APPC - Planning and Communication Division

Paola Mandelli

Head of Administrative Division

Mission

The division’s mission is to ensure support for the University’s strategic planning and the measurement and assessment of organisational performance — including management of the University performance cycle — as well as the oversight of the risk management system and assistance to University bodies in defining allocation models. The division also supports the University’s system for the evaluation and quality assurance of research, teaching and Third Mission, providing support to the Evaluation Board and University Quality Assurance Committee. Furthermore, it supports official processes and activities, providing academic bodies with the necessary support for their official functions, while promoting and managing communication towards the entire University community and external stakeholders across the areas in which the University operates.

Main activities

• Promoting teaching quality in line with national agency (ANVUR) guidelines and supporting the University Quality Assurance Committee for continuous teaching quality improvement.
• Promoting research and Third Mission quality within ANVUR's national periodic accreditation (AVA) framework through departmental monitoring and self-assessment (SUA-RD). Managing national and international academic rankings and their impact on departments. Overseeing research and Third Mission quality management within the University Quality Assurance Committee's remit.
• Implementing strategies for monitoring and evaluating research and Third Mission locally and nationally, providing organisational and operational support to the University’s organisational entities, particularly the University Research Evaluation Committee and Third Mission Observatory.
• Supporting the Evaluation Board in ordinary activities, in the preparation of the annual report and of other periodic reports or in other legally required evaluation functions.
• Supporting strategic planning for setting University objectives and evaluating organisational entities and activities, including for organisational performance assessment, through data and documents suitable for the various stakeholders.
• Preparing and updating performance cycle management documents for organisational performance, coordinating with relevant units inside and outside each individual division.
• Developing and updating the University Service Charter as part of transparency initiatives.
• Overseeing internal and external reporting from data collection to statistical surveys, ensuring University Data Warehouse operation and development based on user needs.
• Supporting the adoption of risk identification, assessment and management techniques, proposing management control measures to mitigate and manage identified risks, and supporting the implementation of action plans to reduce those risks.
• Ensuring the strategic oversight of communication activities across all Multicampus locations in order to achieve the University’s objectives, in particular by promoting a sound understanding of the institution’s role, fostering shared values, policies and results, and supporting organisational innovation;
• Safeguarding the University’s institutional identity, coordinating communication activities in line with the guidelines laid out by the academic bodies, managing official events (including ceremonies), and overseeing communication, information and knowledge processes through a multichannel approach in support of the University’s institutional goals.
• Managing the digital and social media channels designed to support the collection and dissemination of scientific and cultural outreach content and initiatives, and the promotion of research outputs produced by professors, researchers and the University’s organisational entities for the relevant target audiences.
• Promoting synergies and supporting University-wide communication coordination for sustainability-related activities and initiatives, as well as for the 5x1000 campaign, through a multichannel approach and in collaboration with the relevant divisions and sectors.
• Defining the University’s social media ecosystem and related social media strategy, in line with the communication plan and brand strategy, and coordinating the editorial plan for the University’s official social media channels.
• Designing and delivering web communication projects, web design and content strategy for the University’s websites, based on user experience analysis, website performance and innovative methods, in line with Public Administration website regulations and the University’s strategic objectives, while also ensuring coordination of online communication across University websites and the dissemination of best practices for the quality and accessibility of online content.