DINOGMI adopts Quality Assurance (QA) policies in line with the directives and guidelines established by the University’s Quality Assurance Board (PQA – Presidio della Qualità di Ateneo). The Department’s QA representatives, in collaboration with the PQA, have personally promoted and delivered all training activities on QA for departmental staff, with particular attention to the implementation of the AVA3 system. Participation in these activities has contributed to a broader dissemination and deeper understanding of QA policies, as well as to improved training for Department members in this area.
DEPARTMENTAL QA OFFICER
Prof. Renata Bocciardi
The QA Officer works in coordination with the Director and the administrative staff to ensure the timely execution of quality management procedures. She is supported in her role by various departmental committee representatives and delegates.
She is responsible for promptly communicating the requests and guidelines issued by the University’s QA Committee to the Department, and for providing support and oversight for all departmental procedures to ensure alignment with university planning and guidelines. Additionally, the QA Officer:
- Refers to the QA guidelines defined by the PQA and disseminates them within the Department.
- Ensures the proper completion of the Scheda Unica Annuale dei Corsi di Studio (SUA-CdS) and Annual Review Reports, within her remit.
- Collaborates with the Department Director in planning improvement actions and monitors their effectiveness.
- Works with the internal structures and committees involved in teaching, research, and third mission processes.
- Supports the Director and the relevant committees in drafting an annual report containing proposals for improvement, which is submitted to the Evaluation Unit (Nucleo di Valutazione) and the PQA.
For several years, the Department Council has included QA policies as a regular agenda item. During these sessions, the results of activities carried out by the teaching, research, and third mission committees are presented in relation to set objectives. This allows the Council to review results and deliberate on future activities.
Teaching activities are conducted in collaboration with the School’s QA Committees, in which the QA Officer participates, playing a key role, for instance, in the document review of Study Program activities.
The QA system review process is aligned with the review of departmental planning.
QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMITTEES
Each Study Program under the Department has its own QA Committee, tasked with verifying the quality of teaching and training activities. These committees submit the necessary documents and reports to the Study Program Councils for self-assessment and QA processes, identifying actions for improvement.
TEACHING COMMITTEE
The Department's Teaching Committee, composed of the Director and seven faculty members (including one coordinator), supports departmental bodies on matters related to teaching and the quality of research. Its main functions include:
- Monitoring the use of funds allocated to teaching, currently fully used to pay for external lecturers.
- Analyzing shortages/excesses of faculty in each Scientific-Disciplinary Sector (SSD), comparing the number of potentially deliverable courses with those actually offered. Results are presented annually to the Department Council before planning.
- Supporting the Department’s Study Programs (CdS) in addressing issues emerging from indicator data or student course evaluation surveys.
Verifying the availability of tenured faculty within the University and their mandatory teaching load (as defined by Article 3 of Regulation No. 5125/2023) before assigning courses to external lecturers.
RESEARCH COMMITTEE
The Department's Research Committee is composed of the Director, seven faculty members (including one coordinator), and one university technician. It supports the Department’s governing bodies on matters related to research and research quality. Its key functions include:
- Contributing to the drafting of the Department’s three-year plan, with a focus on scientific activity, in line with university guidelines.
- Evaluating departmental research projects when internal selection is required, such as for University Research Funds.
- Quarterly monitoring of the quality indicators listed in Section A1 of the Annual Program Sheet (SUA), proposing actions to the Department Council to consolidate or improve the planned quality indicators, and identifying strengths and critical issues.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of previous improvement actions and proposing new ones for the coming year.
- Collecting and analyzing departmental research data to support the preparation of information requested by university or ministerial bodies.
- Promoting a culture of research quality within the Department.
- Encouraging and monitoring the timely submission of research outputs to the IRIS platform, assisted by departmental superusers, ensuring metadata are entered correctly to prevent issues that could negatively impact departmental performance in periodic evaluations.
THIRD MISSION COMMITTEE
The Department’s Third Mission Committee is composed of the Director and six faculty members (including one coordinator). It supports the Department’s governance in third mission activities. Its main functions include:
- Collaborating on the Department’s three-year plan with a focus on third mission activities, aligned with the University’s strategic goals.
- Defining the QA structure for third mission activities and incorporating relevant details in the Departmental Planning Documents.
- Analyzing third mission outcomes in the context of VQR evaluations and proposing continuous improvement actions.
- Proposing and updating activity indicators and evaluation parameters to monitor goals and actions, in alignment with those adopted by the University.
- Monitoring resources and defining criteria for the allocation of human, logistical, instrumental, and financial resources for third mission initiatives, and reporting findings in the planning documents.
- Promoting the Department’s engagement in local community life through public engagement activities.
- Proposing criteria for allocating University Research Funds, defining internal funding call procedures, and evaluating research proposals submitted by faculty. The committee also monitors project implementation and budget use in line with project goals.
YOUNG RESEARCHERS COMMITTEE
The Department’s Young Researchers Committee was established in January 2025 (Department Council resolution dated 15.01.2025). It is composed of nine faculty members with a designated coordinator, all young researchers representing different Scientific-Disciplinary Sectors (SSDs).
This cross-functional committee actively interacts with other departmental committees without overlapping, contributing fresh ideas, approaches, and skills to support the achievement of the objectives outlined in the Department's planning.
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND MONITORING
The process of planning and monitoring departmental activities follows a cyclical and integrated approach. Every three years, a Three-Year Strategic Plan is developed in alignment with the University’s guidelines, setting out objectives, actions, and performance indicators for teaching, research, and the third mission.
On an annual basis, progress is assessed through the preparation of an Annual Monitoring Report, which evaluates the advancement of objectives and identifies, where necessary, corrective measures.
At the end of each three-year cycle, a Comprehensive Review is conducted. In addition to assessing the extent to which objectives have been achieved, this review also considers changes in the broader context, as well as the adequacy of both the Department’s organizational structure and its Quality Assurance system.