AFORM - Education and PhD Programme Division

Alice Trentini

Head of Administrative Division

Mission

The division’s mission is to oversee, coordinate and manage the activities required for establishing, activating and managing the programme catalogue at all levels of higher education as part of the University system, as well as master's programmes, non-medical specialisation schools and state exams. The division also promotes the coordination of teaching and PhD programme internationalisation activities, also through European funding instruments, while managing international mobility programmes (EU, national and University-wide) and coordinating with staff across teaching service units, campuses and departments. Furthermore, it ensures coordination between the various stages of curriculum design and delivery and innovation initiatives promoted by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, enhancing their effectiveness through integration into the University's programme catalogue while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and quality standards.

Main activities

Ensuring:

• the development of the University's programme catalogue;
• the issue of University teaching regulations;
• the issue of degree programme statutes and teaching regulations ensuring compliance with national and University regulations;
• consultancy activities and technical/legal analysis for academic bodies, Vice Rectors, etc. on matters relating to the programme catalogue;
• communications and operational coordination with the student services division to support teaching process management;
• consultancy and support to Heads of Departments, Programme Coordinators and members of faculty boards for activities connected to PhD programmes;
• consultancy and support for planning and implementing PhD programmes;
• the management of PhD programmes (activation, ministerial accreditation, competitions, coordination, etc.) and promotion of PhD programme internationalisation by entering into agreements and developing other project activities;
• the correct implementation in the University's programme catalogue of innovative content, methodologies and formats developed by the Centre for Teaching and Learning.

Overseeing:

• the correct and effective conduct of planning processes for establishing and activating degree programmes by coordinating the entire process, including the annual publication of the programme catalogue both on Italian Ministry of University and Research databases and the University portal;
• the implementation of teaching planning processes by supporting the development of guidelines and operational procedures - particularly regarding teaching assignments, teaching contracts and tutoring contracts - while monitoring University expenditure on contracts and temporary appointments;
• procedures relating to the students’ international and teaching and professional staff of University programmes; supporting teaching service units, campus and department staff in developing and adopting new procedures aimed at simplifying and standardising management processes for students participating in international mobility projects.

Managing:

• procedures for establishing, activating and deactivating degree programmes and specialisation schools;
• procedures for establishing Master's programmes and academic progress of enrolled students;
• the drafting and signing of agreements with foreign universities aimed at organising double, multiple or joint degree programmes, overseeing aspects relating to teaching activities in the strict sense and those of a technical or legal nature;
• the drafting and signing of all agreements relating to first and second-level degree programmes, non-medical area specialisation schools and Master's programmes;
• activities connected to student career management services for students enrolled in specialisation schools for non-medical graduates, Master's and PhDs;
• procedures relating to state examinations for the University;
• specific projects related to training;
• promoting international education in collaboration with the University’s organisational entities by overseeing global mobility processes and developing international projects at University, departmental, and teaching service unit levels, supported by Erasmus+ funding.
• exploring internationalisation issues through dialogue with international partners and participating in innovative projects;
• promoting international inter-university cooperation and supporting structural improvement initiatives for the University system (governance, funding systems, etc.);
• communicating and providing consultancy to University organisational entities on calls relating to European programmes for the internationalisation of higher education;
• monitoring and disseminating funding opportunities for internationalisation;
• training teaching, research and professional staff in departments on project design requirements and on financial and management rules of European Erasmus+ projects;
• managing outgoing student mobility for study and internship activities;
• managing outgoing mobility of teaching and professional staff respectively for teaching activities and on-the-job training;
• managing University agreements with international partners to enrich the programme catalogue and promote mobility;
• coordinating strategic international initiatives and activities of the University's overseas branches.