The reform of electronic universities 2024, currently being finalized, will introduce significant changes to the distance education system. With the aim of improving the quality of teaching and making the system of exams and online lessons more rigorous, the reform provides for a series of changes that will take effect from the 2024-2025 academic year. Here are the 5 key points of the reform.
1) Increase in the Number of Students per Teacher
One of the main changes concerns the relationship between the number of teachers and students.
Currently, for traditional university courses, it is necessary to have 7 reference teachers for each course, with a maximum of 250 students enrolled in the first year. With the reform, electronic universities could manage up to 750 students per course (1.5 times the current number) without having to increase the number of teachers. This change aims to optimize resources and improve efficiency in managing online courses.
2) Live and In Person Lessons
The reform introduces the obligation to carry out at least 40% of lessons live, thus allowing students to interact directly with teachers. In addition, telematic universities that decide to offer some classroom courses will be able to accredit them as “in person”, without having to accredit the entire institution as a traditional university. This innovation aims to balance the online training offer with moments of direct interaction between students and teachers
.
3) In-Person Exams Only
One of the most important changes concerns the conduct of the exams. The reform provides that all exams must be carried out exclusively in person, eliminating the possibility of taking tests and exams online, except for health situations that pose a danger to people. This change is aimed at ensuring greater rigor and transparency in the evaluation of students
.
4) Continuing Training and Updating
The text of the reform also includes provisions for the continuous updating of courses of study and the constant training of teachers of electronic universities. These updates will be governed by a specific decree, which will govern the details of how universities must keep their contents updated and train teaching staff
.
5) Introduction of a New Certification
The reform introduces the possibility of a new certification for online courses, through the public agency ANVUR (National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research) and a national test called Teco. This test, planned for both traditional and telematic universities, will serve to evaluate students’ skills and knowledge, but it has raised concerns among academic representatives, who believe that the quality of educational qualifications should be evaluated internally by
universities.
When Will the Reform Take Effect
The Ministerial Decree that establishes the reform of electronic universities should be published by the end of August 2024, with the aim of applying the new rules as early as the 2024-2025 academic year. The text of the decree will be made available to the public and the news will be implemented progressively.
This reform represents a significant step towards a more rigorous and structured distance education system. With the introduction of new rules for lessons, exams and certifications, the Ministry of University and Research aims to guarantee a higher quality in the training offer of Italian electronic universities
.
