Lecce – Anvur is holding back the activation of the single-cycle master’s degree course in Medicine and Surgery in Lecce. Today, the Board of Directors of the University of Salento meets in an extraordinary session for the approval of the supplementary document in response to the clarifications requested by the National Evaluation Agency of the University System.
Yesterday the document was prepared by the Academic Senate. After the green light of the Curc, the passage in Anvur is the last obstacle to overcome. A “green light” that seemed obvious, but that was not the case. The rector, Fabio Pollice, says he is confident, while he is committed, among other things, to welcoming Minister Maria Cristina Messa, shortly.
In practice, rector, in the preliminary evaluation by Anvur, the medical course received a “non-accreditation”.
“No, Anvur did not express itself, but sent a request for further information on economic and financial sustainability, making explicit reference to the fact that the Puglia Region had not yet approved the Council’s resolution in the Council (for the funding of over 80 million euros , ed). If we have to say it all, Anvur’s evaluation of the project is certainly positive, the only observations he made, I repeat, concern economic and financial sustainability ”.
The regional council’s ratification of the budget change made by the council for funding dates back to 25 May. Could it not have arrived in Anvur?
«The Anvur communication arrived via pec following the decision of the Council. There was an overlap of times. Now we have done nothing but confirm that there is financial coverage. Problem solved”.
Were there no doubts for the teaching staff?
«We have all the teachers: with those on the staff we are able to guarantee the activity of three academic years out of six. So we will be able to guarantee the other three as well. Thanks to the resources allocated by the Puglia Region we will have the professional figures that will allow us to integrate the MedTec path. The new figures will ensure a double result: the professors envisaged with this funding will also be employed in the health care of the territory, thus integrating the staffing of the ASL ».
However, do they employ the teachers currently serving in the scientific faculties of Unisalento, is there no risk of leaving them unguarded when they are going to fill the chairs of Medicine?
“Absolutely not. The resources we have allow us to distribute the teachers in service, taking into account the fact that a teacher must hold 120 hours of lessons not exclusively in one course but by dividing them into several courses. For this we have resources to cover the first three years. What we have will allow us to create a fundamental scientific and training center for the whole of Puglia. The Curc has deliberated positively precisely because at this moment Puglia is undersized with respect to the training capacity and needs of the Region. Then, Anvur will decide whether the course can be accredited or not. If there is a positive opinion, then it will go to the minister for the signature ».
How much will this obstacle weigh in terms of time?
«I had the crystal ball … I, like everyone else I believe, hoped that by the end of May we would have finished the journey. However, it is likely that as early as June we will be able to have the answer. We were very timely: the letter arrived a few days ago, today (yesterday, ed) we prepared the answer in the Academic Senate and tomorrow (today, ed) it will be approved by the Board of Directors. I am very confident. If the course has the green light, we will have to start immediately with the orientation of the students. The MedTec competition is very special, and it is important that it was created in Puglia ».
All that remains is to cross your fingers.
«The project is good, we worked very hard, we had the support of the Puglia Region, that of the other universities, that of the institutions. For my part, the commitment to create excellence for this course ».
The visit of the Minister of Mass could be a fortuitous coincidence.
“It should come in the last week of June, but there is still no confirmation on the date. A sure appointment, however, is that of next 24 June, when we will inaugurate the Salento Biomedical District, in the former Dominican convent in Cavallino. It was a courageous choice but we decided to start from this a system of attraction of Biomed companies because it is a strategic sector for Puglia, because it is a sustainable sector ».