The University of Trento promotes the constant enhancement of the quality of its Departments, 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) as part of the Quality Assurance policy of the University.
Quality Assurance of Teaching and Learning
The Department 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 <meglio specificare come vengono raccolti>.
Documents
The following documents are drafted periodically:
- Annual Monitoring Report
- Annual Programme Report (SUA)
- Periodic Programme Review
- every 3 years for undergraduate programmes
- every 4 years for Master's programmes
- Annual Quality Report
- Annual Joint Student-Teacher Committee Report
In particular, the Joint Student-Teacher Committee
- evaluates each year the degree of satisfaction of students with regard to teaching and the study experience
- meets at least twice a year
- draws up the Annual Report and submits it to the Department Council
Research and Third Mission Quality Assurance
The Department implements its quality assurance policy in line with the quality assurance framework of the University for research and teaching and learning, in compliance with regulations in force and ANVUR’s suggestions.
The Department has been monitoring and encouraging the quality of research based on a number of quantitative indicators since its creation. These indicators provide information on the quality of research carried out both by research groups and individual researchers, and this makes it possible to identify any possible problems (for example, people affiliated with the department who are not actively involved in research projects). But they are used in general also to distribute resources among the department’s research groups. They therefore constitute an incentive for individual groups and their members, as they indirectly push them to improve their quality of research.
The indicators measure the number and quality of publications, prizes and scientific merit, the organization of scientific events and establishment of editorial boards, the amount and type of funding received, with a different value based on competitiveness and prestige.
Other indicators take into account teaching activities and/or any administrative procedures.
As regards the third mission, the Department believes it is important to disseminate the results of research locally, and this is crucial for research to have a positive impact on industry and civil society.
The Department also organizes many events. “ICT Days” is a key event at the national and local level to establish connections between university and the world of work.
The actors participating in the Research and Third Mission Quality Assurance framework are required to fill in or update the following documents/databases:
- the “SUA-RD”, the Annual Summary Report of research at the department
- the Periodic Review Report
Organization of Quality Assurance
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 enacts its 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 the University and the Department on QA processes and initiatives.
The Delegate for Quality at the Department is prof. Roberto Passerone
Department Council
The Council is the collective body of the Department and is responsible for quality assurance.
Department Council
Actors in the Quality of Teaching and Learning
Delegate/Coordinator for Teaching and Learning
The Coordinator plays a key role in the strategic management of teaching and learning processes, ensuring high standards in the quality of didactic offer and learning services.
The Delegate for Teaching and Learning at the Department is prof. Farid Melgani
Programme Coordinators
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.
The Programme Coordinators can be found on the contact page of each study programme
Undergraduate degree programs
Master’s degree programs
- Computer Science
- Information and Communications Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence Systems
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Quantitative and Computational Biology
- Data Science
Students 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.
Joint student-teacher Committee
The Joint Committee of students and faculty members is formed at the level of University Structure with the widest possible representation of students from the programs offered by the department.
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.
Joint student-teacher Committee
Teaching and Learning Forum
The teaching and learning forum is convened at regular intervals to discuss teaching and learning issues, and decide which strategies to adopt and possible coordination actions. It is composed of the Degree Programs Coordinators and presided over by the Delegate for Teaching and Learning.
The Delegate for Teaching and Learning at the Department is prof. Farid Melgani
Advisory Board
The members are external of the department, coming from both academic and industrial world. The Advisory Board has the task of constantly giving indications on the adequacy of existing courses of study and proposals for changes or new institutions.
Programme Review Panel/Subject-Area Self-Assessment Panels
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.
Panels:
Undergraduate degree in Ingegneria Informatica, delle Comunicazioni ed Elettronica
- Carli Mirella
- D'Andrea Vincenzo
- Minniti Michele
- Passerone Roberto
- Riccardi Giuseppe
Undegraduate degree in Informatica
- Carli Mirella
- D'Andrea Vincenzo
- Leonelli Matteo
- Riccardi Giuseppe
- Rizzi Matteo
- Sebastiani Roberto
Master's degree in Computer Science
- Blanzieri Enrico
- Carli Mirella
- D'Andrea Vincenzo
- Passerone Roberto
- Riccardi Giuseppe
- Rizzi Matteo
- Ronchetti Marco
Master's Degree in Information and Communications Engineering
- Carli Mirella
- Conci Nicola
- D'Andrea Vincenzo
- Minnitti Michele
- Passerone Roberto
- Riccardi Giuseppe
Master's Degree in Artificial Intelligence Systems
- Carli Mirella
- Leonelli Matteo
- Melgani Farid
- Palopoli Luigi
- Passerone Roberto
- Riccardi Giuseppe
Actors in Research and Third mission Quality Assurance
Delegate for Research
The Delegate for Research is prof. Roberto Passerone
Complaints and Suggestions
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:
- the student representatives in the Department Council and in other bodies (email rapp.stud.disi [at] unitn.it)
- the coordinators/directors of their degree programme
- or by email to segnalazioni.studenti.disi [at] unitn.it . All reports will be forwarded to the relevant person and treated in a confidential manner. The department Education Office will communicate to the student how the report will be handled and the expected response times
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