Please cite this paper as: IReR (2010), “The region of Lombardy, Italy: Self- Evaluation Report”, OECD Reviews of Higher Education in Regional and City Development, IMHE, http://www.oecd.org/edu/imhe/regionaldevelopment OECD Reviews of Higher Education in Regional and City Development The region of Lombardy, Italy SELF-EVALUATION REPORT Prepared by IReR AUGUST 2010 Directorate for Education Programme on Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE) This report was prepared by IReR – Lombardy Regional Institute for Research with the support of the Lombardy Regional Steering Committee as an input to the OECD Review of Higher Education in Regional and City Development. It was prepared in response to guidelines provided by the OECD to all participating regions. The guidelines encouraged constructive and critical evaluation of the policies, practices and strategies in HEIs‟ regional engagement. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Lombardy Region, the Lombardy Regional Steering Committee, the OECD or its Member countries. 2 Table of contents LIST OF TABLES, FIGURES AND BOXES 7 LIST OF ACRONYMS 9 FOREWORD 13 COMPONENTS OF STEERING COMMITTEE AND WORKING GROUP 15 CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW OF THE REGION 17 1.1. The geographical situation 17 1.2. The demographic situation 19 1.2.1. Immigration 19 1.2.2. Young immigrants in Lombardy 22 1.2.3. Natural demographic trends 23 1.2.4. Ageing population 24 1.2.5. Intra-regional population disparities 25 1.2.6. Educational attainment 25 1.2.7. Health and wellbeing 26 1.2.8. Cultural life 28 1.3. The economic and social base 29 1.3.1. GDP 29 1.3.2. Industrial structure 29 1.3.3. Research and development (R&D) 32 1.3.4. Distribution of economic activities 33 1.3.5. Exports and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) 34 1.3.6. Labour market 35 1.4. Lombardy governance structure 37 1.4.1. Local government structure 37 1.4.2. Structure of Regional Government 37 1.4.3. Competences of the Region 37 1.4.4. Revenues 39 1.4.5. Regional budget 39 1.4.6. Competences regarding education 39 CHAPTER 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM 43 2.1. The Italian higher education system 43 2.2. Highlights on Italian higher education 44 2.3. Governance of the national system of higher education 44 2.4. Overview of the Italian system of higher education 46 2.4.1. Universities 46 2.4.2. Students 46 2.4.3. Personnel 49 2.4.4. Financial resources 51 2.4.5. Academies and conservatories (AFAM) 51 2.4.6. Professional training/education institutes 52 2.5. The higher education system in Lombardy 52 2.5.1. Universities 52 2.5.2. Students 55 2.5.3. Personnel 57 2.5.4. Financial resources and evaluation 57 3 2.5.5. Academies and conservatories (AFAM) 58 2.5.6. Professional training/education institutes: Poli formativi 59 2.5.7. The University of Lugano (Switzerland) 60 CHAPTER 3 CONTRIBUTION OF RESEARCH TO REGIONAL INNOVATION 61 3.1. The national framework 61 3.2. The regional framework 62 3.3. The Regional Innovation System 63 3.4. Technology Transfer in Universities 66 3.5. Innovation in companies 68 3.6. Conclusion 74 CHAPTER 4 CONTRIBUTION OF TEACHING & LEARNING TO LABOUR MARKET AND SKILLS 77 4.1. Localising the learning process 77 4.2. Student recruitment 78 4.2.1. Students mobility 78 4.2.2. Collaboration between universities and Regional Scholastic Office 79 4.3. Regional employment 80 4.3.1 Placement 80 4.3.2. Extra-curricular activities 81 4.3.3. Postgraduate 82 4.3.4. Links between universities and companies in the Region 82 4.4. Lifelong learning, continuing professional development and training 83 4.5. Changing forms of educational provision 85 4.6. Enhancing the regional learning system 86 4.7. Conclusion 87 CHAPTER 5 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT 89 5.1. Social development 89 5.1.1. Activities undertaken in collaboration with the Regional Health System 89 5.1.2. Educational and professional attainments for school chiefs and teachers 90 5.1.3. Welfare activities in favour of university students 90 5.1.4. The intermediary role of the university in social development (partnership and promotions) 91 5.1.5. Development of local partnership 92 5.2. Cultural development 93 5.2.1. Centre for the exploitation of Lombardy‟s cultural heritage 93 5.2.2. Catalogue of Lombardy‟s Cultural Heritage 94 5.2.3. Expo 2015 94 5.3. Environmental sustainability 95 5.3.1. Lombardy Foundation for the Environment 95 5.3.2. EnergyLab Foundation 95 5.3.3. University courses and Masters 96 CHAPTER 6 CAPACITY BUILDING FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION 97 6.1. Mechanisms to promote regional engagement of HEIs 97 6.2. Evaluating and mapping the impact of the regional HE system 98 6.3. Institutional capacity building for regional involvement 100 4 6.4. Human and financial resources management 101 6.5. Creating a new organisational culture 101 CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSIONS: MOVING BEYOND SELF-EVALUATION 103 7.1. Institutions of higher education and economic and social development 103 7.2. Actions and role of the Regional Government 103 7.3. Higher education institutions and the knowledge economy 105 7.4. Higher education institutions and demographic change 106 7.5. Higher education institutions and sustainable development 106 7.6. Promotion and development of greater inter-istitutional coordination 107 LIST OF REFERENCES 109 DATA BASES 113 LIST OF LAWS 115 ANNEXES 117 1. Italian regions: area and population 119 2. Foreign students in Lombardy universities: an overview 121 3. Lombardy industrial districts 125 4. Lombardy meta-districts 127 5. The Lombardy Regional Executive (Giunta regionale) 131 6. Competences of State and Regions 133 7. Indicators adopted for allocation of 7% of FFO - Fondo per il Finanziamento Ordinario 135 8. Distribution of faculties among Lombardy provinces 137 9. Portfolio of innovation measures 139 10. Higher education institutions profiles 143 Bocconi university 145 University Carlo Cattaneo - LIUC 151 IULM - Institute of modern languages 157 Politecnico di Milano 161 Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) 169 University of Bergamo 177 University of Brescia 185 University of Insubria 191 University of Milan 197 University of Milan-Bicocca 209 University of Pavia 215 Brera academy of fine arts 221 5 6 LIST OF TABLES, FIGURES AND BOXES TABLES Table 1.1 Foreign residents: countries of origin, year 2009 21 Table 1.2 % of foreigner in Lombardy among young population aged 18-25 years old, years 2003, 2009, 2020, 2030 Table 1.3 Natural demographic trends, years 1992-2009 (thousands) 22 Table 1.4 Population - Intra-regional disparities, year 2009 24 Table 1.5 Composition of the population by degree of education, year 1999, 2004 and 2008 (percentages) 25 Table 1.6 Satisfaction in Italy and in Lombardy 26 Table 1.7 Firms per size classes 29 Table 1.8 Value added by economic sector 30 Table 1.9 Internet diffusion among firms (percentages) 31 Table 1.10 Main features of meta-districts, year 2001 33 Table 1.11 Division of competences between State and Regions 37 Table 1.12 Revenue and State transfers Lombardy Region, years 2005-2010 38 Table 1.13 Agreement between the Lombardy Region and the Ministry of Education, University and Research (19th July 2010) - Subjects and goals Table 2.1 Professors who were older than 60 years of age, years 1998 and 2009 (Italy) 48 Table 2.2 Lombardy‟s university institutions, year 2009 51 Table 2.3 In-coming and out-coming students balance, 2007/08 academic year 54 Table 2.4 Sources of funding, years 1990 and 2007 (millions €) 55 Table 2.5 MIUR ranking for re-allocation of 7% of FFO, year 2009 55 Table 2.6 Higher Artistic and Musical Education Institutions, type and number of 56 students, 2006/07 academic year Table 2.7 Summary of the 2008/09 academic year 57 Table 2.8 Players involved in the Poli formativi 57 Table 2.9 Productive sectors of Poli formativi 58 Table 3.1 Technology Transfer output indicators every 1,000 professors, year 2007 64 Table 3.2 Patent applications filed at EPO, year 2008 Table 3.3 Technology parks Table 4.1 Students enrolled on the first year of three-year courses and ciclo unico courses by area of residence, 2007/08 academic year 75 Table 5.1 Bed places available in the universities, years 2002 and 2008 87 FIGURES Figure 1.1 Lombardy in Europe/ Italy 17 Figure 1.2 The Province (Provinces) of Lombardy 18 Figure 1.3 Demographic growth 19 Figure 1.4 Trend of immigrant population 20 Figure 1.5 Estimation of immigrants illegally present in Lombardy 21 Figure 1.6 Italian and foreign population 18-25 years old, years 2003-2008 Figure 1.7 Demographic pyramid, comparison years 1992-2009 23 Figure 1.8 Lombardy population attending sport and cultural activities in the year 27 Figure 1.9 Trend of GDP - Millions and GDP per-capita 28 Figure 1.10 Variation of stock of enterprises per year 29 7 Figure 1.11 Contribution to GDP growth by main economic branch, years 2000-2007 31 Figure 1.12 Distribution of economic activities, year 2005 (percentages) 32 Figure 1.13 Net balance of FDI in Lombardy out of GDP 34 Figure 1.14 Rates of unemployment and employment 35 Figure 1.15 Employment contracts 35 Figure 2.1 Scheme of the university system in Italy 41 Figure 2.2 Total students enrolled and freshers (thousands) 45 Figure 2.3 Thousands students per faculties, variations 1998/99 - 2008/09 academic years 46 Figure 2.4 Thousands students per regions, variations 1998/99 - 2008/09 academic years 47 Figure 2.5 Composition of faculty personnel, years 1998-2008 (Italy) 48 Figure 2.6 Revenues of the Italian university system, years 2001-2007 (millions €) 49 Figure