Cdm

Go-ahead for the reorganisation of the CUN, which drops from 58 members to 34

The Council of Ministers approves Minister Bernini's decree reforming the academic and advisory body of the Mur

by School Editorial

23 April 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Main innovations
Satisfied CUN President

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The Italian Cabinet has given the go-ahead to a bill reforming the CUN proposed by the Minister of Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini. The measure redesigns the structure and functioning of the National University Council, introducing innovations aimed at making the body more streamlined and effective in its connection with the university system, which has in the meantime changed substantially compared to the 2006 law.

Main innovations

The text provides for a revision of the component of university professors and researchers, which is to be reduced from 42 to 28, representing the 14 disciplinary areas identified by the ministerial decree determining the scientific-disciplinary groups and updating the relevant sectors. The student component, elected on a national basis to coincide with the elections to the National Council of University Students (CNSU), and the technical-administrative staff representation will both consist of three members. The total number of members will be reduced from 58 to 34.

The Minister's role as an advisory body on an elected basis of the academic community is strengthened. The President will be elected by the members themselves.

Particular attention is paid to coordination with the other bodies of the university system. To this end, the presidents - or their delegates - of the Conference of Italian University Chancellors (Crui), the National Council of University Students (CNSU), the National Committee for Research Assessment (CNVR), the Conference of General Directors of University Administrations (Codau) and the National Council for Higher Education in Art and Music (Cnam), and the Council of Presidents of Public Research Institutions (Coper) are to attend the CUN meetings, without the right to vote.

Finally, the text stipulates that the members of the Cun, appointed by decree of the Minister of Universities and Research, shall hold office for four years and may not be elected for more than two consecutive terms.

The reform is part of a broader process of updating university governance, with the aim of making the representative bodies more efficient, better integrated and more capable of responding to the needs of an ever-changing system.

Satisfied CUN President

A positive comment from Paolo Vincenzo Pedone, president of the National University Council. In thanking Minister Bernini for "her openness to listening and sharing, as well as the members of the working table who drew up the first proposal underlying this bill" Pedone emphasised: "20 years after the last reorganisation, the reform is an intervention that strengthens the Council and will make its fundamental role as the elective representative body of a considerably changed and evolved university system more effective".

In his view, 'the choice of the bill as a legislative instrument represents a decision of great responsibility, both to the university system and to Parliament, since it will allow a broad public debate on the issue'. Pedone says he is "convinced that the CUN, in its new composition, will continue to work with commitment and dedication in favour of Italian universities, in close connection with the university system and the Ministry of Universities and Research, to promote innovation, quality and inclusiveness in the national academic landscape," he concludes.

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