Quality Assurance of PhD Courses

Quality Assurance Process of PhD Programmes

Responsibilities: Commission for the Teaching Quality Committee

The Quality Assurance (QA) System of PhD courses aims to keep the teaching planning, organization and operation of PhD courses constantly monitored.

The QA System of the PhD courses includes:

Design;
planning and organization of training activities;
monitoring of processes and results relating to research, teaching and third mission activities, built on the basis of specific indicators;
annual review at the end of the cycle.
The actors involved are:
Commission for the Teaching Quality Assurance Committee (CPQD), Evaluation Committee
Council of PhD Course Coordinators, Academic Boards, Departments, Committee for the Allocation of PhD Resources

Definition of learning outcomes and expected results taking into account training demand, professional profile, learning outcomes, sustainability, resources and discussion with stakeholders. Planning of research lines

The design of a PhD course is based on the analysis of training needs and research priorities, in line with the academic and territorial context.  The Doctoral Board, supported by the Advisory Committee, defines the training paths, both in the design phase and in the annual planning phase, ensuring the updating of the contents according to the scientific and cultural evolution of the disciplines. The Council of PhD Course Coordinators provides opinions on new courses and the distribution of resources.  Finally, the Committee for the allocation of resources defines the criteria for allocating funds to PhD courses, taking into account factors such as attractiveness, external funding, opinion of doctoral students, scientific production, placement and internationalization.

Organization of the delivery of teaching and research activities. Research project assignment and supervisor and co-supervisor

The PhD course guarantees training and research activities aligned with the project objectives, offering PhD students access to adequate financial, structural and instrumental resources. The Doctoral Board and the Advisory Committee organize the calendar of teaching activities and the learning verification tests. The course follows the guidelines of the Commission for the Presidium of the Quality of Teaching (CPQD) with tools such as the design sheet, annual monitoring and cyclical review, to ensure continuous improvement and a path that is increasingly responsive to the needs of research and work.

Annual monitoring of the effectiveness of the management of PhD courses through the analysis of results

The Check phase is used to evaluate the results of the actions taken in the PhD courses and to verify the achievement of the objectives. The Commission for the Presidium of the Quality of Teaching (CPQD) collects and analyzes the opinions of doctoral students, drawing up the Report on the Annual Monitoring and the Cyclical Review of the courses, to compare the design and implementation of the courses. The Doctoral Board and the Advisory Committee examine the data of current doctoral students and PhDs already in the world of work, preparing  monitoring and review forms as an objective basis for reflection and comparison. The Evaluation Committee summarizes the evidence in the Annual Report and organizes hearings with PhD courses to deepen specific aspects, promoting the continuous improvement of training courses.

Cyclical reviews of PhD courses and related improvement actions

In the ACT phase, the evidence collected is transformed into concrete improvement interventions. The Governing Bodies and the Coordination Committee of the University Quality Assurance Committee (CCPQA) define and promote corrective and improvement actions, with the aim of enhancing good practices and disseminating them at a systemic level, promoting continuous improvement and innovation. The Doctoral Board and the Advisory Committee, through the Self-Assessment Sheet, reflect on the adequacy of the structures, processes and training outcomes, providing a solid basis for the identification of realistic and measurable development objectives.

Document "Quality Assurance System"
The document on the Quality Assurance System illustrates the principles and fundamental elements of the University system, defining roles and functions for the planning, implementation and verification of quality policies. The aim is to ensure transparency towards internal and external stakeholders and to ensure effective management of teaching, research and third mission processes, with a view to continuous improvement.

Quality Assurance System 2025