As they say, if I’m ever in Rome…!

And as for the things you said (or better yet were reminded of) I couldn’t agree with you more. But the fuel that continually reignites the interest of Italians in Mr. Berlusconi is, of course as you may have imagined, the web of interacted forces that he is overseer and creator of: powerful entrepreneurs, political interests in the media, the altogether absurdity of his uprising in to power (supported even by our former superpowerful prime minister Bettino Craxi) and here too, I could just about go on forever.

With regards to your ever possible visit to Italy, I live in Rome, very close to the Colosseum so if you do happen to swing by remember that.

Where do you live? How old are you? What do you do for a living?

Ciao e buona giornata
Your italian friend
PAOLO

I must admit that the reason for my wholly over-the-top little article is that I find the notion of Italy outperforming the UK to be frankly unbelievable given what a shambolic country Italy is in many ways. I’ve spoken to many people about Italy’s higher education, for example, and it sounds like an unmitigated disaster. And the fact that many Italians keep on voting for Berlusconi…well…[musn't get started...]

Thanks for your invite to Italy, though I need no encouragement to visit such a culturally and gastronomically delightful place! Alas I doubt I’ll be visiting in the short term, but should I do, I’ll drop you a line.

Ciao.

Anyhow, thank you for understanding my point and if you want I can give you plenty of details as to further fill you in on this matter.

I’ve lived in Dorset, UK for almost 8 months in 2008 and boy.. I will tell ya.. your country has some SICK organizational skills. That’s why I decided to post back on your comments. Simply because it just pained me to see that a Briton is sad about his own country’s alleged position.

You wanna come to Italy, work here under normal (if you want to call it that) employment and see for yourself just exactly how much trash and jerry-mandering this country is entrenched in and YOU will be the one encouraging your own Brit pride in no time. HA!

So anyway, don’t worry and be of good cheer.
p.s.: As soon as I get this other year’s worth of work experience I’m going back to the UK or Ireland for good my friend, so…. hehehe, go figure.

ONE MORE INTERESTING FACT FOR YOU: In Italy we have this thing called: “La fuga dei cervelli” Literally translated as: “The flight of the Brains” It’s simplistically explained in this very easy centence: People who have enough brain power and workforce abilities FLEE Italy for lack of opportunity: this also applying to (AS PER YOUR QUOTE: lack of innovation in the UK) scientists with no funds (there’s literally NO Government-supported fund for innovation as of now here, at least not an official one), really smart people with work experience, highly bright students literally running away from the universities the day after they graduate, and I could just about go on forever.

So, please, my good friend Dave… don’t mind it.
If you want you can add me as your Skype contact, if you have it.
it’s paolo.dicapua1
ciao e buona giornata
p.s.2 – you’re invited to Italy anytime you want

As for the surprise and mock shame that I express on Italy’s economy overtaking the UK’s economy, you answered you own rather curious question: Italy has been behind the UK for a century. Hence, the surprise.

You’re absolutely right that haughtiness can be an unfortunately British sin. In this case though, I’m not too worried.

For sure there may well be some kind of methodological issues that imbue surveys like these with biases (any suggestions?). That could be true but overall I think the results are about right. What institutions are missing or should be higher? Certainly no Universities from Africa, the Arab World or South America – that’s no doubt harsh, dismissive but fair (name one…). There are some well placed Asian Universities and whilst in time I’ve no doubt they’ll shoot up the tables, at the moment, from what I know speaking regularly to students and Professors from these places, they are placed fairly well at the moment. Ought German or French or Italian Universities be higher? Possibly, but I really don’t think so. I’ve heard first hand from numerous people that the University systems in these countries (whilst they have an undoubted perigee) are simply, at the moment, in something of a mess. Funding and tenure issues, appear to be two of the key issues afflicting these countries, from what I’ve heard.

But, if you’ve got some evidence or some specific points, do raise them: which Universities should be higher and why?

In any case, I was just rebutting the notion that the UK has ‘poor research’: it just flatly doesn’t. This isn’t to say that it is especially wonderful or that there are not issues with British Universities, but that the original point was simply fatuous and wrong.