ITALY'S HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM: LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES (1999-2020)

The legislative support of the Italian higher education system in the period 1999-2020 was analyzed, which significantly influenced the reformatting of the established requirements of higher education, served to prevent challenges and contributed to the implementation of positive changes in the provision of quality educational services. The constitutional features for the sphere of higher education in Italy are presented and their fundamental role in the implementation of educational activities by higher education institutions is emphasized. The ways of introducing reforms in the system of higher education in Italy, which are due to the implementation of the Bologna process, in particular, cover the reforms of Moratti in 2003, Fiorini in 2006-2007, Helmini in 2008-2010, the reforms of «Good School» (La Buona Scuola) in 2015. The impact of the approved ministerial communiqués of the Bologna Process countries in 2001-2020 on the Italian higher education system, in particular on the educational activities of universities, professional growth of academic staff, expansion of institutional autonomy, university governance, etc. is described.