The academic diplomas issued by the Institutions of Higher Artistic, Musical and Dance Education (AFAM) will become degrees in all respects. This was announced by the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, during a meeting with the presidents, directors and student representatives of Academies, Conservatories and Higher Institutes for the Artistic Industries.
Minister Bernini’s announcement
«This intervention represents a historic step – declares the minister – with which we overcome a distinction which over time has been increasingly less consistent with the quality of the training offer of our Academies, Conservatories, ISIAs, National Academies of Dance and Dramatic Art and all AFAM institutions. Their courses have for years had fully university characteristics, high quality standards and consolidated international recognition.”
«With the choice to use the name “degree” – adds Bernini – we restore clarity to our students, strengthen the readability of the qualifications even abroad and enhance an extraordinary heritage of creativity, research, innovation and culture. Art, music, design, restoration, theatre, dance and all the disciplines of AFAM represent one of the pillars of Made in Italy and of our international projection”.
Investments in the AFAM sector
The meeting with the governance was also an opportunity to review the main measures adopted during this legislature to enhance the AFAM sector. In particular, the minister recalled the investments in construction, internationalisation, the right to study, research doctorates – refinanced with a further 100 million – in addition to the interventions carried out by the MUR to strengthen the functioning of the AFAM institutions, expand the workforce, enhance the staff and update the compensation of the government bodies.
A process of strengthening the sector, recognized today by the Court of Auditors which approved the report on the AFAM system, which highlights an overall positive picture, marked by the progress of the reform, the increase in investments and the completion of the nationalization of 22 institutions.