Quality assurance ensures that higher education institutions provide qualified services, attract international students and researchers, and maintain a high level of academic quality. Furthermore, it fosters the growth of scientific research by stimulating innovation and the internationalization of institutions and study programmes.

Quality assurance considers the entirety of the educational offer provided by institutions. Additionally, institutions are required to implement policies and processes aimed at ensuring and optimizing the quality of research activities, knowledge enhancement, and the effectiveness of the adopted governance system.

The quality assurance criteria and methodologies adopted by ANVUR comply with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), which were adopted in 2005 by Ministers responsible for education as part of the Bologna Process and revised and updated in 2015. The ESG consists of a set of principles and best practices aimed at ensuring and improving the quality of teaching and learning within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), as well as their connections with research and innovation. They promote transparency, consistency, and mutual trust among national systems. The ESG applies to all types and levels of higher education, regardless of the study mode or delivery location.

Quality assurance activities are oriented towards external accountability and the continuous improvement of institutions (enhancement). The fundamental objectives of quality assurance include::

• Ensuring high standards in study programmes and research activities, aligned with best practices defined at both national and international levels.
• Continuous improvement of institutions in terms of teaching, infrastructure, and research, through regular monitoring, evaluations, and the formulation of specific recommendations.
• Transparency and institutional accountability, ensuring that students, faculty, and stakeholders can easily and fully access information on activities and achieved results.
• Alignment of the Italian system with European standards, as promoted by the Bologna Process and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), to facilitate mobility and international recognition of qualifications.

The quality assurance system in Italy is based on the Self-Evaluation, Evaluation, and Accreditation (AVA) process. This includes:

1. Internal evaluation: Higher education institutions conduct an internal review of their activities by implementing a quality assurance system. The objective, with the support of Evaluation Units, is to carry out a self-evaluation that analyzes processes and outcomes based on standards and criteria established by ANVUR, in accordance with best international practices.
2. External evaluation: Expert panels appointed by ANVUR verify compliance with the quality standards defined by the Agency, taking into account the results of self-evaluations, the documentation produced by institutions, and, if necessary, on-site visits. 
3. Accreditation: At the end of the evaluation process, ANVUR issues its opinion, which is forwarded to the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) for the recognition or denial of accreditation for the institution and/or study programmes. 
4. Complaints and appeals prcedures: The Ministry or the individual institution may request a review of the evaluation issued by the Agency, providing a justified explanation.