Quality Assurance (QA) in the Doctoral Programmes of the University of Padua is implemented in accordance with the ANVUR AVA 3 framework and the requirements of Ministerial Decree 226/2021, which mandates accredited institutions to adopt a structured system for the design, management, monitoring, and continuous improvement of doctoral training. The primary goal is to ensure a high-quality educational and research environment that supports the development of the doctoral candidates’ scientific, professional, and transversal skills, in line with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). Within this framework, each Doctoral Programme adopts transparent procedures for defining learning objectives and expected outcomes, plans and organizes appropriate educational and research activities consistent with its mission, monitors progress and results, and implements evidence-based improvements. Active engagement of doctoral candidates, academic staff, and the Doctoral Board is a key component of the QA cycle, together with ongoing interaction with the University Quality Assurance Office, the Internal Evaluation Group and the relevant institutional bodies. Therefore, QA in the doctoral domain ensures rigorous and internationally recognisable training paths that fully respond to the needs of advanced research and society, supporting the continuous enhancement of the learning experience and the quality of the scientific outcomes produced.
Advisory Committee The PhD Programme appoints an Advisory Committee that supports the Programme Coordinator in monitoring activities, also through the analysis of the indicators provided by the relevant office, and in listening to the PhD candidates.
The Advisory Committee of the PhD Programme in Animal and Food Science (2024-2025; 2025-2026) is composed as follows: - Prof. Angela Trocino (Coordinator of the PhD Course) - Prof. Sara Pegolo (Vice-Coordinator of the PhD Course) - Prof. Mauro Penasa (member of the PhD Board) - Prof. Stefano Schiavon (member of the PhD Board) - Dr. Alessandro Della Riva (Alumni UNIPD) - Dr. Andrea Dibiase (AIA Agricola Italiana Alimentare) - Prof. Massimiliano Petracci (University of Bologna) - Dr. Giorgio Trentin (Veneto Region)
The Quality Assurance (QA) System: University of Padova The framework of the QA of the University of Padova for the PhD Programmes is available at this link. The Quality Assurance (QA) System: Reference Department of the PhD Program The framework of the QA of the Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE) is available at this link
The Quality Assurance System: PhD Programme in Animal and Food Science The Quality Assurance (QA) System of the PhD Programme in Animal and Food Science, consistently with the QA System of the University of Padova, is based on a cycle of Deming which previews the following steps: designing; planning and organizing learning activities; presence of a monitoring system for processes and results related to the activities of teaching, research and "third mission "; periodic assessment.
All documents produced within the cycle of Deming are available in the Moodle (SSO access) of the PhD Programme for the doctoral candidates, the PhD Board and the administrative staff responsible for the PhD Programme in the tile entitiled “Quality Assurance of the PhD Programme”, namely - accreditation documents; - yearly assessment reports; - periodic Assessment reports; -minutes of Stakeholder consultations.
The Moodle(SSO access) of the PhD Programme also contains in specific tiles all guidelines and modules to be used by the PhD candidates and supervisors during their PhD journey, namely the tiles are: -PhD Regulations of the University of Padova -Welcome to Agripolis, -Welcome to DAFNAE -PhD Training programs and reports -For your safety -Missions -For your secondment abroad -Language courses at UNIPD for your training -Templates for oral communications and posters -Using vehicle DAFNAE for missions -Three-minutes thesis competition -Funding the ERASMUS period abroad -Authorization for external activities: Procedures -Minutes of the meetings – PhD representatives/all students Coordinator -Project: Positive relationship between supervisors and PhD students -Welcome to Research (workshops): outcomes -Quality assurance of Research – DAFNAE Department -Quality assurance of the PhD Programme The Official minutes of the meetings of the PhD Board (from 2020-2021) are available for all members of the PhD Board in this shared folder (restricted access).