Roberta PIAZZA

Professional and Academic Roles

• 2017 – present: Full Professor of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania

• 2006 – 2017: Associate Professor of General and Social Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, University of Catania

• 2004 – 2006: Researcher in General and Social Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, University of Catania

• 2002 – 2004: Postdoctoral research fellow in Education, University of Catania – Faculty of Education

• 1999 – 2002: PhD in Education, University of Catania – Faculty of Education

• 1993 – 2004: Senior secondary school teacher of Italian, Latin, History and Geography

• 1991 – 1993: Tenured primary school teacher

• 1988 – 1991: Teacher of Italian, History and Geography at the Teachers' School

Institutional Roles

• 2023 – present: Vice-Coordinator, School of Higher Education for Teachers, University of Catania

• 2018 – 2022: Coordinator of teaching activities, Bachelor's Degree in Educational Sciences, University of Catania

• 2018 – present: Scientific Coordinator, University Commission for validation and recognition of competences in continuing education courses for working adults

• 2017 – 2019: Rector’s Delegate for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning

• 2016 – 2023: Director, University Research Centre on Community Engagement – CURE (Community University Research Engagement)

• 2016 – present: University Delegate to the General Assemblies of RUIAP (Italian University Network for Continuing Education) and EUCEN (European University Continuing Education Network)

• 2011 – 2015: Coordinator, Postgraduate University Course for Experts in Job Placement Services

PhD Thesis Supervision and Examination (last 5 years)

• Supervisor – Elena Failla, PhD in Educational Processes, Theoretical Transformative Models and Applied Research Methods in the Territory, Department of Education, University of Catania, 39th Cycle (2023- 2026) Thesis title: Supporting parenting in vulnerable social settings to prevent school dropout: designing a responsive parenting model in the city of Catania.
• Research advisor – Dr. Ruzica Jurcevic, Department of Pedagogy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb (Croatia), Postdoctoral Program: Social sciences and Humanities in a post-crisis period (2023-2024), ESI (European Scientific Institute) Postdoctoral Academy. Research title: Are Young People Prepared for the Challenges of the Future? A Research on Global Competence of University Students
• Supervisor – Giovanni Castiglione, PhD in Educational Processes, Theoretical Transformative Models and Applied Research Methods in the Territory, Department of Education, University of Catania, 38th Cycle (2022- 2025) Thesis title: Addiction Recovery in Therapeutic Communities as a Transformative Experience.
• Co-supervisor – Martina Morando, PhD in Educational Processes, TheoreticalT ransformative Models and Applied Research Methods in the Territory, University of Catania, 36th Cycle (2020-2023). Thesis title: Contemporary Sexism: Assessing Its Implicit and Explicit Impact on the Workplace and New Avenues in Measuring Subtle Sexism.
• Supervisor – Simona Rizzari, International PhD Programme in Educational Sciences, University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and University of Granada (Joint Degree), 26th Cycle (2010-2013). Thesis title: The Work-Based Learning Model.
• Supervisor for academic internship (November 9th to December 9th, 2023) - Fabiola Baquero Gomide, PhD Student, Doctoral School of the University of Cantabria, Spain. Thesis title: Processes of Inclusion and Socio-educational Exclusion. Well-being, childhood, and youth.
• External Examiner – Brigida Angeloni, PhD in Educational and Social Theory and Research – Curriculum in Educational Theory and Research, Department of Education, University of Roma Tre, 34th Cycle (2018-2021). Thesis title: Recognition and Validation of Professional Experiences and Prior Learning of Adult Immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa: The Biographical-Narrative Approach as a Personalisation Tool.
• Member of the Final Examination Committee – Doctoral Thesis in Education and Psychology (32nd Cycle), co-supervised between University of Manouba (Tunis) and University of Florence (Italy). Candidate: Khemiri Amany – Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Psychology, defended on 22 April 2020
• External Examiner – Genise Formosa - MA degree in Comparative Euro-Mediterranean Education Studies (MA-CEMES), University of Malta Thesis title: Maltese educators’ experiences and perceptions of streamed and mixed ability classes: a comparative study” (May 2020).

Quality Assurance and Evaluation Activities

• 2024 – 2025: Panel Member for the Evaluation of R&D Units 2023–24, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal

• 2024: Member of External Evaluation Committee (EEC), evaluation/accreditation of higher education programmes, Cyprus Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA)

• 2019 – present: External expert, European Commission (evaluation of grant applications and project monitoring)

• 2018 – 2022: President, Quality Assurance Committee, Bachelor's Degree in Educational Sciences, University of Catania

• 2018 – 2022: External Examiner, Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Professional and Vocational Education), Faculty of Education and Human Development, University of Hong Kong

• 2017 – present: Quality Assurance Evaluator for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Education (ANVUR); Evaluator for new programme proposals (2018–)

• 2016 – present: Expert for the Italian Research Evaluation System (RePRISE), Ministry of University and Research (MIUR)

Memberships in Scientific and Professional Networks

• 2021 – present: Member, Scientific Committee of the UNESCO Learning City of Lucca

• 2020 – present: Co-Coordinator, Research Network 4 “National Strategies for Lifelong Learning”, ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning (ASEM LLL Hub)

• 2018 – 2024: Executive Board Member, RUIAP (Italian University Network for Lifelong Learning)

• 2014 – present: Associate Director for Europe, Pascal Observatory (Place Management, Social Capital and Learning Region)

• 2006 – 2011: Executive Board Member, CARIP (University Centre for Continuing Education), University of Catania

Editorial Responsibilities

• 2016 – present: Scientific Board Member, LLL – Focus on Lifelong Lifewide Learning

• 2014: Editorial Board Member, book series CHIRONE. Educational and Development Processes Across Life Stages and Contexts (Junior–Bergamo Publishers)

• 2013 – present: Series Editor, Learning Culture. Studies and Research on Lifelong Learning (ARACNE Publisher)

• 2012 – present: Editorial Board Member, I problemi della pedagogia

International Visiting and Research Activities

• 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019: Visiting Professor, University of Glasgow, Scotland

• 2018: Visiting Professor, East China Normal University, Shanghai

• 2018: Visiting Professor, Philippine Normal University, Manila

• 2021 – 2023: Visiting Scholar, University of Cantabria, Spain

• 2012: Research Fellow, University of Limerick, Ireland

Teaching Activities (selected)

• Adult Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s level) (2006 – present)

• Pedagogy (Bachelor’s level) (2010 – present)

• Educational Planning (Master’s level) (2021 – present)

• Social Pedagogy (Bachelor’s level) (2007 – 2011)

• Pedagogy of Lifelong Learning (Master’s level) (2008 – 2010)

• European Policies on Lifelong Learning (Bachelor’s level) (2013)

• Pedagogy for Special Teachers, Teacher Training Programmes (2006 – present)

Last edit: 01/09/2026