Controversial university system reform passed by Italian Senate

The Italian Senate yesterday approved a plan by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to radically reform the university system that has sparked mass student protests.

The university reforms which will merge some smaller universities, limit academic recruitment and introduce non-academic university deans were adopted definitively by the upper house of parliament.

The Senate where Mr Berlusconi and his political allies have a large majority voted in favour of the Bill by 161 votes to 98 with six abstentions.

It will now be signed into law by President Giorgio Napolitano.

In one protest last week, clashes in the centre of Rome injured nearly 200 people and saw cars set alight and tear gas fired.

The student protests have become part of a wider opposition movement against the government’s austerity measures and high rates of youth unemployment.