Quality Assurance in Third Mission - Social Impact
Third Mission – Social Impact activities are those initiatives that, based on expertise developed in research and teaching, aim to foster the dissemination, promotion and use of knowledge to contribute to social, cultural and economic growth at different levels of society.
Among the institution's objectives, the University's own Mission highlights its contribution "to the socioeconomic development of our community, by favoring social mobility and cultural development both in Milan and in Italy. We believe in the key role that a free university pursuing excellence in research and education can play – in terms of economic growth and social development – for the benefit of its community and country."
This is reflected in a continuous interaction with businesses, institutions, non-profit organizations, as well as with the community (both local and international), aimed at fostering growth for both parties and adding an additional component to the education of students and graduates.
The university classifies its Third Mission – Social Impact -related activities into three areas:
- Teaching & Education;
- Research & Innovation;
- Governance & Operations.
Continuous and lifelong learning, and innovation and knowledge dissemination have historically played a central role in Bocconi's strategy as an integral part of the core activities of teaching and research in the social sciences: in this sense, the three missions naturally tend to merge to guarantee progress and improve the quality of life in society.
The idea that teaching cannot and must not be limited to university education but must also accompany people as they enter the world of work, has always been a fundamental component of the educational strategy adopted by the University.
The idea that teaching cannot and must not be limited to university education but must also accompany people as they enter the world of work, has always been a fundamental component of the educational strategy adopted by the University.
The Employer Relation&Career Service office – formerly Ufficio Laureati – is dedicated to the creation of a network of partner employers and constant and continuous relations with companies and institutions (at domestic and international levels) aimed at facilitating the job placement of graduates.
A vision of education that is not limited to university training but accompanies people throughout their professional lives – so-called lifelong learning – has been an integral part of our training strategy going back to 1971, the year SDA Bocconi School of Management was founded and the first Master in Business Administration (MBA) was launched.
Since then, SDA Bocconi has gradually enriched its offer of Master programs, while also adding "open" and custom courses, with the aim of meeting the demand for executive education in its various segments and for different audiences as comprehensively as possible.
The University develops custom research through its Research Centers, whose activities draw upon its network of relations with numerous companies and institutions.
The role taken on by stakeholders and the Egea Publishing House in the dissemination of knowledge is fundamental. Over the years, it has evolved in line with the changes and trends in society: editorial activities and events dedicated to professionals and the community have been supplemented with new tools such as the creation of podcasts and units dedicated to the pre-acceleration and acceleration of newly established startups.
The third area, which includes continuing education and the dissemination of knowledge, are summarized in the initiatives promoted by the University to encourage social responsibility and commitment: cultural, sporting and public engagement activities dedicated to a broader range of external stakeholders including, in addition to individual residents, volunteer associations in the area, the local community and University Alumni and Alumnae.
Organizing activities
The coordination of Third Mission activities is the responsibility of the Dean for Academic Strategy and Institutional Affairs, Professor Myriam Mariani. Professor Mariani is in charge of supervising and managing the University's Third Mission activities, in particular its relations with the community and the third sector.
Operational responsibilities are delegated to the administrative Directors, who supervise the implementation of the activities within their respective areas of competence. To ensure the coordination of all the activities developed by the University in the various areas of the Third Mission, the Committee for the Support and Coordination of TMIS Activities was set up in November 2023. This committee oversees monitoring and mapping Third Mission activities, updating, and reviewing the information and data collected in order to ensure activities and objectives are in line with Bocconi‘s strategic plan and evaluating the quality of research specifically related to Third Mission activities.