JOIN US Shop windows were smashed and several police vehicles were set alight in the riots which took place in the centre of Rome.
The injured, including 22 protesters and 57 police officers, were brought to hospital.
The violence erupted as parliament’s two houses were in session for key votes on the future of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right government.
The government eventually won both confidence motions, albeit by a margin of only three votes in Chamber of Deputies.
Defeat in either would have forced Berlusconi to resign. Student representatives had obtained permission to stage a peaceful march down the capital’s streets, but small groups broke away from the main demonstration and attempted to enter an area cordoned off by police, the reports said late on Tuesday.
The reforms include cutting funds to faculties and courses which the government says attract only a few students and drain resources from other more vital areas of study.
Critics of the reforms say they will make less funds available for research projects and other investments universities have to make to guarantee high standards of education.