The AVA Quality Assurance System
The AVA system, of Self-Assessment, Evaluation and Accreditation, adopted by the Governing Council of ANVUR (acronym for ‘Agenzia Nazionale di Valutazione del Sistema Universitario e della Ricerca’, a public body supervised by the MUR, Ministry of Universities and Research) for the first time in 2013, aims to improve the quality of teaching and research carried out in universities, through the application of a Quality Assurance (QA) model based on internal procedures for the design, management, self-assessment and improvement of educational and scientific activities and on external verification carried out in a clear and transparent manner.
The LIUC Quality Assurance Commitee is the driving force behind the LIUC Quality Assurance system and is responsible for maintaining the quality assurance and self-assessment system at all levels of the University. Furthermore, the Quality Presidium monitors the results of processes and promotes a culture of quality.
The AVA2 model (in force from 2017 to 2022) had already reaffirmed that the presence of the Quality Assurance Committee in each university is a requirement for accreditation, reinforcing its role and thus its authority. Each university is, however, free to determine its composition and functioning.
The role of the Quality Assurance Committee
With the current AVA3 model (in force since the definition of the 2022/2023 academic year’s educational offer), ANVUR aims to overcome the limits of a governance system separate from the quality assurance system: for this reason, the structures responsible for Quality Assurance (QA), such as the Quality Assurance Committee (PQA), take on a prominent role.
The PQA is called upon to activate every useful initiative to promote the culture of quality within a single quality assurance process, covering aspects of teaching, research and the third mission/social impact. It supports the structures of the University in the construction of Quality Assurance processes and related procedures, supervises and monitors the implementation of QA procedures, proposes common tools for QA, provides training activities on QA and supports study courses, PhDs and the department in QA activities.
The PQA has the task of preparing guidelines and documentation to support the processes of self-evaluation, assessment, and review of study courses, PhDs, the department and the Joint Teaching-Student Committees (CPDS). It supports the University for the monitoring activities of the QA processes and for the review of the Governance and QA System.
With reference to teaching activities, the PQA organises the collection and verifies the continuous updating of the information contained in the SUA-CdS of each course of the Athenaeum and monitors the surveys of students‘, undergraduates’ and graduates’ opinions. It verifies the review activities and ensures the correct flow of information to and from the NdV (Nucleo di Valutazione) and the the Joint Teaching-Student Committees (CPDS) and collects data for the monitoring of indicators, both qualitative and quantitative, taking care of the dissemination of the results.
With reference to research and third mission/social impact activities, the PQA monitors and supervises the regular performance of research QA procedures in accordance with what is declared and planned and ensures the correct flow of information to and from the NdV.
The tasks of the Quality Assurance Committee
Following what is indicated and suggested by ANVUR the tasks of the Quality Assurance Committee and set out in the previous section, the tasks of the Quality Assurance Committee can be classified as follows:
| Task | Related activities |
| 1. Support QA processes and procedures | These are the activities carried out of an operational nature aimed at supporting the management and drafting of the various documents of the University Quality Assurance System. In particular:
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| 2. Supervise the implementation and review of the QA System | Support and verify the execution of the QA System reviews, understood as: Annual Monitoring and Cyclical Review forms. |
| 3. Proposes common tools for QA and training activities | Dissemination activities of the University Quality Assurance System. Institutional, administrative and management activities. between the different actors according to the different needs. |
| 4. Ensures the flow of information to and from the NdV and the CPDS | These are the activities aimed at guaranteeing the continuous flow of information and articulation between NdV and the CPDS. |
| 5. Collects and disseminates data for monitoring | These are the activities carried out directly or indirectly oriented to monitor the processes of the University Quality Assurance System and the results obtained, through the involvement of the various actors of the University, taking into account the self-evaluation processes and external evaluations received.
Systematic collection of indicators, organisation in periodical reports. Assistance in the critical reading and interpretation of aggregated data. Monitoring of the Strategic Plan (hearings and interviews). |
| 6. Monitoring ANVUR recommendations and condition | These are the control activities of actions oriented towards verifying or eliminating the criticalities identified by ANVUR (CEV) during the accreditation visit.
Refresher and internal training activities oriented towards developing the necessary skills internally to promote the quality culture within the university. |
Actors in the University’s QA system are, in addition to the Quality Assurance Committee, the Evaluation Board (Nucleo di Valutazione, NdV) and the Joint Committees (Commissioni paritetiche docenti studenti, CPDS).
The NdV verifies the application of the QA system, carrying out an adequate and documented control and guidance activity of QA through opinions, recommendations and indications to the Quality Assurance Committee and the governing bodies.
The main task of the CPDS is to monitor the provision of training and teaching quality as well as the service provided to students by professors and researchers.
Documentation
Economic and financial documentation
Quality Assurance Documentation (restricted access)
