Roberta PIAZZA
Roberta Piazza, PhD in Education, is Full Professor of Education at the University of Catania, Department of Education Sciences. She teaches Community Education, Adult Education, and Educational Planning (Master's level).
She served as Chair of the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Education and Training. From 2017 to 2023, she was Director of the university research centre on community engagement – CURE (Community University Research Engagement). From 2017 to 2019, she served as the Rector’s Delegate for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning. Since 2023, she has been Deputy Coordinator of the University of Catania’s Advanced Training Centre for Teachers (ASFI) (www.centroasfi.unict.it).
Since 2014, she has been European Co-Director of the Pascal Observatory (Place Management, Social Capital and Learning Region, www.pascalobservatory.org), coordinator of Research Network 4 “National Strategies for Lifelong Learning” within the ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning (ASEM LLL Hub) (http://asemlllhub.org/researchnetworks), and a member of the Scientific Committee of Lucca UNESCO Learning City.
She is a member of the Executive Board of RUIAP (Italian University Network for Lifelong Learning) for the period 2018–2025 (https://www.ruiap.it/chi-siamo/organi/).
Since 2020, she has served as reviewer and Panel SH3 member for the European Commission (ERC Advanced Grant), and peer reviewer within the Italian evaluation system (RePRISE). She also acts as disciplinary and system expert for university quality agencies at both national (ANVUR) and international level (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), Portugal; The Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA); Education University of Hong Kong – Postgraduate Diploma in Education Programme). She serves as an External Expert Advisory Board in international projects (Horizon Europe).
She has participated in numerous European projects focused on learning cities, lifelong learning, guidance and validation of prior learning, apprenticeships, and teacher education.
Professional and Academic Roles
- 2017 – present: Full Professor of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania
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2006 – 2017: Associate Professor of General and Social Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, University of Catania
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2004 – 2006: Researcher in General and Social Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, University of Catania
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2002 – 2004: Postdoctoral research fellow in Education, University of Catania – Faculty of Education
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1999 – 2002: PhD in Education, University of Catania – Faculty of Education
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1993 – 2004: Senior secondary school teacher of Italian, Latin, History and Geography
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1991 – 1993: Tenured primary school teacher
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1988 – 1991: Teacher of Italian, History and Geography at the Teachers' School
Institutional Roles
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2023 – present: Vice-Coordinator, School of Higher Education for Teachers, University of Catania
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2018 – 2022: Coordinator of teaching activities, Bachelor's Degree in Educational Sciences, University of Catania
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2018 – present: Scientific Coordinator, University Commission for validation and recognition of competences in continuing education courses for working adults
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2017 – 2019: Rector’s Delegate for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning
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2016 – 2023: Director, University Research Centre on Community Engagement – CURE (Community University Research Engagement)
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2016 – present: University Delegate to the General Assemblies of RUIAP (Italian University Network for Continuing Education) and EUCEN (European University Continuing Education Network)
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2011 – 2015: Coordinator, Postgraduate University Course for Experts in Job Placement Services
Participation in Doctoral Programmes
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2020 – present: Doctoral programme Educational Processes, Transformative Models and Research Methods Applied to the Territory, University of Catania
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2019 – 2020: Doctoral programme Learning and Innovation in Social and Work Contexts, University of Siena
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2017 – 2018: Doctoral programme Cultural Heritage, Education and Territory, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”
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2015 – 2017: Doctoral programme Comparative Studies: Languages, Literatures, Education, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”
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2012 – 2014: Doctoral programme Humanistic Studies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”
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2009 – 2012: International Doctorate in Educational Sciences, University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and University of Granada (Spain)
Quality Assurance and Evaluation Activities
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2024 – 2025: Panel Member for the Evaluation of R&D Units 2023–24, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal
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2024: Member of External Evaluation Committee (EEC), evaluation/accreditation of higher education programmes, Cyprus Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA)
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2019 – present: External expert, European Commission (evaluation of grant applications and project monitoring)
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2018 – 2022: President, Quality Assurance Committee, Bachelor's Degree in Educational Sciences, University of Catania
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2018 – 2022: External Examiner, Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Professional and Vocational Education), Faculty of Education and Human Development, University of Hong Kong
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2017 – 2022: Quality Assurance Evaluator for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Education (ANVUR); Evaluator for new programme proposals (2018–)
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2016 – present: Expert for the Italian Research Evaluation System (RePRISE), Ministry of University and Research (MIUR)
Memberships in Scientific and Professional Networks
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2021 – present: Member, Scientific Committee of the UNESCO Learning City of Lucca
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2020 – present: Co-Coordinator, Research Network 4 “National Strategies for Lifelong Learning”, ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning (ASEM LLL Hub)
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2018 – 2024: Executive Board Member, RUIAP (Italian University Network for Lifelong Learning)
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2014 – present: Associate Director for Europe, Pascal Observatory (Place Management, Social Capital and Learning Region)
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2006 – 2011: Executive Board Member, CARIP (University Centre for Continuing Education), University of Catania
Editorial Responsibilities
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2016 – present: Scientific Board Member, LLL – Focus on Lifelong Lifewide Learning
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2014: Editorial Board Member, book series CHIRONE. Educational and Development Processes Across Life Stages and Contexts (Junior–Bergamo Publishers)
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2013 – present: Series Editor, Learning Culture. Studies and Research on Lifelong Learning (ARACNE Publisher)
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2012 – present: Editorial Board Member, I problemi della pedagogia
International Visiting and Research Activities
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2013, 2015, 2016, 2019: Visiting Professor, University of Glasgow, Scotland
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2018: Visiting Professor, East China Normal University, Shanghai
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2018: Visiting Professor, Philippine Normal University, Manila
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2021 – 2023: Visiting Scholar, University of Cantabria, Spain
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2012: Research Fellow, University of Limerick, Ireland
Teaching Activities (selected)
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Adult Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s level) (2006 – present)
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Pedagogy (Bachelor’s level) (2010 – present)
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Educational Planning (Master’s level) (2021 – present)
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Social Pedagogy (Bachelor’s level) (2007 – 2011)
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Pedagogy of Lifelong Learning (Master’s level) (2008 – 2010)
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European Policies on Lifelong Learning (Bachelor’s level) (2013)
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Pedagogy for Special Teachers, Teacher Training Programmes (2006 – present)
Last edit: 04/15/2024