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 Humanities 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

Documents

The following documents are drafted periodically:

  • Annual Monitoring Report
  • Annual Programme Report (SUA)
  • Periodic Programme Review
    • every 3 years for undergraduate programmes
    • every 5 years for Master's programmes

Self-assessment Panels

meet 3 times 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 Ambito didattico and the Department Counsil.

The Joint Student Teacher Committee 

  • evaluates every year the degree of student satisfaction with teaching and learning and their learning experience
  • meets every 4 months to discuss issue related to teaching 
  • drafts the Annual report and submits it to the Department Counsil and the Programme Coordinator.

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:

  • defines the objectives of research based on guidelines defined by the two Area Councils: Linguistic and Literary Philological Studies and History, Philosophy and Cultural Heritage and by the Strategic Department Plan
  • evaluates the results obtained in the different research areas and assess the expected results in the research lines and allocate funding to individuals and research groups on the basis of the following indicators
    • number and importance of research projects that have been presented and funded
    • publication of articles in national and international journals and/or the national and international rankings of scientific publications provided by relevant scientific communities

The Quality Delegate of the Department, after consulting the Director and the Managers of the two Research Areas, has the task of:

  • examining the reports and scientific outcomes of research activity
  • drafting every year an evaluation report containing guidelines for research development, initiatives that could be undertaken, aspects to consider and adjustment actions.

Organisation 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 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 silvano.zucal [at] unitn.it (Silvano Zucal).

Department Council

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

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 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 following Ambiti didattici are active in the Department, with the courses of study that are part of it:

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.

The list of self-assessment groups 2021/2022 can be consulted in the individual portals of the study courses under "Contacts and contacts".

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

The list of student representatives can be consulted in the "contacts and contacts" section of the individual portals of the Study Courses of the Department of Letters and Philosophy..

Stakeholder Advisory Group 

The Ambiti didattici systematically consult the main interested parties (students, teachers, scientific and professional organizations, representatives of the world of culture, production), both directly and through the use of sector studies. In the absence of professional organisations to refer to, the Ambito didattico ensures that a place of reflection is created that is consistent with outgoing cultural profiles, reflecting, in-depth and providing information on the real employment potential of graduates.

For the list of participants in the Stakeholder Advisory Group, see the study programme pages:

Student Feedback on Teaching and Learning 

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
  • the Coordinators of their degree programme and theirs delegates
  • or by email to segnalazioni.studenti.lett [at] unitn.it

    . 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 Director or the Delegate for Quality, who are 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:

  • 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.