The AVA System (Self-Evaluation, Evaluation and Accreditation) aims to verify and ensure the quality of teaching, research and third mission/social impact activities and other institutional and administrative activities carried out by Universities, according to a Quality Assurance (QA) model.
The model is based on the definition of internal procedures for the design, management, self-evaluation, and improvement of educational and scientific activities, as well as forms of external verification, in line with European standards.
According to the 2023 – 2028 Strategic Plan, the objective (n. 14) of our University is “to enhance the culture of Quality in the university community and improve the effectiveness of the QA System”.
The actions already undertaken and that will be further strengthened include:
- the creation of training courses on Quality Assurance.
- the implementation of awareness-raising actions aimed at disseminating a culture of quality and promoting the active participation of teaching staff, technical-administrative staff and students in response to ANVUR (National Agency for the Evaluation of the University and Research System) calls for experts;
- the implementation of an integrated information system aimed at simplifying and improving management control as well as the availability of data and information;
- the development of procedures and tools to support the implementation of the QA requirements within the Self-Evaluation –Evaluation – Accreditation (AVA) framework.
Main documents
- University Quality Policy (SA – Academic Senate – Resolution no. 235 of 20/09/2024 and GB no. 379 of 02/10/2024)
- Quality Assurance Macro-Process (SA Resolution no. 287 of 16/12/2022)
- Review of the Governance System (SA Resolution no. 184 of 11/07/2025)
- Review of the Quality Assurance (SA Resolution no. 217 of 17/09/2025)
- ANVUR Final Report on Periodic Accreditation of the University of Pisa and its Study Programmes (approved by ANVUR Governing Council Resolution no. 294 of 17/12/2019).
- Decree on the Periodic Accreditation of the University and its Study Programmes for Academic Years 2019/20 to 2023/24 (Ministerial Decree no. 227 of 19/06/2020)
Quality in the University
In order to foster the culture of Quality within the university community and to enhance the effectiveness of the QA System, the University has equipped itself with processes and tools designed to provide all members of its community (students, technical-administrative and teaching staff) with a “quality” environment for study, research and work.
The University promotes continuous improvement processes within its Departments in relation to the three institutional missions of Teaching, Research and the Third Mission.
Within their autonomous sphere of action, the Departments manage the fundamental Quality Assurance processes concerning self-evaluation, evaluation and accreditation. The University supports the Departments by setting up a structured system for acquiring key information through suitable formats and guidelines.
The Quality Assurance of PhD programmes is inspired by the principles set out in the University’s Quality Policies and is implemented through monitoring, self-evaluation and evaluation systems aimed at continuous improvement.
The University plays a proactive role in guiding the key management processes of the entire planning cycle, defining guidelines and shared tools for data collection to support all phases of the evaluation-self-evaluation and accreditation process.
Study Programmes are the fundamental pillar on which the quality of university teaching is based, with important implications and interactions with the University’s other core missions.
The entire cycle of design, implementation, monitoring and management of Study Programmes is compliant with the Quality Assurance criteria and is subject to external evaluation through the initial and periodic accreditation processes.
The process itself and its outcomes provide essential information for evaluation activities at both Department and University levels.
- Planning of educational provision and AVA compliance
- Guidelines and documents
Training and Information
Educational materials on quality, including links to the main regulatory sources on accreditation and evaluation.