Student 'parliament' for Italy

Italy's first national "parliament" of 30 student delegates has taken office to work with the university ministry to review Italy's state university system.

The Consiglio Nazionale Studenti Universitari is part of the programme of reforms of Italy's state university system, launched five years ago by university minister Luigi Berlinguer and continued by his successor, Ortensio Zecchino.

Mr Zecchino said: "This is an important step. We are implementing a revolution in our universities, and to do so without a formally constituted body representing the students would have been a problem."

Tommaso Agasisti, a second-year economics student at Bologna University who is president of the new council, said: "This will mean that at last the students will have a real and constructive dialogue with the ministry."

The 30 delegates were elected in Italy's 60-plus universities in May, when only about 10 per cent of the student population voted.

The council will meet in Rome, at the university ministry, and will have a consultative role on all decisions taken on university reform. It will be free to make proposals and to formally ask questions of the university minister.

The CNSU, which will have a lifespan of three years before new elections, will also prepare a detailed report on all aspects of university life.