Organisation and responsibility for the QA of the degree course
Quality Assurance of the degree course is a constituent element of the management, monitoring and measurement of the dynamics governing teaching, the verification of knowledge and know-how.
Degree courses, in particular, are at the heart of the educational mission of higher education institutions. They are designed through the design of one or more output figures, defined through the identification of their scientific, cultural and/or professional characteristics and, consistently, of the training paths leading to the acquisition of the specific knowledge and skills associated with the output profiles.
Course design must involve the students and external stakeholders most appropriate to the character and objectives of the course. The external stakeholders of the degree course include all the actors, organisations and institutions potentially interested in the cultural and professional profile of the graduates drawn by the degree course (organisations representing the production of goods and services, the professions and/or - if considered relevant to the project - scientific societies, research centres, academic and cultural institutions of national or international relevance, etc.). Where functional to the proposed project, stakeholders may be represented by a Steering Committee, consisting of a representation of the Department's teaching staff and representatives from the world of work, culture and research representing the stakeholders of one or more degree courses.
The degree courses must be constantly updated, reflect the most advanced knowledge in the disciplines, also in view of the continuation of studies in subsequent cycles, ensuring interchange with the world of research and the world of work.
Course of study - Review Group - Quality Assurance Manager
For the purposes of Quality Assurance, each course of study is required to:
⦁ apply, as far as he/she is concerned, the policies and general guidelines for quality established by the governing bodies;
⦁ carry out self-assessment and review of its training and management of the course of study according to the analysis reported in the annual report of the Joint Committee of Teachers and Students (CPDS) and the data provided by ANVUR, the Evaluation Committee and the Management Control Unit (U.O.), also comparing itself with similar degree courses with a view to benchmarking;
⦁ promoting continuous improvement and assessing its effectiveness;
⦁ implementing the evaluation of teaching in accordance with the provisions of the University.
The Course Committee, through its President, is also responsible for the information reported in the ANVUR documents (SUA-CdS, Annual Monitoring Form, Cyclical Review Report).
To this end, each course of study sets up a Review Group (RG) made up of figures from within the course itself, able to contribute to the evaluation of the course from different points of view (teaching staff, technical-administrative staff, students). The Course committee is normally composed of the Course President, the Quality Assurance Manager (RAQ), a student representative and an Education Manager from the Degree course's Department. The RG has the task of guiding the course of study towards the goal of continuous improvement of its results. The RG manages the self-assessment process, i.e. the process by which the school monitors its own performance and assesses its own results, also according to the guidelines established by ANVUR.
In the course of the self-assessment process, the Course council examines everything that can contribute to the analysis of the results of the degree course, and in particular:
⦁ the annual report provided by the Joint Committee of Teachers and Students of reference; the report of the Evaluation Committee;
⦁ the progress of students' careers;
⦁ the availability of contextual services (tutoring, internationalisation, guidance, internships, etc.);
⦁ consultation with the socio-economic system of reference (including the Steering Committee, sector studies, specific meetings with social partners);
⦁ the availability of resources (human and infrastructural);
⦁ the opinion of students on the degree course;
⦁ the availability of information on the degree course;
⦁ the quality of the services provided;
⦁ the quality of the teaching staff;
⦁ the quality of the teaching staff's training;
⦁ consultation with the socio-economic system of reference (including the Steering Committee, sector studies, specific meetings with social partners);
⦁ availability of resources (human and infrastructural);
⦁ students' opinions on teaching, on the organisation of the school and on the training pathway;
⦁ any other information provided by the RAQ, the Education Manager and the Coordinator/Responsible for the teaching quality service (see paragraph X).
The work of the Review Group takes the form of the compilation of an Annual Monitoring Form and the drafting of the Cyclical Review Report, which is discussed within the Council of the relevant Degree Course and forwarded to the University Quality Assurance Committee PQA and the University Evaluation Committee.
Finally, the Quality Assurance Manager (RAQ) has the function of monitoring and verifying the correct implementation of the improvement actions approved by the Degree Course committee. The RAQ is identified among the degree course teaching staff.
Departmental Quality Assurance In this context, the role of the Departments is of primary importance, as they are fundamental organisational structures for carrying out scientific research, teaching and training activities, as well as for the transfer of knowledge and innovation and for related or ancillary external activities. The Director and the Department Council are the governing bodies of the Department and are responsible for defining the Quality Assurance Policies for Departmental Research and Teaching.
The University Quality Assurance Committee (PQD) is set up within each department and is the operational and linking body between the department and the University Quality Assurance Committee.
The PQD:
⦁ disseminates the culture of quality;
⦁ applies, as far ashe/she is concerned, the policies and general guidelines for quality established by the governing bodies of the University;
⦁ assists the chairpersons of the course of study in the drafting of documents for the QA of the CDS (SUA-CdS, cyclical review report, annual monitoring form);
⦁ assists the Director in the drafting of research QA documents (SUA-RD, any programmatic documents of the Department);
⦁ supports the Director and the Department Council in the definition of policies and objectives for Quality and QA of research and third mission;
⦁ promotes continuous improvement in research and teaching through self-evaluation activities and evaluates the effectiveness of actions taken.
In addition, the PQD, through the Department Teaching Delegate (as provided for by the "Framework Regulation for the Functioning of Departments"), liaises with the Department Teaching Commission, a commission that supports the Director in carrying out his/her teaching duties (as provided for by the "Framework Regulation for the Functioning of Departments"), while, through the Departmental Delegate for Research Quality and Third Mission, he/she verifies the regular execution of the procedures for the drafting of the SUA-RD.
Department Director According to the Statute, the Director has the function of promoting, guiding and coordinating scientific activities. He/she supervises and evaluates research activities and the third mission.
The Director is assisted by the Department's Research Quality and Third Mission Delegate, who is entrusted with the following tasks
⦁ support in the definition of the Department's research quality and third mission policies with the identification of indicators that take into account the teaching commitment but also the quality of research and technology transfer activities;
⦁ definition of the Department's research quality and third mission assurance procedures;
⦁ annual monitoring of research products (as defined by ANVUR in the VQR call and in the SUA-RD), both in quantitative and qualitative terms;
⦁ structured management of the Department's Public Engagement activities.
The Director is responsible for the information reported in the QA documents (SUA-RD and any other Departmental policy documents).
In accordance with the Statute and with the University Regulations and the Framework Regulation for the functioning of the Departments, the Joint Committee of Teachers and Students (CPDS) of the Departments have been set up, composed of one teacher and one student for each course of study belonging to the Department. The SDPC may be divided into sub-committees if deemed necessary. He/she is chaired by one of the tenured Professors.
The CPDS is a permanent observatory on teaching activities.
The CPDS:
⦁ monitors the range of courses offered and the quality of teaching, as well as the services provided to students by professors and researchers within the Department;
⦁ expresses an opinion on the consistency between the credits allocated to educational activities and the specific educational objectives set;
⦁ identifies and monitors indicators for the evaluation of results;
⦁ formulates opinions on the activation and suppression of degree programmes;
⦁ analyses data and information relating to the range of courses on offer and the quality of teaching;
⦁ submits proposals to the Evaluation Committee for improving the quality and effectiveness of teaching structures;
⦁ monitors the indicators that measure the degree of achievement of teaching objectives at the level of individual structures.
By 31 December each year, the CPDS draws up a report in accordance with the provisions of the quality assurance legislation and sends it to the Chairmen of the Boards of Studies related to the Department, to the Director of the Department, to the Coordinator of the University Quality Control and to the Coordinator of the University Evaluation Committee.
Departmental structures
At departmental structure level, coordination in all typical departmental administrative and management activities is carried out by the Head of Administrative Management (RAG). Among other functions, the RAG oversees and coordinates the activities related to administrative support to institutional teaching activities, including front-office work with students, in relation to the department's courses, the educational offer, the evaluation and self-evaluation of courses, supervising the processes related to the accreditation and quality of degree courses; supports and assists the Presidents of degree courses in functional coordination with the Teaching Area; activities relating to administrative support for institutional research activities and the third mission, including technology transfer, research grants, research scholarships, overseeing processes relating to the quality of research and the third departmental mission.
In the field of teaching, according to the University function chart, the RAG can avail himself/herself of a Service Coordinator for the quality of teaching (cat. EP) who coordinates, together with the RAG, the typical support activities for teaching, the educational offer, the front office with students, and the quality of courses, including PhD programmes. He/she coordinates the department's teaching contacts; he/she coordinates incoming and outgoing orientation initiatives; he/she coordinates the admission processes to degree courses and the management of activities relating to tutoring and graduating students; he/she supports the degree presidents the Joint Committee of Teachers and Students and the Supervisory Boards of the degree courses in the Department. He/she coordinates activities related to internships, placements and international mobility. He/she carries out functional coordination of staff. He/she works in functional connection with the teaching area.
Alternatively, the RAG may employ a Head of Service for Teaching Quality (cat. D) who guarantees, under the coordination of the RAG, supervision of the typical teaching support activities as described above.
In addition, each school has an Education Manager (MQD) (Cat. D, C, B) which guarantees the organisation and functionality of the teaching of the course of study. He/she provides, in functional coordination with the head of the service for teaching quality, administrative support for everything concerning the organisation and operation of degree courses. He/she manages and updates the content of the degree course website in collaboration with the relevant structures. He/she works in functional connection with the teaching area.
As a member of the RG, s/he plays an essential reference role for the teaching organisation and is a professional figure of particular value for the Quality Assurance of Courses of Study.
In the field of Research and Third Mission, according to the University function chart, the RAG can avail itself of a Research and Third Mission Service Coordinator (cat. EP) who coordinates, in common with the RAG, the typical activities supporting research (national and international), the third mission, the quality of research, the enhancement of departmental know-how, also performing interface and connection functions with the technical staff of the department. He/she coordinates and supervises the support processes related to the proper implementation of the department's research activities, from participation in calls for proposals, to the management of research projects (including contract research), to support in the preparation of research contracts, to the reporting of all national and international projects and contracts. He/she supports the drafting of the SUA-RD. He/she carries out functional coordination of staff. He/she works in functional connection with the Research Area. Alternatively, the RAG may employ a Service Manager for Research and Third Mission (Cat. D) which guarantees, under the coordination of the RAG, the supervision of the typical research support and third mission activities as described above.
The minimum organisational structure of the course of study consists of the following entities:
⦁ Degree President,
⦁ Quality Assurance Manager of the Degree COurse (RAQ)
⦁ Review Group (GdR)
⦁ Steering Committee
⦁ Guidance delegate
⦁ Delegate for tutoring
⦁ Career guidance delegate
⦁ Degree tutors
⦁ Commission for international mobility (CMI)
The Review Group of the Second-cycle Degree Course in Architecture and City Sustainability (RG) is composed of the following members:
⦁ Prof. Michele Zazzi (Course President) - Responsible for the Review;
⦁ Prof. Barbara Gherri (Course Professor) - Quality assurance manager for the degree course;
⦁ Ms Cinzia Zilli (Education Manager);
⦁ Ms Chiesa Isabel (Student)
