Quality

Introduction
On November 28, 2024, a meeting was held—organized by the University PhD Office and the University Quality Assurance Unit (Presidio Qualità)—to present the updated guidelines for the Quality Assurance System applied to all University PhD Programs.

In alignment with the practices already in place for undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the AVA3 Quality Assurance System has been formally extended to doctoral education. This system provides a structured framework to analyze activities, monitor outcomes, and propose improvements aimed at enhancing the organization, effectiveness, and overall quality of PhD programs.

The primary objective of the meeting was to illustrate the structure of the new quality assurance processes, identify the roles and responsibilities of all involved stakeholders, and outline the key deadlines for the submission of two core documents:

1. the Annual Monitoring Report (RMA)
   
2. the Self-Assessment Report (RA)

These reports represent critical tools for internal evaluation and are a preparatory requirement for the ANVUR institutional audit, scheduled for the second half of 2026.

During the initial phase of implementation, only newly established PhD programs will be subject to formal review by the central university offices. Once the system is fully integrated, however, all PhD programs will be regularly monitored and assessed as part of a continuous quality improvement cycle.

Reference sites
More information can be found here:https
://www.anvur.it/sites/default/files/2025-01/AVA3_LG_Atenei_2024_08_08.pdf

The commettee adressing the tasks of the Self Evalutation of the PhD course is composed by:

The group met on the following dates : 

- 24/02/2025

- 27/05/2025

The Advisory Board is composed by:

• Bernot Kevin -
• Jacquelin Eric
• Smolka Jacek
• Paschereit Oliver
• Gratton Serge

Sisvaldat
The SISValDidat platform is a web-based statistical information system developed by the University of Florence’s Department of Statistics (DISIA). It serves as a tool for collecting and disseminating data on the evaluation of teaching quality, primarily through student feedback. The system is designed to be flexible and modular, allowing for integration with existing administrative databases and future developments.

ANVUR
the Agenzia Nazionale di Valutazione del Sistema Universitario e della Ricerca (National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes), is an independent public body in Italy responsible for assessing the quality of the country’s higher education and research systems. Established in 2006 and operational since 2011, ANVUR plays a central role in promoting transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across universities and public research organizations.
The agency oversees the AVA system (Self-assessment, Evaluation, Accreditation), which ensures that universities meet national standards for both degree and doctoral programs. Through this system, ANVUR evaluates institutional performance, teaching quality, and learning outcomes, helping institutions align with national and European quality assurance guidelines.
Another key responsibility is the VQR (Research Quality Evaluation), a periodic national assessment of research outputs produced by Italian universities and public research bodies. This evaluation supports informed decision-making in public funding and research policy.
ANVUR also monitors teaching quality—often through tools such as student satisfaction surveys—and encourages institutions to use data to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, the agency advises the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) and contributes to policy development by analyzing trends and producing strategic reports.

DatawareAteneoFiorentino (DAF)
DAF Service, the University of Florence’s platform for statistical documentation and access to the institutional data warehouse. The available materials are organized into several sections, which are periodically updated. Access to these sections is granted based on user profiles. Below you will find an overview of the main sections, user profiles, and update schedules.

AlmaLaurea
AlmaLaurea is an Italian inter-university consortium established in 1994 with the aim of evaluating graduates’ academic performance and employment outcomes. It serves as a bridge between universities, graduates, and the labour market. The consortium comprises 82 Italian universities and is supported by the Ministry of Education, University and Research. It collects and analyses data on graduates’ academic paths and employment status, providing valuable insights for universities, policymakers, and employers.

SISVALDAT
The SISValDidat platform serves as a tool for continuous quality assurance and improvement in higher education. By systematically collecting and analyzing student feedback, the University of Florence can make data-driven decisions to enhance the effectiveness and appeal of its doctoral programs.

The results of the surveys carried out by PhD students can be found online at:

https://sisvaldidat.it/AT-UNIFI/AA-2023/T-16/F-058508/Z-1183/CDL-DR435/C-GEN/BERSAGLIO

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