NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

These two-year courses which, once again, come under the responsibility of regional or provincial administrations, are
generally set up thanks to the cooperation of a great variety of institutional bodies: technical institutes, universities, local
authorities, and the organisations responsible for the regional training system. Study organisation, based on a combination of
theoretical lessons with applied exercises and practical activities, are generally modelled on the pattern of university
education.
Even if their qualifications fall within the regional, and not the national official system, the above one- or two-year courses of
vocational training at post-secondary level may be compared to those offered in other countries by certain institutions of nonuniversity
higher education.
Also training courses at a higher professional level — comparable to the post-Lauream programmes of continuing
professional education run by universities — have been rapidly expanding in the last 20 years, once again set up on the
initiative of the regions, either on their own, or, more frequently, in cooperation with industries and commercial firms.
(d) Istituti superiori di scienze religiose — ISSRs
Finally, the Higher Institutes for Religious Sciences should be mentioned, a type of institutions — outside the official
university system — offering education and training for prospective teachers of the Catholic religion in Italian schools of
every type and level.
ISSRs are run by the Italian Catholic Church authorities, under the supervision of the Holy See. The first were established in
1986, immediately after the passing of Act No 121 of 25 March 1985, ratifying the new agreement between the Holy See and
the Italian Republic (8/02/1984).
ISSRs run three- and four-year courses leading to different qualifications, both connected with the knowledge and teaching of
the Catholic religious doctrine.
The basic admission requirement for both the three- and four-year courses in religious studies is the Italian diploma di
maturità.
Studies are organized after the university pattern: subject courses, annual or semestral, may be fundamental (compulsory) or
optional; class attendance is obligatory; as for teaching methodology, traditional
lectures alternate with seminars and teamwork. The approach to the
various subjects is rather a theoretical one, as is typical of the Italian
academic tradition.
Each subject course implies the passing of the corresponding examination, usually oral; semestral subject courses may result
in written examinations. Before the relevant academic degrees may be conferred, in addition to all the subject exams included
in their curricula, students have also to pass a final comprehensive examination — always oral — and finally prepare and
defend a thesis.
The two courses result respectively in the following qualifications: diploma in scienze religiose (three years), and magistero in
scienze religiose (four years). When tuition is based on distance technologies, the above courses are extended to four and five
years respectively.
According to point 4.3 of the agreement between the Italian Minister for Education and the President of the Italian Bishops’
Conference (14 December 1985), the degree called magistero in scienze religiose (four or five years) is recognised by the
Italian State as a university second level qualification entitling the teaching of the Catholic religion in all Italian schools, at all
levels (primary, lower secondary and upper
secondary).
In conformity with the same legislative Act of 1985, the diploma in scienze religiose entitles its holder to teach the Catholic
religion in Italian primary schools; only if it is combined with an Italian laurea, does it allow the teaching of the same subject
( 1 ) in institutes of secondary education.