Below is the press release issued after the meeting of the University Academic Senate on July 15, 2008.
PRESS
The Academic Senate of the University of Bari expressed greatest concern about the recent government measures to curb public spending which, without any comparison with the social partners concerned , distort the nature and role of our institution. Move in this direction in fact selected as the significant cut in funding ministry, the inability to replace teachers who retire and recruiting young researchers, scaling, especially for younger wage already among the lowest in Europe, the transformation of universities into private foundations assumed on the basis of an alleged support of a business already suffering, especially in the South, serious structural problems and characterized by a low propensity to invest in research.
The gradual withdrawal of the state from its historical responsibility to support the public university system to indicate a wish to schedule the final decline has serious consequences for society as a whole that would naturally emptied the peculiar dynamic role played by the University.
Among the immediate consequences This maneuver will only be for families and large increases in tuition fees for students the inevitable deterioration of services. There will a decrease in research and a contraction of the training.
The Academic Senate is therefore calling on government to suspend the decisions taken on the University and open a serious and immediate comparison with universities to find effective solutions together for the future of the institution despite the difficult economic environment.
Otherwise, take the University of Bari, also in agreement with other universities in Puglia, any initiative, even the most sensational. At the same time
University turns a confident appeal for solidarity and contribution of ideas for young people, families, economic operators, the world of education and the professions, the institutions and local institutions, of all social forces.
email address to communicate your support: sostieniuniversita@uniba.it
