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Quality Assurance (QA) and organisation at DBSV

QA in Teaching
disat quality

The Quality Assurance system adopted, consistent with the AVA system, is based on the definition of responsibilities and functions of the actors involved, the processes in which they interact, and the related information flows. Quality in the educational context requires that the degree programme:

  • defines learning objectives that are meaningful
  • enables students to achieve them within the established timeframe
  • certifies that the learning objectives have been achieved
  • has a credible organisational structure.
Actors and tools of Teaching Quality Assurance

The QA actors specific to the Teaching area are listed below. The central role of the Department Council is described in the section “Department organisation: institutional bodies, committees and individual roles”.

The systematic documentation of the main processes of design, management, review, and improvement of degree programmes is an integral part of the QA system. The key documents for the evaluation of the Degree Programme Quality Requirement (R3 – Quality of Degree Programmes) are:

  1. Single Annual Programme Description (SUA-CdS);
  2. Annual Monitoring Report (SMA);
  3. Cyclical Review Report (RRC);
  4. Report of the Joint Student–Faculty Committee

It is the Committee established at the Department level, composed of an equal number of faculty members and students, representative of the Study Programmes (CdS) managed by the educational structure. It constitutes a permanent internal observatory within the Department on educational activities, mainly dealing with monitoring the achievement of learning objectives, also based on a constructive dialogue with students, both to gather their opinions and to promote a culture of quality. The CPDS Annual Report summarises the analysis activities carried out during the year and contains improvement proposals addressed to the Study Programmes.

Students participate in the life and governance of the University and, in particular, of their educational structure through their representatives in the Course Council, Department Council, and in the Department's Quality Assurance Committees.

The tasks of the representatives are as follows:

  • listen to and question the relevant student community
  • bring collected issues to the competent collegiate body
  • periodically report the decisions made by the governing bodies to the student community
  • periodically convene the relevant student community
  • maintain contact with representatives both within the Department's bodies and committees and within the University's governing bodies
  • propose improvement actions to the competent bodies

In particular, student representatives in the CPDS and AiQua Committees are responsible for reporting observations, critical issues, and improvement proposals regarding the educational path and support services, ensuring transparency, easy access, and information sharing within the various roles of the Quality Assurance Committees.

Student representatives in the DBSV Department Council are:

For details of the representatives on the Joint Academic Staff-Student Committee (CPDS) of DiDEC and on the AiQua Committees of the relevant degree programmes, please refer to the dedicated sections on this page.

For details of the representatives on the various Degree Programme Councils, please refer to the pages for the degree programmes (under "Course committees and representatives"), whilst for those on the General Student Council (CGS), please refer to the dedicated page:

General Student Council (CGS)

For each Degree Program (CdS), responsibility for the educational offer (design, including consultations with the labor market, management, and continuous improvement of the CdS) lies with the CdS Coordinator, who also serves as President of the AiQua Commission. In the self-assessment and review activities of the CdS for which they are responsible, they are assisted by the other members of the AiQua Commission.

The Degree Program Council – composed of the faculty members responsible for the courses listed in the Study Program Regulations and an elected student representation of at least fifteen percent of the professors and researchers – is the collegial body that ensures the didactic and organizational coordination of the CdS activities, to which the CdS Coordinator and the AiQua Commission report.

For the names of the CdS Coordinators of the DBSV, refer to the section on AiQua Commissions.

The AiQua Commission of the Degree Program, referred to in the SUA-CdS as the "AQ Management Group," is the main actor in the self-assessment and review process of the degree program, playing a key role in managing the processes for the internal quality assurance of each Degree Program (CdS) through activities of design, implementation, monitoring, and control.

Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology
Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences
Master’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences
Master’s Degree in Biotechnology for the Bio-based and Health Industry
Master’s Degree in Biology and Sustainability

The Quality Assurance Manager for Teaching and Learning (MDQ) is a professional role established at University level and present in each teaching structure. They support activities related to the management of teaching and act as a process facilitator within the QA system. For this reason, each Degree Programme’s Quality Management Group (AiQua Committee) also includes a MDQ. For contact details, please refer to:

Teaching Quality Managers’ Listening Service – DBSV

Representatives from the professional sector collaborate in the design of the Degree Programs (CdS) at the DBSV Department, providing information useful for defining and updating the professional profile, offering consultative support for internships, and helping evaluate the effectiveness of the educational pathway.

The main goal of this activity is to maintain a continuous dialogue between the demand for and the supply of education, sharing the Degree Program’s educational plan and fostering effective collaboration with scientific and professional organizations, as well as cultural and industrial representatives, including at the international level, not only during the establishment of the CdS.

At DBSV, consultations with the professional sector are organized through the establishment of Advisory Committees: one for the Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology (shared with the Master's in Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology), one for the Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences, and one for Biomedical Sciences.

The activities of the Advisory Committees include interaction with the Presidents of the corresponding Degree Programs through periodic meetings (including online) and the completion of questionnaires.

Bachelor’s in Biotechnology and Master’s in Biotechnology for the Bio-Based and Health Industry
Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences
Master’s in Biomedical Sciences
Student reports

Undergraduate students have a number of channels available to them for requesting information and submitting feedback and suggestions for improvement.

In addition to undergraduate students, PhD students, Master’s students and those enrolled in specialist schools may also contact the Head of Department, who is responsible for handling student feedback, regarding unresolved issues or complaints:

For a detailed description of the procedures available to DBSV undergraduate students, please consult the relevant pages:

Contacts and reports from students – Degree Programmes
Student reports – PhD and Master’s programmes
Quality Assurance (QA) of Research and Third Mission
disat quality

The Quality Assurance system adopted, consistent with the AVA framework, is based on defining the responsibilities and functions of the actors involved, the processes in which they interact, and the related information flows.

Quality in the context of research and third mission requires that the Department:

  • specifies objectives that are meaningful and valuable;
  • ensures their achievement within established timelines;
  • certifies the results obtained;
  • maintains an adequate organizational structure.
Specific actors for Quality Assurance in the areas of Research and Third Mission

At the Department level, the main QA actor specific to Research and Third Mission is the AiQuaR Commission, described below. The central role of the Department Council is outlined in the section “Department Organization: Institutional Bodies, Committees, and Individual Assignments.”

Systematic documentation of the main processes for planning, managing, reviewing, and improving departmental research and third mission activities is an integral part of the QA system. Key documents for evaluating the Quality Requirement of Departmental Research and Third Mission (R4.B – Quality of Research and Third Mission) include:

  • Departmental Strategic Document
  • SUA-RD (Scheda Unica Annuale – Research Department)

The AiQuaR Committee plays a fundamental role in managing processes for the quality of research and third mission activities, serving as the main body for self-assessment and review within the Department. It reports to the Department Council, the collegial body responsible for managing the Department as a whole, which adopts the decisions it deems appropriate.

DBSV AiQuaR Committee
Departmental Organization: Institutional Bodies, Committees, and Individual Assignments

Alongside the institutional bodies established by the Statute at the teaching and research structure level, the Department, in order to oversee areas of activity considered strategic, has established its own specific organization, with a system of delegations and the creation of dedicated Departmental Committees.

The Director of DBSV

The Director represents the Department, being responsible for managing the structure, defining strategic directions, and evaluating results. The Director promotes and coordinates all departmental activities.
The President of the School of Medicine assists the Department Director in overseeing the conduct of teaching activities.
The Director of DBSV is Prof. Flavia Marinelli.

The Department Council is the collegial body responsible for planning the Department’s activities and managing the resources allocated to it. In particular, within the Department’s Quality Assurance system, the Council makes decisions related to QA activities, taking into account both internal and external analyses of the Department and the corrective or improvement proposals submitted by the QA Commissions.

The committee is responsible for promoting the Department's internationalization, establishing new international agreements, and increasing and monitoring the mobility of students and faculty abroad.

Members:

It is responsible for planning and managing the purchase of all research materials (reagents, chemicals, stock items, equipment), as well as for the maintenance of equipment, necessary for the proper execution of all laboratory teaching activities in biochemistry, molecular/cellular biology, biotechnology, and genetics for the courses offered by the DBSV degree programs. Each academic year, the committee prepares both the budget estimate and the final report for expenses associated with the above-mentioned teaching activities, which are included in an annual report. Additionally, at the end of each academic year, it monitors the utilization of the Departmental facilities used for laboratory teaching in terms of total hours, to ensure that the ratio between available teaching spaces and the number of students involved allows for effective delivery of the activities.

Members:

Regarding orientation, the committee organizes incoming student orientation activities, Open Days (for both bachelor’s and master’s programs), seminar days, and training labs aimed at high school students to introduce the Department’s educational offerings. For placement activities, the committee facilitates the professional integration of graduates by organizing meetings with local business organizations.

Members are:

The Committee operates in the following phases:

  • Department-level review on teaching, research, and societal impact/VC (critical analysis, data interpretation, identification of issues)
  • Planning improvement actions consistent with the departmental mission and University guidelines (proposals for strategic and operational actions)
  • Synthesis and integration for the SUADip. Integrates analyses from the relevant bodies and commissions for each area

Members are:

It is responsible for organizing the administration of the self-assessment test (administered after enrollment), which is designed to evaluate the initial level of preparation of students enrolled in the Biological Sciences and Biotechnology bachelor’s degree programs.

Members:

It is responsible for coordinating choices and actions in the teaching domain, standardizing support services for teaching, analyzing, addressing, and proposing solutions to management issues, as well as coordinating certain bureaucratic and administrative needs to ensure that study programs operate efficiently and comply with the administrative requirements established by regulations and the University.

Members:

The Gender Balance and Equal Opportunities Committee of the DBSV Department is responsible for promoting gender equality and coordinating educational and cultural initiatives in this area. It analyzes and addresses issues related to equal opportunities, proposes concrete solutions, and collaborates with the University to ensure that gender policies are effectively integrated into the Department's activities.

Members are:

The Insubria PLS Committee is responsible for organizing seminars, workshops, educational and training activities to engage high school students and teachers with scientific careers (STEM), and for promoting remedial and self-assessment courses to reduce dropouts in the early years of university STEM programs, using PLS funds.

Members are:

They are responsible for reviewing and updating the content of the department's web pages.

The delegates are Prof. Candida Vannini and Ms. Cinzia Roganti.

In addition to its representation in the bodies, at the University level the Department is represented within numerous

UNIVERSITY COMMITTEES