Quality in PhD Programmes

Quality Assurance in PhD programmes is closely tied to the Departments hosting them and to the accreditation process, which determines their activation.

Within the AVA3 national evaluation system, the evaluation of PhD programmes focuses on programme design, educational activities, and monitoring and improvement actions (referred to as Points of Attention).

For each area, ANVUR (the Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutions) defines specific aspects to be considered.

PhD programmes support their self-assessment, evaluation, and review processes by following the provisions established by Ministerial Decree 1154/2021, by the AVA3 model as well as by the Guidelines issued by the University Quality Committee (PQA).
In addition, PhD programmes are actively involved in training and information activities on Quality Assurance promoted by the University and are subject to verification through hearings conducted by the University Evaluation Board (NdV).

PhD programmes are responsible for preparing and regularly updating at least the following documentation:

• Initial PhD Programme design document;
• Self-evaluation report for periodic accreditation (if selected for an institutional visit);
• Analysis report on the results PhD candidates’ satisfaction questionnaires;
• Analysis report on ANVUR quantitative and qualitative indicators.