Development and International Cooperation Studies

The Quality Assurance (QA) System of Sapienza University is comprehensively described on the Quality Team’s web pages, accessible at:
https://www.uniroma1.it/it/pagina/team-qualita
These web pages outline the decade-long process undertaken by the University to develop Sapienza’s Quality Assurance framework, detailing the adopted organizational model, the key actors involved in QA (including the Quality Team, Monitoring Committees, Joint Student-Teacher Commissions, and Course Quality Commissions), the active working groups, the main activities carried out, and the documentation prepared for managing processes and QA activities in Teaching, Research, and Third Mission initiatives.
Moreover, the web pages serve as a communication platform and a repository of reference data for activities such as periodic Reviews, drafting reports by the Joint Student-Teacher Commissions and Monitoring Committees, and compiling the SUA-Teaching and SUA-Research forms. Each Degree Program and Department has the authority to adapt the Sapienza QA Model—defined by the Quality Team’s web pages—to their specific organizational contexts, while complying with the models and procedures established by ANVUR and the Quality Team.
The web pages dedicated to each Degree Program/Department, along with the SUA-Teaching and SUA-Research forms, constitute the communication tools outlining the implementation modalities of the Quality Assurance System at the Degree Program/Department level.
The QA Committee of the Degree Program conducts continuous monitoring of the structural and educational factors most impacting the two degree courses. Particularly through ongoing engagement with the student body, it supervises logistical and organizational aspects as well as coordinates study programs to ensure students receive as comprehensive a cultural education as possible.
The organizational model for managing QA in the Degree Program is as follows:

• The President of the Degree Program Council oversees the regular conduct of teaching activities and the institutional duties of faculty members;
• The Degree Program Council approves the program design, monitoring reports, and the cyclical Review; it examines reports from the Joint Student-Teacher Commission (CPDS), the Monitoring Committee, the OPIS (student opinions), and delegates for didactic innovation;
• The Quality Assurance Management Group (CGAQ) oversees the implementation of the University’s quality policy, guided by the decisions of Sapienza’s governing bodies, and evaluates performance through appropriate efficiency and effectiveness indicators.

To this end, the QA group carries out the following activities:

1. Providing teaching support by monitoring assistance and counseling plans aimed at helping students overcome difficulties during their studies and thesis work;
2. Monitoring tutoring activities for inactive, out-of-course, and part-time students;
3. Overseeing the network of relationships with companies to foster ongoing exchanges with the labor market;
4. Taking all necessary measures to encourage student participation in feedback surveys regarding their courses.

Additionally, the QA management group organizes periodic meetings to monitor corrective actions proposed in the first Review Report. The Review Group coincides with the CGAQ, which drafts the annual Monitoring Report and the Cyclical Review Report. CGAQ activities are carried out in close coordination with the teaching representatives of the relevant department and under the supervision of the Faculty Didactic Manager.
The CGAQ involves at least one regularly enrolled student in its activities.
Key personnel:

• Faculty Educational Affairs Officer:  Guido Petrangeli
• Departmental Educational Affairs Officer: Nadia Girolami
• Head of CGAQ: Prof. Alessandro Vagnini

Based on deadlines set by the AROF Directorate, the University Quality Team, the Monitoring Committee, and the University Evaluation Unit, the CGAQ of the Degree Program plans and executes the following activities:

• Annual Monitoring Report
• Cyclical Review
• Implementation of corrective actions
• Monitoring and evaluation of student careers (inactive, out-of-course, part-time)
• Monitoring and evaluation of graduate placement
• Monitoring and evaluation of internationalization efforts
• Monitoring and evaluation of OPIS (student feedback)
• Monitoring the information provided to students on the Department’s website

The Board is composed of representatives from the following organisations:

• FOCSIV – Federation of Christian-inspired International Volunteer Organisations
• CNA – National Confederation of Crafts and Small and Medium Enterprises
• Institute for Economic Development – World Bank Group
• ActionAid
• ENEA – Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development
• Caritas Italiana
• Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP)
• AICS – Italian Agency for Development Cooperation
• FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• CGIAR Climate Security FOCUS / Climate Change Resilience, Food Security and Agriculture
• UNHCR Italy – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
• AOI – Association of Italian Organisations for International Cooperation and Solidarity

In addition, coordinators of the following doctoral programmes at Sapienza University of Rome were also invited to participate:

• Comparative and International Public Law
• Political Science and International Relations
• Social and Economic Sciences
• History and Cultures of Europe
• National Doctorate in Peace Studies

Professor - Student Joint Committee
ANTONIO FASANELLA -  President - antonio.fasanella@uniroma1.it
SILVIA LUCCIARINI -  silvia.lucciarini@uniroma1.it
CLAUDIO BRILLANTI -  claudio.brillanti@uniroma1.it
GUIDO PETRANGELI -  guido.petrangeli@uniroma1.it
NELLO BERARDO - student
PASQUALINO TURBINELLI - student
GIACOMO BRUNELLI - student

Stakeholder Consultation and Feedback
In March 2008, the Faculty proactively reached out—both directly and via email—to a wide range of organisations, companies, and institutions operating in the field of international cooperation. These included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), the Ministry for International Trade, FOCSIV (the Federation of Catholic NGOs), the Italian offices of the United Nations and the World Bank, as well as several companies active abroad, such as TECNIMONT.
All stakeholders involved acknowledged the value and relevance of the degree programme established by the academic area. In particular, they expressed appreciation for the effort to unify into a single interfaculty programme the three previously existing degree courses activated under Ministerial Decree 509/99. This restructuring was seen as fully aligned with the streamlining objectives set out by Ministerial Decree 270/04.
During the final consultation meeting at the University level, held on January 19, 2009—and in light of the feedback collected during the preceding online consultation—the participating organisations expressed a favourable opinion on the rationalisation of Sapienza’s academic offerings. This rationalisation aimed not only to reduce the number of degree programmes but also to diversify them across degree classes that demonstrate high attractiveness and are well-supported by adequate teaching staff.
Following a detailed review of the academic offerings across the Faculties, the participating organisations expressed a positive opinion on the establishment of the individual degree programmes.

Establishment and Activities of the Programme Advisory Board
By resolution of the Programme Council dated 5 November 2024, the Advisory Board of the Degree Programme was formally established. The Board is composed of representatives from the following organisations:

• FOCSIV – Federation of Christian-inspired International Volunteer Organisations
• CNA – National Confederation of Crafts and Small and Medium Enterprises
• Institute for Economic Development – World Bank Group
• ActionAid
• ENEA – Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development
• Caritas Italiana
• Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP)
• AICS – Italian Agency for Development Cooperation
• FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• CGIAR Climate Security FOCUS / Climate Change Resilience, Food Security and Agriculture
• UNHCR Italy – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
• AOI – Association of Italian Organisations for International Cooperation and Solidarity

In addition, coordinators of the following doctoral programmes at Sapienza University of Rome were also invited to participate:

• Comparative and International Public Law
• Political Science and International Relations
• Social and Economic Sciences
• History and Cultures of Europe
• National Doctorate in Peace Studies

The newly established Advisory Board convened its first meeting via Google Meet on 25 November 2024 to discuss the Degree Programme’s curriculum in light of the proposed academic reforms.
Key Issues Highlighted During the Meeting:

• Curricular Balance: The importance of maintaining a balance between in-depth disciplinary foundations and the evolving cross-cutting themes relevant to the international cooperation community (e.g., climate change, food security, gender studies).
• Interdisciplinary Training Needs: The recognition of a productive tension within the programme's advanced training, between the need for humanistic and social competences—essential for understanding the structural dynamics of historical, religious, and cultural ties between partner countries—and the growing need to deepen knowledge in innovative quantitative methods for analysing development phenomena, as well as practical understanding of international cooperation actors, policies, and processes.
• Strategic Role of the Advisory Board: The utility of regularly consulting the Advisory Board, both to monitor the implementation of agreed updates to the curriculum and to foster operational partnerships with stakeholders. These collaborations are key to offering complementary educational activities, curricular internships, and professional opportunities for graduates.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Advisory Board agreed to convene annually or more frequently as needed.
The minutes of the meeting are available at the following link:Il verbale della riunione è consultabile al seguente link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N9wA0NNKG1kmtFl-A3p7rUXPce3Uxdgv/view?u...