Journal title RIV Rassegna Italiana di Valutazione
Author/s Mauro Palumbo, Anna Fausta Scardigno, Antonio Felice Uricchio
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2026/95
Language Italian Pages 13 P. 122-141 File size 0 KB
DOI 10.3280/Riv2026oa23361
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The text critically analyses the evaluation of the Third Mission and Knowledge Valorisation in Italian universities, with a specific focus on the VQR 2020-2024 exercise. The authors highlight differences between ANVUR guidelines and the international scientific literature, emphasizing how terms such as impact and added value are often used ambiguously. To overcome a purely bureaucratic logic, the adoption of a theory of change that promotes institutional learning and reflexivity is proposed. The goal is to transform evaluation from a simple formal compliance into a strategic tool to strengthen the social and civic role of the Universities. A concentric circles model is also suggested to better monitor the effects of interventions on territories and beneficiaries. In summary, the essay promotes a vision of evaluation understood as a transformative process capable of generating a real improvement in the way by which Universities develop their civic and social responsibility.
Keywords: third mission; civic universities; evaluation; social responsibility of universities; quality evaluation of research
Mauro Palumbo, Anna Fausta Scardigno, Antonio Felice Uricchio, Per una “teoria del cambiamento”: riflessioni a margine della valutazione delle iniziative di Valorizzazione della Conoscenza degli Atenei Italiani in "RIV Rassegna Italiana di Valutazione" 95/2026, pp 122-141, DOI: 10.3280/Riv2026oa23361