Personal Data Protection in Academic Research: a Comparative Analysis of Italian University policies

This paper aims to explore the measures adopted by a representative sample of Italian universities to ensure the protection of personal data in the context of scientific research, with reference to the PRIN project "Learning Analytics. Across data processing ethics, instructional design, and academic policy", funded by the European Union. The study is part of a growing interest in Learning Analytics techniques and ethical issues related to the use of educational data. Through a documentary and comparative analysis of regulations and privacy policies of ten Italian universities (public, private and online), similarities and critical issues in the policies adopted are highlighted, with the aim of contributing to the definition of common Guidelines at national level.