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.

The Department of Sociology and Social Research implements its own quality assurance policy in line with the Quality Assurance Framework of the University and ANVUR’s guidelines.

Departmental Organisation of Quality Assurance

The actors in the Quality Assurance Framework in the Department 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 Department 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 (with periodicity not exceeding 5 years)

Actors in the Quality Assurance Framework

Director

The Director coordinates the Department's teaching and scientific policies and ensures their implementation, represents the Department, 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 Department on QA processes and initiatives. The Delegate for Quality at the Department is Professor Arlo Poletti.

Council

The Council is the collective body of the Department and is the body with overall responsibility for quality assurance.

Department Board

The Department Board is the main collegiate body that:

  • assists the Director in carrying out his activities
  • deliberates on any matters delegated to it by the Board.

Actors in the Quality of Teaching and Learning

Joint Student-Teacher Committee

Each Department 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 Responsibles

Programme Responsibles:

  • are responsible for planning and revising the programmes of studyare 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.

Programme Review Panel

These panels hold the primary role in the monitoring and conducting the internal review, as they implement the review process. They:

  • draft the Annual Monitoring Report
  • draft the Periodic Programme Review
  • in case of critical issues, propose actions to address them. 

Student representatives

The main role of student representatives in Council and in Degree's Council 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. Their rappresentatives participate in review panels and in the Joint Student-Teacher Committee. 

Council of the courses

Council of the courses:

  • evaluate the didactic activity carried out
  • plan the teaching activities of the following year
  • coordinate the carrying out of didactic activities relating to the degree program
  • propose the annual study manifesto to the Department Council
  • submit to the Department Council any proposals to modify the academic system and/or didactic regulations of the course of which they are an expression

The students of the Department can help identify and address any quality issues concerning academic or support services provided by the Department, and report any inappropriate behaviour, through:

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: