From PhD programmes to assessment: a 26-year-long process of equivalence

The recognition of first- and second-level diplomas from AFAM institutions as equivalent to university degrees is merely the latest stage in a process of bringing the two worlds closer together that began over 26 years ago. And which, under Minister Anna Maria Bernini, has undoubtedly gathered pace.

The penultimate step had been taken less than a month ago, with the Council of Ministers’ approval on 23 July of the regulation on procedures, timelines and methods for the planning, development and evaluation of higher education in the arts, music and dance. Essentially, that Presidential Decree does three things. Firstly, it entrusts the ANVUR Agency with the task of evaluating academies, conservatoires and design institutes on the basis of a three-year strategic plan linked to a series of objectives: teaching, research and international outreach, as well as career prospects and student services, alongside financial sustainability and the availability and suitability of facilities. On this last point in particular, it should be noted that a recent report by the Court of Auditors on the AFAM system highlighted that 86 per cent of the premises in use required at least some form of extraordinary maintenance.

Secondly, the regulation provides for a single funding fund for the AFAM system (known as the FOA, similar to the FFO for universities) and introduces a merit-based system for the allocation of resources based on the results of the evaluation of research outputs (VQR). Not to mention that the initial and periodic accreditation of institutions and degree programmes will be carried out by linking the quality of teaching, research and artistic output to funding and incentive schemes.

To promote international exchanges – and this brings us to the third point – and to showcase Italian artistic tradition abroad, where it already enjoys a certain appeal, as evidenced by the figures on international students, AFAM institutions will also be able to accredit new decentralised branches abroad. ‘Polytechnics of the Arts’ may also be established; these are conceived as forms of collaboration between institutions from different fields, capable of developing interdisciplinary programmes and joint projects, and will be monitored by ANVUR.

These measures follow on from those introduced in recent years. To mention just the main ones, we might consider the reform of the AFAM (Higher Education in Music and Dance) teaching frameworks and the regulatory measures concerning planning and recruitment introduced by Presidential Decree in 2024, or the new artistic and disciplinary sectors established by ministerial decree in 2025. Not to mention, on the one hand, the PhD programmes introduced in 2024, funded in 2025 and then re-funded this year until 2031; and, on the other hand, the opportunity to access PRIN funding and PNRR funding for internationalisation.