Why choose this path
If you like economics and are interested in social problems, if you think that the public administration does not always give the right answers to people's needs, if you believe that with adequate technical skills this situation can be improved, Evaluation is the path that could be done for you. You will find yourself studying with motivated classmates, coming from different parts of Italy, with less crowded classrooms and with a group of teachers cohesive and attentive to your needs. Evaluation is an innovative project that offers you a good economic training and technical equipment (quantitative and institutional) to address the issues of public policy evaluation, a new and booming area, which responds to growing needs even in private companies and non-profit organizations.
What is evaluation?
It is the systematic production of information to make judgments on the actions of public administrations, private companies and non-profit organizations, with the intention of improving them (more information).
What to study
In the course of Evaluation, the student can enhance his applied training and learn the techniques of analysis and evaluation of public policies. Particular attention is paid to the study of the territorial (local, regional, European) and environmental context in which policies operate, as well as to the economic conditions of individuals.
The following lessons are part of this course:
First year: Analysis of territorial systems, Principles and methods of evaluation
Second year: Economy and Environment Policy, Regional Policies.
To this course of study you can add two exams of your choice, in addition to the internship and the thesis dedicated to the themes of evaluation of public policies.
Some elements that distinguish the educational path:
emphasis on applications, through laboratory activities that allow the use of software tools for data collection, processing and analysis (microsimulation, bigdata, spatial analysis)
opportunities for comparison with experts and internships
opportunities for participation in scientific seminars and cultural initiatives
learn to replicate and adapt to new contexts what has been learned.
An important training objective for the course in Evaluation is in fact the ability to express opinions independently: the evaluation of programs always requires a judgment of merit.
How to study
Active teaching that integrates the traditional approach with flipped classroom teaching practices: the theme of the lesson is studied before the lesson and time in the classroom is used to encourage learning, develop argumentation skills and work in small groups, in a direct relationship with the teachers.
Applied research: several teachings place particular emphasis on applications (case studies; field surveys; learning to use dedicated software).
Learning time: the calendar of lessons, divided into two periods per year, allows you to take the exams as soon as the course is over
The last semester of the second year is dedicated to the preparation of the thesis. The thesis: it can be a research thesis or a "research internship"; in this second case, the undergraduates commit themselves to specific case studies in agreement with bodies interested in the evaluation.
International relations and internships
The degree course offers interested students the opportunity to study abroad for a semester or carry out internship activities, thanks to an extensive network of relations with European countries. The agreement with the Giacomo Brodolini Foundation encourages internship activities dedicated to applied research topics. Exchanges usually take place within the Socrates Erasmus programme, supported by other agreements that allow mobility to countries outside Europe.
What you become
