Let’s take-back merit!

Published: 2008 - April/May, Dossier

If Italy is the taillight trailing the field of research, there must be some reasons. If in the Bel Paese registration at scientific faculties is dropping, there must be a reason. If the teaching posts are held only by “the kids of” and the teaching body is almost older than the political class, it must not all be faulted to the “mama’s boys”. And still, if university competitions are often rigged or piloted in name of a nepotism that pales compared to the Borgia’s era, whose fault is of those who keep silent and nod?
These and many other still, are the questions that some of the crucial reflections, developed by Antonio Padoin, prefect of Padua, and by the President of the Young businessmen of Unindustria Padova, Jacopo Silva, interviewed by Nycve at the eve of an important meeting with the faculty of engineer of the University of Padova for the selection of talented subjects that enterprises will try to secure as fast as possible, will attempt to answer. The objective is to renew the connecting threads between enterprise and university, rebuild the dialogue in order to face the challenges of the market and social development.
Jacopo Silva, 34 years of age, engineer and CEO of the Silva Spa, a company that includes a network of auto dealers numbering 250 employees, aims at opening a heated debate about meritocracy within the world of academics. Proud of his working even 14 hours a day, Silva looks at the American model of direct call for the most productive professors who define their team by listing objectives and goals. And the corporate world’s attentive look focuses on what’s happening in the US. To borrow virtuous behaviors and differentiated strategies.

Meritocracy, how I miss you. The debating power was all there, including the intention of starting a healthy ‘clean-up’ to bring merit in the universities’ classrooms. With the cry ‘send home all the barons’, the shockwave has involved also the most attentive entrepreneurs. Where to start from?
“In Italy we truly miss meritocracy. We should take as example the American culture. It’s a matter of placing trust in the  future, trust grows if a deserving individual  goes ahead due to the strengths of his/her abilities and not by cooption or through dark plotting behind the scenes of universities.”

Agree on the American model. But how to reconcile the critic on the autonomy of the scientific productivity with respect to potential profit aims covertly expressed by the corporations?
“The interest by the business world is not just tied to an economic result. Often it is stated that the lack of dialogue between the two subjects is due to the fact that companies do not see an immediate return from the research. University is the heart of the society and all of us are interested that she grows and expand harmoniously, regardless of the interests tied to business or essentially to profits. Quite the opposite, I can say to you, welcome the scholars of philosophy and humanities. Universities have many functions within the Country. It is the bastion of democracy and the university of Padova is certainly a substantial point of reference, given that it is one of the oldest university.   The fact that the educating system culturally shapes young minds insures the Country of being able to grow in all fields, economic, political, institutional and obviously academic.”

In short, what’s needed is more meritocracy and less co-optation, in the USA it works like this.  
“Surely. If the Italian universities were truly meritocratic they would stand as the true engine driving the opportunities for young people, for companies and the entire society. Exactly as it happens in America. In the United States education is an authentic social elevator. A young man, son of a laborer, can invest in his/her capacities, study and if he or she truly commits himself/herself,  can reverse his/her social position up to  even becoming the president of the United States.   This role is fundamental to make a society dynamic. An additional proof that University has truly an extraordinary duty, and with extraordinary responsibilities before the entire society. Everyone demands, and justly so, that the university discharge a fundamental role for the Country.”

Just to give a concrete indication, where should we start from?
“In a meritocratic system, a professor should be free to build his/her team. Should be able to gather those minds deemed truly valid.”

In short, a professor on call? Kick-out rigged competitions?
“Sure, why not? Even in the corporate world a manager has the freedom of building his/her team. Why shouldn’t this be a prerogative for a university professor? Obviously, the choices must be dictated by standards of transparency and paying what’s proper. Without competitions, just as it happens in America. Universities should be allowed to hire by direct call professors who have objectively shown significant results. Everyone, then, must answer of how much has been done or not doing. This also to contrast egalitarianism, where if things don’t work would never become the responsibility of no one.”

Let’s talk about ‘Ateneo pulito’, a courageous project pursued by the Prefect of Padua Antonio Padoin and which is expanding in all major Italian universities. Targeting the so called ‘barons’ is surely important. But what is the proposal? A higher selection of professors based on meritocracy?
“Let’s send home the ‘barons’ is a generalized and aggressive slogan, perhaps a bit forced by journalistic needs. I share, anyway, the moralizing action promoted by the prefect of Padua. But we must try to turn the question in a positive manner. In universities there are extraordinary people who are very committed and are very much appreciated all over the world, but remain confined to a role too small for their abilities. There are other people who do less and hold important roles. Thus, what’s needed is a system that would invest on the more deserving minds and appreciate them just as it happens in the US. While we are discussing, in Italy there are hundreds of frustrated individuals because they are conducting prestigious researches in the scientific field but do not feel appreciated, they don’t see a future or prospects for career. We must try to adopt a system that would reward excellences and doesn’t mortify them as instead it happens in our universities.”

Is this why you embraced the cause of ‘Ateneo pulito’?
“On Padoin’s blog are grouped stories of ordinary every day frustrations, where to find the usual bitter statement by the 45 year old researcher with international experiences who earns 800 Euro a month and for years hasn’t been able to win a professorship competition.   They are stories that must be read and told because in them one can read the pride of those who still hold hopes for the culture of meritocracy. United Sates reward proactive individuals, those who take risk in research like companies; over there prejudices are not a winning proposition, like it happens in Italy, where one who takes risk and fails is hung-out to being mocked.”

I agree, this is the ethical-social side of America, but in reality what can be done to reverse a typical Italian custom of dishonesty?
“In United Sates there is an education system which allows the excellent or even the average student to stand out. Everyone is completely autonomous, hence there are tens of universities on the market which aren’t worth much, everyone knows it and not many enroll there, then there are tens of world’s top universities. Think about Harvard or Stanford. Even selections of students by universities focus on those truly worthy and deserving.  It’s clear that the president of Harvard knows that in that university the best minds are cultivated and must not be lost.”

Talking about brains and meritocracy. It’s more than right to stigmatize the fact that Italian students are less and less attracted by scientific faculties while opt more and more for the three years pseudo-humanities faculties.
“Unfortunately it is so. On 40 thousands registered to the University of Padova every year, only one thousand decide to attend scientific faculties. Everyone registers for the Science of communication, which graduates hundreds of young people who go to fuel the factory of the frustrated. Plus, it must clearly be said that: no one wants to register in scientific faculties because too difficult, too much studying. It’s a bitter consideration but it is true.”

Going back to the main subject. It’s clear that selection based on merit is crucial, but the low wages, which unfortunately apply to the majority of the researchers, do not help this process. There are ‘barons’ who earn golden salaries without publishing anything in a year and just below them an array of underpaid researchers. What’s there to do?
“Look, not even the so called ‘barons’ earn such high salaries. There is a mechanism, all Italian, which takes to a downward leveling-off in a drift of egalitarian do-goodism without any attention to the merit.”

‘Ateneo pulito’ is infecting with its unsettling force the major Italian universities. A sign that something is moving. Has raising the level of the voices been effective?
“The battle for the merit is a battle against all casts, against the logic of co-optations and if it is a provocation, than let it be welcomed. There has been a need to say one more time that culture and universities are absolutely vital for the growth of the Country, for its prestige, for its wellbeing.”