academic arrogance
Something else I'm hearing a bit about these days is the arrogance which pervades the academic establishment here. My concept of education is not solely imparting theory and developing skills, but also preparing a new generation for life in the big wide world. In doing so, I hope that in some small way the world will become a better place. An altruistic and idealistic aim, but at least I'm trying to do something in my own little way.
I believe that many of my students find my teaching style quite refreshing after having endured the excessive formality of the 'ivory tower' university system here. It's quite a new experience for them to be able to ask questions and to openly discuss their hopes and fears, or so it would seem.
I'm not saying all Italian universities are the same, but certainly several principle ones do seem contain groups of individuals who consider themselves to be mini-gods. 'Zero altruism, maximum power trip', would seem to be their motto. Do not even think about challenging this authority. It must be said that those who are in a position to do something about this really don't have the time to bother dealing with it, because they have businesses and families to run.
In support of what I am ranting about, I would say that I recently heard a story that a certain university was giving all its engineering graduates top marks - that's 110/110 cum laude, until someone stood up and said, 'Hang on a moment. How is it possible that every single graduate is getting the same (top) mark?'.
Of course, the king of the castle is able to do whatever he bloody well likes.
A new generation
Beppe Grillo, one of the few Italians who speaks openly about all the things which are not so good in Italy noted this, and I'm noting it too.
There is a new breed of young, well qualified and intelligent Italians who are finding the traditional Italian ways, well, too traditional. What are these people doing? Simple, they are leaving Italy or at least they are looking for opportunities outside Italy. This is a great shame for Italy and it will pay the price in the long term.
Many of these new entrepreneurs and mobile professionals, as you could call them, have become frustrated with the reluctance of the Italian establishment to move with the times and its refusal to acknowledge that for Italy to remain prosperous it must embrace the fact that must accept that it needs foreign intervention, otherwise, and as is happening, its economy will continue to stagnate. However, those that hold the reins here, the familytocracies (a combination of Plutocracy and Oligarchy), as I'll call them, have no intention of allowing outsiders to meddle with the cushy way they have managed the set things up here. So far, they have got away with a high degree of protectionism, but recent incidents, such as the Bank of Italy mess would seem to indicate that maybe the familytocracies will have to relinquish some control. This will not happen overnight, but I do hope it happens before all the bright sparks wander off to pastures new.
If Italy works with and as a part of Europe, it may stand a chance of competing with the likes of China and India. If not, Italy may find itself sliding down the slippery slope towards economic and social decline. If this happens, even more Italians will leave Italy and it will truly become a sick old man.
Some recent stories I've heard have made me think that I really do not want my son to go to university here, simply because the system is not fair. In any case, it will be interesting to see whether my son decides to keep Italy as his home, or whether he will join the many others and aim for countries which operate as mertocracies and not familytocracies. Time, as ever, will tell.
Just for the record, we know someone down in Genova, and who is a graduate with plenty of experience and who earns 800 Euros a month, albeit for 14 months. It is a laughably low salary. Why doesn't this Italian change? Because she is afraid of change.
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Photos from Flickr
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