Academic Year 2026-2027 - 42nd Cycle
The recently established PhD programme “Frontier Sciences in Sustainability, Diplomacy and International Cooperation” is designed for those who wish to undertake a rigorous scientific research path, exploring the interaction between scientific disciplines.
The doctoral programme, based within the Department of International Human and Social Sciences (SUSI), is the ideal continuation of the first and second cycle degree programmes. It is structured in two tracks and reflects the main research and teaching areas of the Department.
The integration of sustainability and diplomacy is the innovative feature of this programme, in line with the vision of the SUSI Department, which, in its 2022–2024 Strategic Plan, aims to “develop integrated and complex knowledge, combining aspects related to scientific and technological innovation with those of the human and social sciences, in a perspective of connecting knowledge, with particular attention to international relations, cooperation, sustainable development, media ecosystems, and communication flows.” In light of this perspective, the proposed doctoral programme is highly representative of the diverse research, teaching and third mission activities that have characterised the SUSI Department since its establishment in January 2021.
The “Frontier Sciences in Sustainability, Diplomacy and International Cooperation” PhD programme offers a transdisciplinary educational and research pathway on strategic issues of contemporary society: areas of study focus on research that spans the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, social, and environmental), in line with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, with particular attention to diplomacy and international cooperation, as well as vulnerability.
The programme adopts a methodology designed to address complexity, fostering the interaction of multiple perspectives to create a transdisciplinary research environment. The main objective is to promote research and the development of in-depth knowledge and competencies capable of analysing, addressing and managing situations characterised by a multiplicity of factors, from an international and sustainable perspective, and in adherence with open science principles.
The programme aligns with many of the United Nations 2030 Agenda goals, in particular:
The general educational objectives of the programme are to:
- enhance and strengthen the main research areas of the Department of International Human and Social Sciences and of the University
- foster the exchange of scientific experiences, theoretical models and methodologies from different disciplinary and professional backgrounds
- train highly qualified researchers in each of the two tracks and enable them to use the most advanced tools for scientific research and to work effectively in both national and international contexts
Upon completion of the doctoral programme, students will be able to:
- understand the principal forms of academic writing and science communication related to research, and comprehend the theoretical approaches and methodologies underpinning the disciplines of the two tracks
- utilise analytical tools and empirical research methods specific to their fields to address innovative issues emerging from the professional world and become integrated into international research networks
- apply knowledge and understanding, particularly with regard to the tools required for submitting articles to scientific journals (especially open access and top-tier journals), submitting research projects to scientific committees—including for fundraising and pursuing postdoctoral research—and presenting research results in public forums
The specific objectives of the “Liberal Arts and Sciences in Sustainability” track are to train scholars and professionals—both in the public and private sectors—capable of working in contexts that require a necessary complementarity of approaches and perspectives, given the increasing fluidity across traditional disciplinary boundaries.
The specific objectives of the “Diplomacy and International Cooperation” track are to prepare professionals capable of operating in complex international contexts, where the traditional political dimension converges with the new frontiers of technology and innovation. Another objective is to train scholars prepared to address issues in international relations in innovative ways.
The PhD program facilitates access to an academic career within the specific fields of the two curricula, thanks also to the participation in research projects with national and international universities, including initiatives active at the University.
This pathway is also particularly suitable for scholars interested in future non-academic career prospects, including management and representative roles in national, European, and international institutions; positions related to the development of environmental, economic, and social policies; and roles in the implementation of environmental, cooperation, and sustainable development projects.
Furthermore, the program aims to provide specialist skills that can be applied in various sectors of Public Administration, the private sector, the third sector, and in different professional activities, such as:
- work in public and private organizations in the fields of environmental protection, intercultural dialogue, human rights protection, and peacekeeping
- professional activities related to national and international public institutions, with a focus on diplomatic careers and positions in development cooperation institutions, as well as in ministries/institutions/agencies operating at the international level
- companies with an international focus operating in non-European contexts
- professional activities related to consulting and environmental reporting, preparation of sustainability reports, design and dissemination of best practices related to the ecological transition
Curricula
The curriculum "Liberal Arts and Sciences in Sustainability" was established as part of the “Fenice – Internationalisation and Promotion of the Territory, Educational Pathways in Tourism, Food and Wine, Sustainability, and Digital Cultures” project, funded under the call issued by the Agency for Territorial Cohesion for the selection of projects in the Lazio, Abruzzo, Umbria, and Marche regions affected by the 2016 earthquakes.
The curriculum’s activities took place in cycles XL and XLI at the Norcia teaching facility; as the Fenice project nears completion, starting from cycle XLII, the curriculum’s activities will be held in Perugia.
The curriculum’s innovative approach is to establish a synergy and dialogue between the humanities and social sciences and the natural sciences, in line with the most advanced programmes offered by leading Italian and international universities.
Within the curriculum, two main areas of training and research are constantly engaged in dialogue:
- the field of environmental sustainability, from a technical and engineering perspective
- the area of social and economic sustainability and its narrative and communication, from the perspective of international social sciences
The curriculum’s main research focus areas are:
- the study of migration phenomena
- the study of environmental pollution and climate change
- the study of the energy and digital transitions, as well as green and circular economy
- the study of emergency management, reconstruction, regeneration, and revitalisation of vulnerable areas
These topics will be addressed from a gender-based, data-driven, and transdisciplinary perspective, applying historical, sociological, economic, legal, environmental, and engineering viewpoints.
A research theme shared with the other curriculum is the geopolitics of energy and water resources and international cooperation for crisis and climate change management.
The launch of cycle XLII for the "Liberal Arts and Sciences in Sustainability" curriculum will include:
- a thematically-specific scholarship funded by ENEA, the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development, entitled “Social acceptability of nuclear energy. Next-generation nuclear technologies and energy transition: social representations, risk perceptions, and dynamics of public debate”
- two industrial doctoral scholarships reserved for SOGIN employees, with the topic “Nuclear Energy as a Guarantee System for a Just Energy Transition.” These research projects will focus on the so-called "energy trilemma," that is, energy security (supply), economic equity/accessibility (consumer costs), and environmental sustainability (decarbonisation)
These two partnerships confirm the programme’s appeal to both the research and industrial sectors, focusing on topics that bridge the fields of energy and sustainability with social, economic, and communication aspects, in line with the curriculum’s core spirit.
The “Diplomacy and International Cooperation” curriculum is the result of over a decade of doctoral research experience and is closely linked with the Master’s programme in International Relations and Development Cooperation (RICS) offered by the University.
This track combines research on international actors and policies from a gender-based and data-driven perspective, adopting an interdisciplinary approach, with a focus on emerging actors and the role of science and technology in reshaping the international political landscape.
The main research areas of this curriculum include:
- the international role of States, both within Europe and beyond
- issues relating to international politics and human security
- analysis of global interdependence, with particular attention to Africa, Latin America, and, more broadly, South–South dynamics
- in-depth exploration of relations between countries, with particular focus on interactions among political regimes with different social structures and intercultural dialogue
- humanitarian crises; the technological dimension of international relations
A shared research topic with the other curriculum is the geopolitics of energy and water resources, and international cooperation for crisis management and climate change adaptation.
This curriculum places strong emphasis on integrating doctoral candidates into international networks and benefits from an International Advisory Board, active since the XVIII and XXXIX cycles of the previous Diplomacy and Development Cooperation curriculum of the Doctorate in Linguistic, Philological-Literary and Socio-Political Sciences. Additionally, the curriculum is enriched by the established partnership between the University for Foreigners and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as by the extensive network of over 400 collaboration agreements with foreign universities, institutions, and organizations.