Quality Assurance (QA)
Organization and responsibilities of the AQ of the CdS
Sapienza Quality Assurance System
The Quality Assurance (QA) System at Sapienza University is extensively described on the Quality Team’s web pages, accessible at: https://www.uniroma1.it/it/pagina/team-qualita.
These web pages outline the university’s decade-long development of Sapienza’s QA framework, the organizational model adopted, the key QA actors (Quality Team, Monitoring Committees, Joint Faculty-Student Commissions, Course Quality Commissions), active Working Groups, the main activities undertaken, and the documentation prepared for managing QA processes and activities in Teaching, Research, and Third Mission.
The web pages also serve as a communication platform and a repository of reference data for activities related to Review, the preparation of reports by the Joint Faculty-Student Commissions and Monitoring Committees, and the compilation of the SUA-Teaching and SUA-Research forms.
Each Degree Program and Department is authorized to interpret and adapt the Sapienza QA Model, as defined on the Quality Team web pages, to their specific organizational characteristics, while adhering to the models and procedures set forth by ANVUR (Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes) and the Quality Team.
The Degree Program and Department web pages, together with the SUA-Teaching and SUA-Research forms, constitute the primary communication tools describing the implementation of the QA System at the Degree Program/Department level.
The QA System is divided into five areas: needs and objectives, educational process, resources, monitoring, and management system. Within each area, the processes for managing the Degree Program are identified. The process managers are: the Chair of the Teaching Area for the first two areas, supported by the full Teaching Area faculty; the Director of the Department of Social and Economic Sciences for the resources area; and the Dean of the Faculty of Political Science, Sociology, and Communication for the management system. The QA management team of the degree program holds periodic meetings to monitor the corrective actions proposed in the Review Report.
Additionally, some faculty members involved in the QA management team are responsible for organizing regular meetings with students.
Specifically, the QA Management Commission (CGAQ) consists of: O. Tarola (Chair), G. Pellegrini (Manager), A. Cerqua, F. Di Dio, J. Kopinska, V. Vitale, L. Marino (student member), and D. Pastres.
The Steering Committee includes: O. Tarola, A. Di Clemente, R. Cerqueti, and L. Valente.
The Teaching Quality Commission comprises: A. Di Clemente, G. Zanutto (student member), and L. Marino (student member).
Organization and responsibilities of the AQ of the CdS - further information
Quality Assurance (QA) System
The Quality Assurance (QA) System is structured into five key areas:
- Needs and Objectives
- Educational Process
- Resources
- Monitoring
- Management System
Within each area, specific processes are defined for the management of the degree programme. The responsibilities are distributed as follows:
- The President of the Teaching Area (Area Didattica), in collaboration with the entire Board of Faculty Members, is responsible for the first two areas (Needs and Objectives; Educational Process).
- The Director of the Department of Social and Economic Sciences is responsible for the Resources area.
- The Dean of the Faculty of Political Science, Sociology, and Communication is responsible for the overall Management System.
The QA Management Group (Gruppo di Gestione AQ) of the degree programme holds regular meetings to monitor the implementation of corrective actions proposed in the Annual Review Report (Rapporto di Riesame).
Additionally, some members of the QA Group are assigned to organize regular meetings with students in order to collect feedback and promote active participation in the continuous improvement of the programme.
Consultation with representative organizations
On September 25, 2007, the Faculty, regarding the professional opportunities associated with the study program, contacted trade union organizations (in particular the CGIL), the union representing public sector managers, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, receiving positive feedback.
During the final consultation meeting held on January 24, 2008, "based on the presented motivations and taking into account the consultations and evaluations previously conducted by the proposing faculties, favorably considering the rationalization of the overall educational offer through the reduction of the number of courses, especially degree programs, and noting that no objections were raised during the preceding online consultation nor during the meeting itself, a favorable opinion was expressed regarding the establishment of the individual degree programs, in accordance with Ministerial Decree 270/2004 and subsequent decrees."
Consultation with representative organizations (subsequent consultations)
Meeting with Stakeholders – November 2024
In November 2024, a meeting was organized with the program’s stakeholders. The following individuals were present:
Representing the Degree Program:
- Guido Pellegrini (Chair of the Degree Program at the time)
- Ornella Tarola (Faculty Member)
- Lucia Valente (Faculty Member)
Representatives of Stakeholder Organizations:
- Alfonso Balsamo (Executive, Confindustria)
- Raffaello Bronzini (Executive, Evaluation Unit, MIMIT and Bank of Italy)
- Milena Micheletti (Executive, UIL)
- Fabrizio Potetti (Executive, CGIL Rome and Lazio)
- Antonello Gisotti (Executive, CISL Metalworkers)
- Natale Forlani (President, INAPP)
- Antonio Naddeo (President, ARAN)
- Roy Cerqueti (Coordinator, Doctoral School in Social and Economic Sciences)
The following individuals were unable to attend but provided responses to the questionnaire sent to them:
- Paolo Sestito (Executive, Bank of Italy; former President of INVALSI)
- Aline Pennisi (Executive, Treasury Department)
During the meeting, there was widespread appreciation for the structure of the Degree Program. Mr. Balsamo described it as “innovative and well-structured,” while Mr. Bronzini praised its “coherence and balance.” Particular recognition was given to the program’s focused attention on sustainability issues, which was regarded as very well targeted and relevant.
Numerous proposals were made, not to alter but to strengthen the program’s curriculum with additional knowledge areas deemed important in the labor market. Some stakeholders (Bronzini, Balsamo) suggested expanding the coverage of European policies and institutions, emphasizing the need to reinforce international comparisons on economic, social, and environmental sustainability policies. Trade union representatives recommended incorporating knowledge on labor conditions management and collective bargaining. Several participants stressed the importance of deepening specific sustainability-related topics, such as sustainability reporting and the role of companies in sustainability. Furthermore, to support students intending to pursue doctoral studies, there was a suggestion to enhance quantitative skills, particularly in mathematics.
Finally, the analysis of questionnaire responses indicates that the three professional profiles the program aims to train—Applied Economic Analyst, Economic-Statistical Analyst, and Policy Expert and Evaluator—are expected to be in demand in the labor market over the next ten years and are well-positioned to meet the needs of stakeholder organizations. It was also noted that there is currently a high demand for expertise in policy analysis and evaluation, although this demand is partly contingent on activities linked to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
The discussion also proved useful in strengthening the Degree Program’s ties with stakeholders. Professor Valente outlined a plan to increase opportunities for stakeholder organizations to offer internships to students enrolled in the program.
AQ Management Group
la Commissione di Gestione AQ (CGAQ): O. Tarola (Presidente), G. Pellegrini (Responsabile), A. Cerqua, F. Di Dio, J. Kopinska, V. Vitale, L. Marino (studente), D. Pastres |