Scholastic Equipollence
Although I have an engineering degree my foreign degree will not be respected in Italy. Only if I register with a local university, will my credentials be respected. This process is not only time consuming, but it can be expensive. Moreover, the standards for determining who and what degrees will be granted "equipollence" are not clear and often inconsistent.
I have often asked why so much money has to be paid to accredited agencies in various countries to obtain equipollence for our university degrees and scholastic diplomas. Why should our hard work and sacrifice not be acknowledged at the same value? Are we qualified because of our merit in a given country or is it all a question of money?
I hope to awaken the public opinion on this matter in order to have a governmental agreement ready to give equal recognition for the effort made by an Italian or American student. By diminishing the bureaucratic labyrinths we can facilitate access to the job market or the continuation of further studies abroad. But we must do so in a way that protects the reputation and high standards of the sponsoring institutions, while preserving a politically impartial and accessible system.
Professional specialization together with technological achievement is the key for the success of each individual or country's system. We benefit by creating the opportunity for our citizens to introduce new advances from aboard to complement our home grown initiatives. I will remove the barriers that prevent the return of those talented citizens who often must emigrate abroad for necessity.
Investments in education are investments in our community for generations. This shouldn't be a wish or aphorism once used by Gandhi, but a concrete and tangible reality for everyone without omitting anyone. Rather than discouraging our citizens from going abroad for education, we should welcome the diversity that it offers, and appreciate that it provides more opportunities to educate more of our children.
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