Italian universities may soon switch to a system of accumulated credits towards a degree in place of exams, Paul Bompard writes.

University minister Luigi Berlinguer made the announcement while parliament works its way through a first package of reform legislation, which includes greater university autonomy and deregulation in the assignment of academic posts.

Professor Berlinguer told a conference at the National Research Council that he wants to create a credit system similar to the United States's. This would replace obligatory exams and a final thesis, which has little flexibility and no compulsory attendance.

The minister also hinted at variable pay for lecturers, depending on their workload, and not on rank and seniority.

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The planned credit system would require 240 credits (360 for medicine, architecture and engineering) for a full degree. Credits would be assigned both for exams and for attendance of specific courses and seminars.

After only two years at university, students would be able to obtain a basic university certificate with 120 credits in a variety of fields. They would be free to choose from a range of degree courses for their final two years.

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Professor Berlinguer believes the system should reduce the drop-out rate and make allowances for part-time students. He also wants to cut the time taken to get a degree to four years. Italian students graduate on average at , compared to the European mean of 24.

"The text produced by the ministry commission is not a bill yet," he warned. In the meantime, he hoped that "some universities will decide to adopt the new systems in the next academic year".