The accreditation of a Degree Course: the experience of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Turin - Italy

Many Universities, in order to improve quality in education, have recently activated a process for the accreditation of several Degree Courses, which implies the realization of an articulated Quality Management System, inclusive of documented procedures and records. Among the main reasons motivating an University Faculty to develop such a System are the opportunity to keep in substantial control and improve continuously the activities, both in terms of effectiveness and efficiency, to increase satisfaction of all the interested parties and the possibility of obtaining financings from the Communitarian Structural Funds, in particular the European Social Fund (ESF). The main objectives of the present work, dealing with the case of accreditation experienced in the Degree Course in Business Administration (Corso di Laurea in Economia Aziendale English version - CLEA EV) of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Turin (Italy), are to show how a Quality/Accreditation Management System could be developed and to give a sort of guideline for its correct implementation and improvement. The Degree Course Program is articulated on a triennial plan of studies with about 50 courses activated in different branches and more than 140 professors, assistants and researchers involved in the various subjects. Every year about 1500 students immatriculate at the first year of the Course “University Degree in Business Administration”.