Improving the quality of teaching is one of the University of Palermo’s top priorities. Within the framework of continuous education and ongoing professional development for academic staff, as well as the enhancement of teaching practices overall, the “Mentore per la Didattica” Project has played a key role within the Palermo academic community for years. Since its launch in 2013, the project has steadily increased in popularity, which clearly demonstrates that faculty members recognise the value of this initiative. It reflects the growing realisation that improving teaching should be viewed as an ongoing, structured process requiring strategic vision, collective commitment and a strong capacity for self-assessment, rather than a series of isolated actions.
The Project comprises three main activities:
(i) course mentoring; (ii) participation in study meetings and in-depth discussions on teaching practices, including a residential workshop; and (iii) involvement in a community of faculty members working together to improve the quality of their teaching.
Thanks to the active involvement of faculty members, the project continues to grow and evolve. Since 2024, two new initiatives have been launched: a pilot programme for exam mentoring, involving a small group of experienced faculty on a voluntary basis, and the multi-year mapping of mentoring pathways.
The programme is open to all academic staff at the University of Palermo who wish to participate on a voluntary basis. To participate, simply send an email to progetto.mentore@unipa.it by the end of August each year.
