PISA – The Chancellor of the Scuola Normale Superiore Vincenzo Barone is set to resign on Wednesday after representatives from the university delivered a no-confidence vote, academic sources report.

 The university’s Academic Senate voted 12 in favour, with one abstention, of the no-confidence motion on Tuesday afternoon, leading Barone to confirm his resignation in front of the Senate on Wednesday.  

 Continuing in his role irrespective of the vote would have “further damaged the image of the Normale and of Barone himself,” a source inside the university was quoted as saying.

 “I have nothing to comment,” the Chancellor said on Wednesday morning in response to questions over his resignation. “From now on I will focus more on my health,” he added.

 The World University Ranking 2018, compiled by the Times Higher Education, placed the Normale in the top 100 in Europe, while it is regarded as one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Italy.

pm