Prof Roberta Piazza
- Visiting Professor (School of Education)
Biography
Roberta Piazza holds a PhD in Education, and is a full professor in Adult Education at the University of Catania, Italy. She is director of the University Research Centre on Community Engagement - CURE (Community University Research Engagement) (http://www.cure.unict.it). She was vice-Rector for continuing education and lifelong learning (2017-2019). She has been an Associate director in Europe of PASCAL Observatory (Place management, Social Capital and Learning Region), www.pascalobservatory.org) since 2014, and she is also member of the Research Network 4 "National Strategies for Lifelong Learning" of the ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning (ASEM LLL Hub) (http://asemlllhub.org/researchnetworks/nationalstrategies/rn4members/). She has participated in several EU-funded projects on learning cities, lifelong learning, lifelong guidance, recognition of prior learning, apprenticeship and teacher training.
She is a quality assurance evaluator at a national level in Italy for undergraduate and post graduate programs by the National Agency of University Evaluation, She is external examiner for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Professional and Vocational programme) (2018-2020, 2020-2022) of the Education University of Hong Kong.
Research interests
Professor Piazza’s main research interests are focused on widening participation to education, lifelong guidance for work transition, teaching and learning in higher education, and the social impact of Higher Education. Her most recent work has been directed towards the role of the University in spreading the lifelong learning culture and enhancing regional sustainable development. She has taken part to many national and EU-funded projects that have contributed to the development of her research interests. As coordinator she has been in charge of the local units for some projects focused on:
- Fostering integration of refugees and migrants in HE: Associate partner in Erasmus + KA3 – Initiatives for policy innovation - Social inclusion through education, training and youth VINCE, Validation for inclusion of new citizens of Europe, 580329-EPP-1-2016-1-BE-EPPKA3-IPI-SOC-IN (2016-2019); University of Catania Grant to support research activities on the topic of guidance and competences recognition for refugees and immigrants (2017) (http://ws1.unict.it/albo/files/2154958_94300.PDF )
- Supporting learning for students with special needs: AIM – Accessible Information Material KA2 - Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices KA204 - Strategic Partnerships for adult education (2019-2021) (n. 2019-1-IT02-KA204-063185); Erasmus + KA2, The Unteachables - Helping the new generations of school teachers turn increasingly unteachable young students into young learnables (Project 2018-1-DK01-KA203-047061) (2018-2020).
- Learning outcomes and work-based learning in HE: Erasmus + KA3 – Support for Policy Reform VET-Business Partnerships on Work-based learning and Apprenticeships, Refining Higher Education Apprenticeships with Enterprises in Europe (2017-2019) http://www.eucen.eu/post/apprent (585163-EPP-1-2017-1-BE-EPPKA3-VET-APPREN); Erasmus + Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices, Qualifications Framework as Platform for the development of learning outcomes based curriculum (QFP) (2016-2019) (https://qfp.ba/ ).
- University career guidance services and recognition of prior learning: Leonardo Da Vinci project (2008-2010) Expertising and Sharing Lifelong Guidance for the Placement (selected as one of the best project financed in 2008 - topic New skills and new jobs http://ec.europa.eu/education/leonardo-da-vinci/doc/best/skills08_en.pdf ) and ERASMUS ACADEMIC NETWORK, Network for Innovation in Career Guidance & Counselling in Europe NICE2 (2012-2014)
As expert in accreditation of non-formal and informal learning, she has been involved in the research activities of the Erasmus Academic Network NICE1 (Network for Innovation in Career Guidance & Counselling in Europe, 2010-2012) and NICE2 (2013-2015). She is chair of University Committee for Validation of Competences (2014-), and as President of the University Research Centre on Community engagement (CURE) her research activities is recently aimed at developing continuing education programs for educators/counselors dealing with immigrants http://www.bollettino.unict.it/articoli/percorsi-e-strumenti-lorientamento-dei-minori-stranieri-non-accompagnati ).
She has been member of the research team coordinated by the University of Glasgow’s School of Education, Promoting Community Engagement for Vocational and Professional Education and Training, financed UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Impact Acceleration Grant (IAA), ES/M500471/1.
Grants
2021-2024 STEAM+ Skill Development in early Childhood Educationa and Care in Europe KA227 – Partnership for Creativity of the Erasmus + - 2020-1-HU01-KA227-SCH-094051. Coordinator of the local unit 2020-2023 J. Monnet networks 620739-EPP-1-2020-1-AU-EPPJMO-NETWORK. Grant 375.000 euro. Social and scientific innovation to achieve the sustainable development goals 2019-2021 Accessible Information Material KA2 - Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices KA204 - Strategic Partnerships for adult education (n. 2019-1-IT02-KA204-063185). Accessible Information Material Coordinator of the local unit 2018-2020 Coordinator of the local unit in Erasmus + KA2, The Unteachables- Helping the new generations of school teachers turn increasingly unteachable young students into young learnables (Project 2018-1-DK01-KA203-047061) |
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Teaching
Adult Education (bachelor level)
General pedagogy (bachelor level)
Educational activities planning (master degree)
Teacher training: Special pedagogy for School teachers (infant and primary school);
Additional information
Professional Activities and Recognition
Membership of Editorial Boards
Among the others memberships are the following
Member of the Journal Scientific board LLL - Focus on Lifelong Lifewide Learning (2016-) http://www.edaforum.it/ojs/index.php/LLL/pages/view/Redazione
Member of the Journal Scientific board JACE, Journal of Adult and Continuing Education (2016-) https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/journal-of-adult-and-continuing-education/journal202519 - editorial-board
Director of the book series Learning Culture. Collana di studi e ricerche sul Lifelong learning (ARACNE Publisher) (2013-) http://www.aracneeditrice.it/aracneweb/index.php/collana.html?col=LEARN
Visiting roles
- Visiting professor, University of East China Normal University (2018), Philippines Normal University (2018)