dSEA is a Public Institution and possesses ‘Department’ Status within the University of Padova (UNIPD). dSEA, considered a ‘Department’ in the University context, enjoys substantial autonomy comparable to that of a Business School. dSEA is committed to achieving excellence in the three macro areas of Teaching, Research, and Third mission/Public engagement.

Establishment: The Department of Economic Sciences “Marco Fanno”(DSE - dSEA’s name before 2011) was established in 1989 to underpin the relevance of Economics within UNIPD. Its establishment recognized the growing role of economic sciences in society and was strongly supported by the local business stakeholders.

Recruitment strategy: In 1997, DSE started to implement a faculty recruitment program, and priority went to profiles that had a robust research background. Faculty numbers increased from an initial 8 to its current size of 93 members.

Physical spaces: The inauguration of the Levi Cases and Cà Borin buildings in 1997, followed by the addition of the Via Bassi building in 2002, provided the Department with a new structural dimension that enhanced its operations. These modern facilities played a pioneering role in establishing "in-house" student services, including "international relations," "internships and placements," and "orientation and tutoring."

Harmonization to Bologna process: In 1999, a three-cycle system of 3+2+3 harmonized the learning outcomes, in line with the Bologna process. DSE commenced a PhD Program in 2000 and also initiated a professional & international master’s program.

Internationalization: In 2001, DSE embraced a fresh internationalization principle, aiming to augment both the quantity and diversity of its foreign partners, summer schools, novel foreign exchange programs (with a particular focus on China), and double degree initiatives. DSE implemented a visiting professor program to attract esteemed professors, and forged new agreements with universities abroad, which led to an expansion of incoming and outgoing students.

Structural reform: In 2010, the national university reform, referred to as n. 240, aimed to streamline research and teaching activities. Subsequently, in 2011, DSE underwent a restructuring, leading to the renaming of the organization as the Department of Economics and Management "Marco Fanno" (dSEA).

Department of Excellence: In 2018, acknowledging its remarkable accomplishments in teaching and research, dSEA was designated as a "Department of Excellence" by MUR. As a testament to this recognition, an additional budget of €7.4 million was allocated for a span of five years.

Technology adoption (TEL): In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, dSEA swiftly adapted its approach to education by establishing an enhanced learning environment for all its students. This involved the implementation of online and blended learning programs. Since March 2020, dSEA has successfully provided online classes to over 3000 students, ensuring uninterrupted access to education during the pandemic period.

First Female Head of Department (HoD): In 2021, dSEA elected Paola Valbonesi as its first female HoD.

Excellent research achievements: In 2022, ANVUR released the results of the latest research quality assessment, known as VQR 2015-19. The findings highlighted the exceptional quality of our publications, with 33% being classified as "A," and an impressive 68% of dSEA publications receiving the classification of A or B. Furthermore, the Standardized Departmental Performance Indicator (ISPD), utilized to evaluate Italian public university departments, ranked dSEA among the top 15 departments in Italy in the subject areas of Economics, Management, and Statistics. Notably, dSEA achieved the highest possible score of 100/100 in this assessment. This exceptional acknowledgment not only solidified dSEA's position but also secured the prestigious Departments of Excellence grant for the period of 2023-2027, further affirming its distinguished status in research and academic excellence.