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:
- the Annual Monitoring Report (RMA)
- 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
Review Commettee
The commettee adressing the tasks of the Self Evalutation of the PhD course is composed by
Stefano Ricci – Coordinator of the PhD School
Marco Bertini – Representative of the CV “Computer Engineering”
Luigi Chisci – Representative of the CV “Control, Optimization and Complex Systems”
Stefano Maddio – Representative of the CV “Electronics, Electromagnetics and Electrical Systems”
Dania Marabissi – Representative of the CV “Telecommunications and Telematics”
Simona Altamura – Administrative Representative
Cosimo Aliani – Student Representative
Giulia Bertazzini – Student Representative
The group met on the following dates
December 19, 2024
February 14, 2025
March 21, 2025
1 – The Review Group for the PhD Program in Information Engineering held the first meeting on December 19, 2024. The Coordinator summarized the outcomes of a prior meeting held on November 28, 2024, which presented the new quality assurance guidelines (AVA3) extended to PhD programs. The aim is to evaluate activities, monitor outcomes, and propose improvements in preparation for the ANVUR audit scheduled for the second half of 2026. Key topics:
- Teaching: Emphasis on aligning educational planning with AVA3 and Dublin descriptors. A proposal was accepted for each faculty member to offer a course on a biennial rotation.
- Stakeholders: Around 50% of graduates work in industry, the rest continue in research. Engagement with external entities like CNR, CNIT, and DINFO was proposed. The Coordinator will present the PhD program to stakeholders on December 20, 2024.
- Review Group Composition: Includes the Coordinator, administrative officer, PhD student representatives, and at least two faculty members. Participation might be extended to all curriculum representatives. The final group will be approved on January 20, 2025.
- Website Management: The internal organization of the PhD website needs improvement, especially in displaying training content, seminar schedules, and documentation. Enhancing credit tracking for students was discussed, including the use of a shared folder or Excel file. Prof. Maddio offered support for web updates.
2 – The Review Group for the PhD Program in Information Engineering held a virtual meeting on February 14, 2025. Key topics:
- Annual Monitoring Report (RMA): The Coordinator presented the draft RMA, which includes strengths, weaknesses, and corrective actions to improve program quality. The deadline for submission is February 28, 2025. The report focuses on student feedback (via Sisvaldidat, DAF, Almalaurea). 70% of students responded to the surveys, with an average satisfaction score of 7.8/10.
- Critical issues: support from administrative offices, student involvement in course planning, usefulness of the training for thesis preparation. strength: 100% employment rate after graduation
- Corrective Actions Proposed: Make survey submission mandatory at the end of the academic year, Improve communication and visibility of results, Enhance the website with a quality section, (including: survey results, overview of AVA3, form for anonymous feedback and suggestions, Gantt chart of deadlines and procedures)
- Additional Proposals: Internal surveys on specific topics, Bilingual (Italian/English) communications for seminars and elections to better serve international students
- Use of Research Funds: described in the report and monitored by the Department’s administration
- Other Points: the Coordinator presented the revised program description on the website, aligned with the Dublin Descriptors, and requested member feedback.
3 – The Review Group for the PhD Program in Information Engineering held a virtual meeting on March 21, 2025. Key topics:
- Teaching Organization: Following recent discussions with the PhD Coordinators of DIEF and DICEA, the Coordinator highlighted the need to revise the teaching structure starting from the new cycle, in line with university guidelines and ANVUR inspection requirements. The aim is to align with other Engineering PhD programs and standardize the courses offered.
- New Proposal for Courses: A comparison was made between the current system and a new proposed model (see table below). The main changes include: Increasing the number of hours required for 1 CFU (from 4 to 6), Reducing the total CFUs to 30 (180 hours), Introducing a final exam for each course
- Credit Verification: Teachers will send attendance and final test results to the Coordinator or the administrative officer. A shared file will allow PhD students to regularly check their credit status. External courses will require certification, while seminar attendance will be validated via the existing booklet system.
- Custom Courses for Laboratory Activities: The introduction of personalized courses for PhD students involved in lab teaching was proposed, but it may not apply to all curricula.
4 – The Review Group for the PhD Program in Information Engineering held a virtual meeting on May 20, 2025.
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-058507/Z-1183/CDL-DR430/C-GEN/I-DR4302YX39/BERSAGLIO
STUDENTVOICE
The website studentsvoice.ingegneria.unifi.it serves as a platform for students of the School of Engineering at the University of Florence to provide feedback on their educational experience. PhD students can also formally communicate with the PhD program management through the Student’s Voice web platform.
StudentsVoice collects students’ opinions on courses, teaching methods, and the overall academic environment. This feedback mechanism is designed to improve the quality of education by informing faculty and administrative staff about areas needing attention or development.
Key features of the platform include:
- Anonymous Surveys: Students can submit feedback without revealing their identity. This feature can also be used for whistleblowing—for example, reporting sensitive issues within a course without fear of retaliation.
- Course Evaluations: Students can assess individual courses and instructors. They are also encouraged to propose new courses or suggest modifications to existing ones, with the option to attach PDF documents. Suggestions may be submitted anonymously or signed, depending on the student’s preference.
- Feedback Reports: The platform provides aggregated data to faculty and staff to support curriculum and teaching improvements. It also highlights service-related issues and other critical concerns. Submissions can remain anonymous or be signed.
By actively involving students in the evaluation process, the platform promotes the continuous improvement of academic programs within the School of Engineering.
Each submission — whether a report, suggestion, complaint, or commendation — is reviewed by a dedicated Committee. After evaluating the issue and consulting the relevant parties, the Committee proposes appropriate actions and provides feedback to the students.
Strategic Plan of the University of Florence 2025–2027
As part of the key action “Education of the Future”, the Strategic Plan of the University of Florence aims to educate competent and responsible citizens by promoting innovative and high-quality academic programs and supporting students’ academic progression. This action also includes enhancing the attractiveness and effectiveness of PhD programs.