Universities are fundamental actors in the production of knowledge within the socio-economic system. However, they are increasingly called upon to add a further function to this role, usually identified as the Third Mission, which involves the valorization of the knowledge produced within the aforementioned system, and particularly at the level of the local socio-economic system.
The effective implementation of activities related to the third mission requires researchers to take an active role, meaning they should be materially and actively the bridge between the university institution and the socio-economic system. The presence and direct intervention of researchers outside university boundaries can take many forms; therefore, from a strategic perspective, it is appropriate to identify the lines along which to develop over the three-year period.
Given the complexity and multiplicity of third mission initiatives, which are often activated by individual faculty members, and given the need to bring the various activities within the overall framework and perspective of the strategic guidelines defined by the University, consistent with the indications from ANVUR (National Agency for the Evaluation of the University and Research Systems), the University of Siena has adopted a quality management system. This system aims to disseminate and share with all stakeholders the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the initiatives undertaken, in order to monitor their coherence with the strategic programmatic choices on the one hand, and on the other hand to assess the impact of third mission activities on social, cultural, and economic development, also in relation to the specificities and needs of the local area.
The definition of policies for QA-TM (Quality Assurance - Third Mission) follows a three-year cycle. The cycle begins with the approval by the governing bodies of the University's three-year strategic plan and its implementation at the level of Departments or other coordinating structures. The objectives identified in the plan and the actions implemented to achieve these objectives are monitored over the three-year period, concurrently with the compilation of the SUA-TM (Single Annual Third Mission Data Sheet). The organizational structure supporting the Third Mission, in addition to ensuring the monitoring of actions undertaken at central and peripheral levels, has the task of promoting and supporting the valorization of activities carried out at the departmental level or directly by individual faculty members.
During the review process, the objectives of the plan and the actions defined therein can be updated and adjusted based on the reports prepared by the Third Mission Division and the Departments or other coordinating structures. The cycle closes at the end of the three years with a three-year review that will serve as the starting point for the drafting of the new three-year strategic plan.
The University's Quality Assurance System for the Third Mission requires Departments to annually review their QA-TM plan, monitoring the effectiveness of planned actions and defining new objectives and actions.