Student freedom in contemporary universities: England and Italy compared

Abstract

Cini provides a comparative account of Italy and England to explore the student role in exercising their freedoms in increasingly restrictive marketised higher education systems. Using the examples of student protest actions in 2008 and 2011, Cini argues that students have been able to exercise more freedoms in the Italian system where universities are primarily governed by academics rather than academic managers in English universities. In Italy, where universities are run by academics, there is a greater willingness to negotiate and compromise. As a result, Italian students have a greater freedom of action and influence. By contrast, in England, professional non-academic managers are much more concerned than academics in neutralizing potential challengers and threats that damage the reputation and functioning of universities. Therefore, English students have a reduced capacity of action and influence.