Participation and evaluation in university public engagement policies: towards dialogic and generative models

Journal title RIV Rassegna Italiana di Valutazione
Author/s Emanuela Pascuzzi, Stefania Chimenti
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2026/95
Language Italian Pages 20 P. 102-121 File size 0 KB
DOI 10.3280/Riv2026oa23359
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This paper analyses an experience of participatory evaluation during the initial phase of an Italian university’s Public Engagement (PE) policy. It integrates social research, evaluation, and co-design. The aim is to understand how PE is reflected in the practices and perceptions of the academic community, and to build a shared vision for its future development.
The case study demonstrates how participation can represent an epistemological and political dimension of evaluation, generating knowledge in pluralistic manner, fostering a shared narrative of the university’s public role, transforming internal relationships, and laying the foundations for a more structured, inclusive, and socially impactful PE policy.

Keywords: participatory action research; academic community; third mission; ap-preciative inquiry; participatory evaluation

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Emanuela Pascuzzi, Stefania Chimenti, Partecipazione e valutazione nelle politiche universitarie di Public Engagement: verso modelli dialogici e generativi in "RIV Rassegna Italiana di Valutazione" 95/2026, pp 102-121, DOI: 10.3280/Riv2026oa23359