Ecobiology

Sapienza's Quality Assurance (QA) System is described in detail on the Quality Team's web pages, available at https://www.uniroma1.it/it/pagina/team-qualita.

The web pages describe the ten-year process developed by the University to build Sapienza's Quality Assurance, the organizational model adopted, the QA stakeholders (Quality Team, Monitoring Committees, Joint Faculty-Student Committees, Degree Program Quality Committees), the active Working Groups, the main activities developed, and the documentation prepared for managing Quality Assurance processes and activities in Teaching, Research, and the Third Mission.

The Web Pages also serve as a communication platform and a platform for providing reference data for Review activities, drafting reports by the Joint Faculty-Student Commissions and Monitoring Committees, and compiling the SUA-Teaching and SUA-Research Reports.
Each Degree Program and each Department may apply the Sapienza Quality Assurance Model defined on the Quality Team Web Pages to the Degree Program/Department Quality Assurance, adapting it to its own organizational needs while respecting the models and procedures defined by ANVUR and the Quality Team.
The Degree Program/Department Web Pages, together with the SUA-Teaching and SUA-Research Reports, are the communication tools for implementing the Quality Assurance System at the Degree Program/Department level.

The Quality Assurance Committee is composed of the Degree Program President, faculty members who teach courses included in the curriculum, and a student representative. The QA members will monitor the implementation of the program's teaching, student performance, and feedback, and will suggest corrective actions to optimize the program (including in light of job market demands) and strengthen the connection between students and faculty. Specifically, the QA's responsibilities include:
analyzing and commenting on data provided by the university QA on:
- admission, coursework, and graduation from the program
- student experience
- support for the world of work;
proposing corrective actions for identified critical issues;
completing the Report of Assessment.

The program's QA management group schedules periodic meetings to monitor the corrective actions proposed in the Review Report.
The program, through the QA management group, will monitor the corrective actions indicated in the previous Review Report through periodic meetings. It will evaluate the results of their implementation, highlighting the strengths identified, any critical issues, and any changes deemed necessary. The Department will verify the adequacy and effectiveness of the program management; it will propose, where necessary, corrective actions to be included in the subsequent Review Report. The meeting schedule will be established following completion of the University's requirements.

In 2008, the Faculty of Sciences (MFN) organized two round tables, in agreement with the NVF and in collaboration with SOUL. On April 4th, a round table discussion was held on the topic of "Graduate Education: Expectations and Prospects for the World of Work," with the participation of numerous business representatives (Johnson & Johnson Medical, Micron Technology Italia, Nergal, Alfa, etc.). On November 6th, a round table discussion was held with the participation of INVALSI, the Italian Air Force, CNIPA, the Civil Protection Agency, ISPESL, RIS, the Science Museums of the Municipality of Rome, and the State Forestry Corps. The suggestions and observations that emerged were taken into account in the formulation of the Master's Degree program. At the final meeting of the University-wide consultation on January 19, 2009, taking into account the results of the preceding online consultation, the participating organizations welcomed the rationalization of Sapienza's educational offerings. This rationalization, in addition to reducing the number of courses, aims to diversify them into highly attractive classes for which there is more than adequate faculty coverage. Furthermore, after a detailed evaluation of the Faculties' educational offerings, the organizations themselves expressed a favorable opinion on the establishment of individual courses. Finally, the various presidents of the Biology CAD who have taken turns over the years have both organized a meeting with representatives of Sapienza Biology students, right from the initial phase of the Master's program, to gather any comments. More recently, they participated in a Technical Roundtable on the role of biologists in healthcare professions (July 8, 2011). The aim was to organize, in conjunction with the College of Italian University Biologists (CBUI), training internships for Biology undergraduates/graduates in analysis laboratories in both clinical and environmental settings. The Rector declares that in drafting the course regulations, this course and any related curricula will differ by at least 30 credits from other courses and curricula in the same class, pursuant to Ministerial Decree 16/3/2007, art. 1 §2.

The Faculty of Science organized a stakeholder consultative meeting on March 9, 2016. In addition to the Dean and members of the Monitoring Committee representing the degree programs, the meeting was attended by representatives of professional associations, including the National Association of Biologists (ONB), and representatives of organizations and companies, including ISPRA, Omegafarm, Digital Video, and others. A science journalist also attended, given the importance of communication for researchers in presenting their research to an audience of both specialists and non-specialists.

Since other participants also emphasized the importance of communication in the workplace, the Ecobiology Degree Program Council, in conjunction with other Biology degree programs, will evaluate, among other initiatives, the possibility of acquiring credits from specific courses already offered at this University or, alternatively, organizing lectures and/or seminars for students led by communication experts.
During the March 9, 2016, meeting, the ONB representative emphasized that the roles and responsibilities of a Biologist are adequately described in the Faculty's degree programs. The educational offering fully meets the needs of students for appropriate training. The expected learning is consistent with professional needs and reflects a broad-based preparation in the individual subjects of the various areas of expertise for Biologists. However, despite their excellent preparation and expertise, graduates face significant difficulties entering the workforce, as society and the labor market require Biologists with increasingly well-defined and specific specializations. Therefore, it is considered beneficial to increase contacts with local companies to build bridges between trainers and businesses. Furthermore, the importance of adapting to new technologies and the use of social media to inform businesses and citizens about the University's activities is emphasized. During the meeting, several observations emerged that could be explored in more depth in more targeted meetings focused on related cultural areas.
Continuing regular contact with the CBUI, representatives of the Ecobiology Degree Programme participated in the 5th National Conference entitled "Education of Biologists: New Professional Activities and Prospects," which was held on April 6, 2017, in the Aula Magna of Roma Tre University. Among the various topics covered at the conference, in the cultural context of Ecobiology, it was emphasized that regional environmental protection agencies represent an important career path for biologists and that it would be beneficial to develop non-medical specialization schools to introduce graduates to this type of work. Furthermore, it would be important to better leverage the relationship between industry and academia, although industry is not seen as a natural career path for biologists.
Following these consultations, the Coordination Committee of the Biology Degree Programmes (CCB) established a Steering Committee common to the entire teaching area on March 2, 2018. The Steering Committee (CI) is currently composed of representatives of regional and national parks for the nature conservation area, of the ANISN for the teaching area, representatives of scientific communication and dissemination, industry, and the Forensic Police, as well as, of course, a member of the National Association of Biologists (ONB). Representatives of public and private environmental control and research bodies will be added to this initial core group.
On September 17, 2018, the first consultation meeting was held between the members of the Coordination of Biology Degree Courses (CCB) and representatives of the organizations representing the relevant production and professions. All expressed appreciation for the quality of the teaching offerings and the graduates' preparation. However, they suggested taking some initiatives
to improve communication skills, both in Italian and English, towards a wider audience. The ANISN representative also advocates for increased training in biological sciences teaching to improve graduates' teaching skills.
At its meeting on February 22, 2019, the Biology Degree Program Coordination Committee (CCB) evaluated the possibility of organizing meetings with industry experts to improve students' communication skills, incorporating suggestions from representatives of organizations representing production and relevant professions.
On May 28, 2019, the Degree Course organized a meeting/lesson on scientific communication and dissemination with the Director of 'Le Scienze' and 'National Geographic' Italy. On January 27, 2023, a consultation meeting was held between the heads of the Ecobiology Degree Program, Prof. Maria Letizia Costantini (Acting Degree Program President) and Prof. Beniamino Trombetta (representative of the Faculty Monitoring Committee), and the representatives of the organizations representing production and the relevant professions: Dr. Aldo Angelo Spinella, Technical General Director of the State Police (retired), Dr. Cecilia Verga Falzacappa, delegated by Dr. Luigi Grillo, representative of the National Order of Biologists, Dr. Anna Pascucci, Vice President of ANISN and Director of ABE - AMGEN BIOTECH EXPERIENCE Italy, Prof. Enrico Cherubini, Scientific Director of EBRI (Neuroscience area), Dr. Marianna Reale, Reithera, Dr. Daniele Badaloni, Director of the Bracciano-Martignano Regional Park (Nature Conservation area). Professor Simone Ferrari was also present, representing the Faculty's Placement Committee for the Biology area. The discussion focused specifically on the professional profiles of the master's program, the specific needs of the job market, and possible modifications and additions to the curriculum. The various contributions from stakeholders essentially confirmed the effectiveness of the degree program, as it provides a solid foundation, while also highlighting some gaps and suggesting improvements. Dr. Badaloni noted the lack of detailed knowledge of environmental regulations and design among the program's graduates, particularly regarding European tenders. He also emphasized the need for greater emphasis on scientific communication and suggested considering the possibility of preparatory courses in schools. Dr. Pascucci also noted a lack of graduate planning skills beyond the technical and scientific aspects and highlighted the need for a professional with expertise in outreach activities who can act as a link between the school and research.
Link to the minutes: http://bbcd.bio.uniroma1.it/bbcd/qualita.

Steering Committee Renewal (November 11, 2024) and First Meeting.
The new steering committee, augmented by new professional roles, was approved by the Ecobiology Degree Board on November 11, 2024. The new committee's internal members include the Master's Degree Program President, a representative for doctoral programs, and a representative for university master's programs. External members include the Delegate of the Order of Biologists of Lazio and Abruzzo (OBLA) for University Relations, the ONB Nutrition Delegate, a Lab Manager from Genome Eurofins, the Operations Director of Monsanto Agricoltura Italia, and the President of the Regional Park. from Bracciano-Martignano, an IRBM Researcher, a Senior Researcher at the National Research Council (CNR), a Biologist at ACEA S.p.A.; the President of the National Association of Natural Science Teachers (ANISN), and a former student of the Master's Degree in Ecobiology.
The first consultation with the members of the steering committee was held remotely on November 14, 2024. To encourage participation, representatives of the Steering Committees for the Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences and the Master's Degrees (LM) of the LM-6 class at Sapienza University were convened for a single meeting. The opinions of the stakeholders were also collected through questionnaires. The discussion examined the professional profiles intended to be created with the three-year L-13 program and the subsequent Master's Degree (LM-6), the specific needs of the labor market, and possible modifications and additions to the curriculum. The contributions of the stakeholders convened substantially confirmed the validity of the curriculum presented, as it ensures a solid preparation of Basic, while highlighting some gaps and suggesting interventions. Specifically, it was suggested promoting the acquisition of "soft skills," the ability to analyze big data, and the use of statistical/mathematical tools by students. The members of the steering committee and the degree program presidents also agreed to reinstate Career Day to better engage students with the world of work.
Link to the minutes: