Rome Academy Students Protest Director Vacancy

Students of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma will protest on February 3, 2020, in front of the Ministry of University headquarters in Rome. The protest stems from the absence of a director since September 2019, when the outgoing administration changed election rules mid-process, excluding a second-tier professor candidate despite a closed call. The MIUR opinion, requested by the outgoing director, supported this exclusion. As a result, 72 of 113 eligible voters boycotted the election. Three voting rounds were held without a quorum, and regulations were altered post-hoc. Professor Andrea Lelario won a majority, but the procedure was deemed irregular by the TAR, though the excluded professor's appeal was dismissed. Additional appeals by 13 faculty members are pending. An exposé to the public prosecutor is under preliminary investigation. The ministry has not yet responded to a proposal for commissariamento. Students demand a competent director and transparency, highlighting systemic issues in Italy's AFAM system, including the outdated 1999 law 508 and unequal degree recognition. The student assembly on January 28 called for the protest, supported by CPCSAI and national academies.