The University of Trento promotes the constant enhancement of the quality of its Departments and Centres, study programmes, research, and third mission, using the tools indicated by the AVA framework (internal QA, external QA and accreditation of the Italian university system) and as part of the Quality assurance policy of the University.
Quality Assurance of Teaching and Learning
The School of International Studies implements its own quality assurance policy in line with the Quality Assurance Framework of the University and ANVUR’s guidelines.
Centre Organisation of Quality Assurance
The actors in the Quality Assurance Framework in the School of International Studies are listed in the Organisation of Quality Assurance section
Sources and instruments
The bodies responsible for the quality assurance of teaching and learning periodically monitor the learning objectives achieved in the degree programmes and the general quality of courses based on:
- data provided by the Monitoring, Statistics and Policy Development Unit on student progress
- statistical data on career perspectives and employability from various sources (the Almalaurea database, studies, studies conducted by the School of International Studies or by the University's research groups)
- surveys of student opinions on the quality of teaching and learning at UniTrento
- student feedback and requests submitted through the Joint Student-Teacher Committee
- feedback from the graduates of the programme of study.
Documents
The following documents are drafted periodically:
- Annual Monitoring Report
- Annual Programme Report (SUA)
- Periodic Programme Review
- every 4 years for Master's programmes
Research and Third Mission Quality Assurance
Assessment methods and criteria
The Centre uses different instruments to monitor and promote the quality of research outputs produced by its researchers and research groups:
- defines the objectives of research
- evaluates the results obtained in the different research areas based on the following indicators
- number and importance of research projects that have been presented and funded
- publication of articles in national and international journals and/or the national and international rankings of scientific publications provided by relevant scientific communities
- number and importance of seminars and conferences organized
- participation in national and international conferences and other research dissemination events
- participation in conferences, workshops, seminars, schools
- participation in programme and editorial committees in relevant scientific communities
- international faculty exchange programmes for visiting professors
- ability to attract external funds for research
- collaboration with industrial and social partners.
The Centre established a consultation body made up of figures from the academic and business sector which is responsible for:
- examining the reports and scientific outcomes of research activity
- drafting an evaluation report containing guidelines for research development, initiatives that could be undertaken, aspects to consider and adjustment actions.
Organisation of Quality Assurance
Actors in the Quality Assurance Framework
Director
The Director coordinates the Centre's teaching and scientific policies and ensures their implementation, represents the Centre, presides over the Council and the Executive Committee and enacts their decisions.
Delegate for Quality
The Delegate for Quality promotes the constant monitoring and enhancement of the Quality of Teaching and Learning, Research and Third Mission at the Department, while ensuring constant coordination between University and Centre on QA processes and initiatives.
The Delegate for Quality at the Centre is Paolo Rosa.
Centre Council
The Council is the collective body of the Centre and is the body with overall responsibility for quality assurance.
Actors in the Quality of Teaching and Learning
Joint Student-Teacher Committee
Each Department/Centre has its own Joint Student-Teacher Committee (CPDS, Commissione Paritetica docenti-studenti) and ensures the widest possible representation of students from the Degree Programmes it offers. The Committee:
- monitors the quality of study programmes and of teaching and learning
- identifies indicators for the evaluation of programme performance
- expresses its opinion on the activation of new and/or discontinuation of existing study programmes
- reports the opinions and views of students to their representatives for each study programme.
Programme Coordinators
- are responsible for planning and revising the programmes of study
- are responsible for drafting the Annual Programme Report (SUA-CdS), the Annual Programme Reviews and the Periodic Programme Review
- carry out effective monitoring regarding programme performance, ensuring that
- actions proposed during previous reviews are implemented
- learning objectives are periodically reviewed
- programme learning objectives are monitored.
- act in a timely manner to address any issues.
Student representatives
The main role of student representatives is to report on any problematic issues and suggestions from students relating to improving the teaching and learning experience.
They also ensure full transparency and disclosure of information.
They participate in all review panels and in the Joint Student-Teacher Committee.
Stakeholder Advisory Group
The Group undertakes to carry out the following:
- assess the coherence of study programmes with cultural developments;
- provide information on the actual employment potential of graduates and on the skills deemed most important in the relevant employment sectors;
- express opinions on the aptness of course educational objectives with the career opportunities expected, on the effectiveness of the education opportunities provided in relation to the objectives identified, as well as on the benefit of offering supplementary didactic or extra-curricular activities in order to provide students with the skills necessary to enter and achieve in the workplace.
Members of the Group are also able to provide useful advice in terms of monitoring (thus strengthening the structure's outward accountability), as well as guidance when the content of study programmes is revised.
Cinzia Alcidi - Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Bruxelles
Anna Biondi - International Labour Organisation (ILO), Ginevra
Gianni Bonvicini - Istituto Affari internazionali (IAI), Roma
Roberto Busato - Confindustria Trento, Trento
Alda Cappelletti - INTERSOS, Roma
Giulia Chiarel - Rappresentanza della Regione Tirolo-Alto Adige-Trentino a Bruxelles, Bolzano
Nicoletta Clauser - Servizio Pianificazione Strategica e Programmazione europea, P.A.T.
Mario Del Pero- Paris School of International Affairs (SciencesPo), Parigi
Alice Gadler - International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Camilla Lunelli - Gruppo Lunelli, Trento
Alessandra Proto - OECD Trento Centre for Local Development, Trento
Alice Rubini – Ambasciata d’Italia, Bucarest
Student Feedback on Teaching and Learning
The students of the School of International Studies can help identify and address any quality issues concerning academic or support services provided by the School, and report any inappropriate behaviour, through:
- the student representatives in the School Council and in other bodies;
- the coordinators of their degree programme;
- or by email to segnalazioni.studenti.sis [at] unitn.it. All reports will be forwarded to the relevant person and treated in a confidential manner. The students who have given their feedback will be contacted by the Secretariat of the School of International Studies (Galina Kamburova), who is responsible for addressing these issues.
Other university bodies that students can contact are:
- the Student Ombudsperson, who is available to all students and can help with relations with teaching and technical-administrative staff;
- the Committee for Equal Opportunities, Well-Being at Work and Against Discrimination, which works to promote and protect equal opportunities and well-being in the working environment among the University’s staff;
- the Confidential Counsellor, who is in charge of preventing, managing and helping to resolve any cases of bullying and sexual harassment occurring in the workplace or study environment brought to his/her attention.
For information and suggestions concerning student and support services you can contact:
- Academic and Student Support Services, for admissions and enrolment, tuition fees, study plans, registration for exams, degree award, interruption of studies, withdrawal, transfer to other universities or other programmes;
- the International relations division for Erasmus+ and double degree programmes, bilateral agreements, internships and thesis research abroad;
- the Tutoring service for tutoring and student support in the different disciplinary areas, and access to services;
- the Job Guidance Office for curricular and postgraduate internships;
- the University Language Centre – CLA, for language courses and tests;
- the Test Center for ECDL, GMAT, TOEFL certificates;
- Opera universitaria for scholarships, university restaurants, accommodation;
- the Inclusion Service for support services for students with disabilities and special needs;
- the University Library for library services, loans, e-books and digital resources, dissertation writing.