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

Quality Assurance of Teaching and Learning

The Department of Industrial Enmgineering 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 collected with ad hoc questionnaires prepared by the Department.

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
The Programme Review Panels meet periodically every year, and draft:
  • the Annual Monitoring Report
  • the Annual Programme Report (SUA)
  • the Periodic Programme Review.

These documents are discussed and approved by the Department Council.

The Joint Student Teacher Committee 

  • evaluates every year the degree of student satisfaction with teaching and learning and their learning experience;
  • meets periodically to discuss on the new didactic initiatives of the Department, on proposals of improvement of the quality of the didactics, on criticality reports, etc.;
  • drafts the Annual report and submits it to the Department Council.

The Advisory Board meets periodically the Head of the Department, the delegate for teaching, the coordinators of study courses and makes a strategic assessment of the objectives and results of the educational initiatives of the Department.

Student Feedback on Teaching and Learning

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

  • the student representatives in the Department Council and in other bodies rapp.stud.dii [at] unitn.it;
  • the coordinators of their degree programme;
  • or by email to segnalazioni.studenti.dii [at] unitn.it submit a complaint to the Joint Teaching-Student Commission.  All reports will be forwarded to the relevant person and treated in a confidential manner. The students who have given their feedback will be contacted by the Joint Teaching-Student Commission., which is responsible for addressing these issues.

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:

Research and Third Mission Quality Assurance

Assessment methods and criteria

The Department uses different instruments to monitor and promote the quality of research outputs produced by its researchers and research groups:

  • it defines the objectives of the research in such a way as to ensure the conduct of basic research activities, strengthen the reputation of the research carried out by its members, promote the development of cross-cutting research topics, and promote knowledge transfer; the Council and the Departmental Council actively participate in the process of identifying objectives, dealing with research objectives at various meetings during the year, on the occasion of the Department Day or in dedicated meetings;
  • it assesses the expected results in the research lines and allocates funding to individual researchers and research groups on the basis of indicators relating to the following activities:
    • publication of articles in national and international journals and/or the national and international rankings of scientific publications provided by relevant scientific communities;
    • transversality and multidisciplinarity of the research activities;
    • organisation of conferences, workshops, seminars, international schools;
    • international faculty exchange programmes for visiting professors.

The strategic lines of research are discussed with the Advisory Board, made up of people from outside the University, renowned researchers from foreign universities, representatives of the world of production or professionals working in major industries at national and international level.

Organisation of Quality Assurance

Actors in the Quality Assurance Framework

Director

The Director coordinates the Department's/Centre's teaching and scientific policies and ensures their implementation, represents the Department/Centre, 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 Francesco Parrino.

Delegate for teaching

The Delegate for teaching supervises the organizational aspects of the Department Teaching.

The Delegate for Teaching at the Department is Professor Vigilio Fontanari.

Delegate for Research

The delegate for research participates in the periodic meetings of the Integrated Table for Scientific Research (TIR), facilitating continuous discussion and shared planning among research delegates from Departments and Centers, as well as representatives from the Directorate of Research and Valorization Services. The delegate for research then reports to the Director and members of the department during regular meetings. They contribute to the drafting of departmental projects of excellence and, in collaboration with central research support offices, promotes and monitors the department's participation in national competitive calls (e.g., PRIN projects, PNRR) and international ones (Horizon Europe). 

The Delegate for Research at the Department is Professor Matteo Benedetti.

Department Council

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

Department Junta

It is the executive body that assists the Director. It is formed by the Director, who presides over it, and by four elected professors. The Deputy Director and the Head of Staff of the Department are also present.

The Junta draws up proposals for development in teaching and research and management of relations with external bodies.

Advisory board

The advisory board is made up of people from outside the University, renowned researchers from foreign universities, representatives of the manufacturing world or professionals working in major industries in the national and international.

The Advisory Board shall:

  • make a strategic assessment of the objectives and results of the educational initiatives of the Department;
  • examine the scientific reports and results of the research activity;
  • draw up periodically an evaluation paper with recommendations on the lines of research development, on the initiatives to be taken and on issues requiring particular attention or corrective action.

Actors in the Quality of Teaching and Learning

Joint Student-Teacher Committee

Each Department/Centre 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 Coordinators

Programme 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:

Programme Review 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.

Programme Review Panels

  • Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering: Daniele Fontanelli, Enrico Bertolazzi, Riccardo Ceccato, Michele Fedrizzi, Simone Ciresa (student)
  • Master's Degree in Management and Industrial Systems Engineering: Francesco Pilati, Matteo Brunelli, Giulia Giordano, Matteo Cultrera (student)
  • Master's Degree in Materials and Production Engineering: Massimo Pellizzari, Matteo Benedetti, Luca Fambri, Silvia Olga Signorello (student)
  • Master’s Degree in Mechatronics Engineering: Daniele Bortoluzzi, Francesco Biral, Gian-Franco Dalla Betta, Daniela Argeri (student)

Didactic area Committee

For each Course of Study of the Department is established a Didactic Area Committee formed by all teachers who hold courses on the study curriculum, including teachers from other departments and teachers under contract and chaired by the coordinator of the Course. The committee deals with issues related to the organization of teaching.

Student 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.
Student representatives

Actors in Third mission Quality Assurance

Delegates for the Third Mission: within the Department there are delegates for Communication (Prof. Stefano Rossi and Prof. Giovanni Straffelini), Study Advisory (Prof. Cinzia Menapace), internships, stages and placement (Prof. Giandomenico Nollo) and relations with companies (Prof. Vincenzo M. Sglavo).