Public Administration and Higher Education in Italy

In the realm of higher education (HE), universities assume a pivotal role in promoting the economic and social development by disseminating knowledge and enhancing human capital. This chapter discusses how the public role of Italian universities has evolved over time, starting from the years following World War II up to the present day. The chapter also highlights how the progressive evolution of universities’ role has been characterized by a simultaneous—though often delayed—evolution of their systemic and corporate governance, leading to a layering of administrative logics and widespread resistances to change. In this regard, the renewed intervention of the state into the university system—through the policy measures adopted within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR)—represents an element of acceleration towards a more impactful role of universities for both social and economic development, which ultimately requires more collaborative and network-based governance approaches. Finally, the chapter discusses four main current and future challenges that impact the evolution of the Italian university system: (i) an increasing fair access and inclusiveness, (ii) an increasing awareness of territorial imbalances, (iii) the challenges raised by online teaching and telematic universities, and the full internationalization of the system.