Doctoral studies in Frontier sciences in sustainability, diplomacy and international cooperation

The general learning goals of the course are:

• enhance and strengthen the main lines of research of the Department of International Human and Social Sciences and of the University
• encourage the comparison of scientific experiences of theoretical models and methodologies of different disciplinary and professional areas
• train highly qualified researchers in each of the two curricula and enable them to use the most up-to-date tools for scientific research and to operate effectively in the national and international context

At the end of the PhD course, students must be able to:

• know the main genres of writing and dissemination connected to research and understand the theoretical approaches and methodologies on which the disciplines of the two curricula are based
• use the analytical and empirical research tools specific to the reference disciplines to respond to innovative questions coming from the world of professions and become part of international research networks
• apply knowledge and understanding, with reference to the tools necessary to submit articles to scientific journals (especially open access and A-list), submit research projects to scientific commissions, also to raise funds and be able to continue post-doctoral research, present the research results in public

The specific goals of the “Liberal arts and sciences in Sustainability” curriculum are to train scholars and professionals, in the public and private sector, capable of operating in a context that requires a necessary complementarity of approaches and views, in consideration of the growing fluidity between traditional disciplinary barriers.

The specific goals of the "Diplomacy and International Cooperation" curriculum are the training of professionals capable of operating in complex international contexts, in which the traditional political dimension meets the new frontiers of technology and innovation. Another objective is to train scholars capable of addressing the issues of international relations in an innovative way.

The doctorate will facilitate access to an academic career in the specific sectors of the two curricula, also thanks to participation in research projects with national and international universities. 

This is a particularly suitable path also for scholars interested in future non-academic career paths, including management and representation roles in national, European and international institutions, roles for the creation of environmental, economic and social development policies, roles for the implementation of environmental, cooperation and sustainable development projects.
It also aims to provide specific skills that can be used in different sectors of the public administration, businesses, the third sector, in various professional activities, such as:

• activities in public and private organizations in the field of environmental protection, intercultural dialogue, protection of human rights and peace keeping
• professional activities linked to national and international public institutions, with reference to diplomatic careers and in development cooperation institutions, as well as in ministries/institutions/agencies operating on the international scene
• companies with an international vocation operating in non-European contexts
• professional activities related to environmental consultancy and reporting, the drafting of sustainability balance sheets, the planning and dissemination of good practices related to the ecological transition

The curriculum is established as part of the Project Fenice “Internationalization and promotion of the territory, training courses on tourism, food and wine, sustainability and digital cultures”, financed under the Notice of the Agency for Territorial Cohesion for the selection of projects to be finance in the regions of Lazio, Abruzzo, Umbria and Marche affected by the seismic events of 2016. The activities will therefore take place in the University's teaching headquarters in Norcia.
The innovative approach, which aims to establish a synergy and dialogue between the human and social sciences and the hard sciences, is in line with the most advanced training courses of prestigious Italian and foreign universities.
The curriculum will include two main lines of training and research, which will constantly dialogue with each other:

• the field of environmental sustainability, from a technical and engineering point of view
• the field of social and economic sustainability and its narrative and communication, from the point of view of international social sciences

The privileged research areas of the curriculum are:

• the study of migration phenomena
• the study of environmental pollution and climate change
• the study of the energy and digital transition, and of green and circular economy
• the study of emergency management, reconstruction, regeneration and revitalization of vulnerable territories

All of these topics will be addressed from a gender-based, data-driven perspective and in a trans-disciplinary perspective, declined from a historical, sociological, economic, legal, environmental and engineering point of view. 
A research topic in common with the other curriculum is represented by the geopolitics of energy and water resources and international cooperation for the management of crises and climate change.

The curriculum is the result of ten years of research doctorate experience and is connected to the master's degree course in International Relations and Development Cooperation (RICS) active at the University.
The path combines research on international actors and policies, from a gender-based and data-driven perspective and from a trans-disciplinary perspective, with a focus on emerging actors and the role that science and technology have in redefining the map international politics.
The privileged research areas of the curriculum are:

• the international role of states, both those of Europe and non-European countries
• the problems of international politics and human security
• the analysis of global interdependence phenomena, with particular attention to Africa and Latin America and, more generally, to South-South dynamics
• the deepening of relations between countries, with particular attention to the interaction between political regimes with different social structures and to dialogue between cultures 
• humanitarian crises; the technological dimension of international relations

A research topic in common with the other curriculum is represented by the geopolitics of energy and water resources and international cooperation for the management of crises and climate change.
The curriculum focuses heavily on the inclusion of doctoral students within international networks and makes use of an advisory board which is already active for courses XVIII and XXXIX of the current curriculum in Diplomacy and Cooperation for the Development of the Doctorate in Linguistic, Philological-Literary Sciences and Political-Social. The curriculum will also find valid enrichment in the interaction with the scientific committee and teaching team of the School in Sciences&Diplomacy established within the Fenice project, as well as in the structured partnership existing between the University for Foreigners and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

As part of the specific research doctorates of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Mission 4 "Education and Research", Component 2 "From Research to Business", Investment 3.3 "Introduction of innovative doctorates that respond to innovation needs of companies" (Ministerial Decree 630 of 04.24.2024), the Doctorate "Frontier sciences in sustainability, diplomacy and international cooperation", curriculum "Liberal arts and sciences in sustainability", will activate two scholarships on topics of interest to the companies that co-finance them:

1. tools and methods for the climate neutrality of municipal companies in the waste sector
2. hydrogeological safety and cultural heritage

The first is part of the European Green Deal, the taxonomy for sustainable finance and the ESG (Environmental – Social – Governance) criteria and aims to develop innovative methodologies for drawing up the sustainability report of large companies, identifying objectives , company roles, indicators, audit methods, reporting tools, mitigation techniques, communication strategies.

In particular, a methodology will be developed for the drafting of a business transition plan, pursuant to the recent recommendation of 27 June 2023 "on facilitating financing for the transition towards a sustainable economy", aimed at translating climate and environmental objectives in actions to be communicated to financial intermediaries, investors and the public and obtain financing for the green transition.

The research project relating to the doctoral scholarship will concern the drafting of the sustainability balance sheet and therefore of the climate transition plan of Gesenu, a large municipal company active in the waste management sector and therefore a primary operator in the circular economy.

The second, included in the theme of hydrogeological safety, represents a crucial challenge for the conservation of cultural heritage in areas subject to natural risks, will address the importance of approaching integrated strategies to preserve historic centres, archaeological sites and works of art exposed to potential hydrogeological threats. Through an in-depth analysis, innovative solutions will be explored aimed at mitigating the risk of damage caused by hydrogeological events, thus protecting the cultural richness of communities and contributing to environmental and social sustainability.

The research will be particularly aimed at the Assessment, Monitoring and Mitigation of Risk in crossings of watercourses (Bridges, Viaducts and Other Structures) studying integrated approaches for Hydrogeological Safety. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events has made it essential to develop integrated approaches to protect these structures and guarantee the safety of the communities that depend on them, particularly in areas where there are historic centers and assets of particular historical and architectural value.