PhD in Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures: Diversity and Inclusion

1. Curriculum 1: Italian, French, English
2. Curriculum 2: Italian, English, Spanish
3. Curriculum 3: Italian, French, Japanese, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, German
4. Curriculum 4: Italian, Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, English, Dutch, Spanish, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, German

Curriculum 1: DESE - Les Littératures de l’Europe Unie / European Literatures / Letterature dell’Europa unita

In accordance with the Excellence project “Diversity and Inclusion” pursued by the Department, the curriculum develops literary research in a supranational dimension in order to train specialists fluent in at least 3 languages who can manage different research typologies, methodologies and cultural contexts in a strong international dimension thanks to agreements and conventions with foreign institutions.

The research project and the thesis, that will include at least three European literatures whose language will be mandatory to know, will have to include the theme of reception understood as a process of re-readings, re-writings and intertextualities. The vehicular language in the PhD programme is French, the dissertation can be written either in French or in English. The discussion during the final exam will be in the languages the PhD student is required to know.

Languages: In order to comply with all the PhD programme’s obligations, proficiency in the following languages is required: Italian, French, English and, if different from the previous ones, the language the PhD thesis will be about. The interview will be in Italian, French and English. The vehicular language in the PhD programme is French, the dissertation can be written either in French or in English. The discussion during the final exam will be in all the languages the PhD candidate is required to know. For non-Italian applicants, an Italian language proficiency level of at least CEFR B2 is required.

Curriculum 2: EDGES Women’s and Gender Studies

EDGES aims to investigate literature and cultural studies, gender methodologies and gender theories as places for the production, circulation and consolidation of cultures of equality, valorisation of diversity and social inclusion. In this perspective, EDGES shares LILEC’s Project of Excellence “Diversity and Inclusion” research aims.

The program has at its base literary history and criticism, cultural studies, critical theories of gender and women’s studies, literature as a space for the production of critical thinking, analyses of texts in different literary genres and their historical and cultural context.

The research theme of the 38th cycle doctorate concerns the reconstruction and responsibility of transmitting ideas and values in women’s literary texts in early modern age, during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the twentieth century, and in contemporary literature.

EDGES will therefore privilege the development of research themes related to the critical re-reading and re-elaboration of texts over the centuries to understand how the heritage of the past should be received and re-read today to reconstruct a collective cultural heritage. Following gender studies and feminist criticism methodologies, the projects will also intersect approaches such as ecocriticism, disability studies, and cultural heritage. EDGES includes a compulsory internship on equal opportunities, access to education and appreciation of diversity.

Languages: The interview will be in Italian, English, and Spanish (for the latter the ability to read and understand a literary text will be assessed); the dissertation must be written in English. For non-Italian applicants, an Italian language proficiency level of at least CEFR B2 is required.

Curriculum 3: World Literature and Postcolonial Studies

In accordance with the “Diversity and Inclusion (Dive-In)” Excellence project pursued by the Department, the curriculum in World Literature and Postcolonial Studies (WORLDLIT) will offer theoretical approaches as well as cross-disciplinary and methodological insights into the specific areas of Postcolonial Studies, Transmedia Studies, Border Studies, Heritage Studies. It will also focus on the analysis of new forms of textuality that are increasingly widespread in contemporary society. Particular attention will be devoted to the functioning of the world publishing market, translation policies, migratory phenomena, hyper-diversity and, more generally, the loosening of the link between language, culture and territory on which the study of national literatures and the literary field partition were based for at least two centuries.

The research theme of the 38th cycle of the PhD program revolves around the concepts of ethics of reconstruction and responsibility, both individual and collective. In particular, the WORLDLIT curriculum will privilege research projects related to the (re-)construction, through critical and responsible re-readings of past and present texts, in connection to social categories (including minorities) and forms of communication, in the perspective of the paradigm shift from binarisms to plurality, and in order to enhance the present and future role of the humanities. Applying World Literature methodologies, the projects may also intersect with investigative approaches such as Ecocriticism, Digital Humanities, Cultural Heritage.

Languages: Knowledge of Italian is mandatory. The interview will also be in the two languages chosen by the applicant among the following: English, French, German, Japanese, Portoguese, Russian or Spanish.

Curriculum 4: LINGMOD - Modern Languages Studies

This curriculum involves teaching and research on modern languages from the perspectives of pragmatics, communication, translation and translation theory, aiming to train specialists in at least two languages in different theories and methodologies. Languages can be chosen from the following: Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, English, Dutch, Spanish, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, German. In addition to two other languages chosen from this list, knowledge of Italian is mandatory.

The projects submitted for the 38th cycle of the PhD Programme must address topics connected with the ideas of reconstruction and responsibility which emerge from the Departmental Project of Excellence and will be analyzed from a linguistic point of view. The curriculum prioritizes the study of language and languages in context/ in action, especially their intertwining with sociocultural issues relevant to the concept of reconstruction (re-writing, re-formulation) and responsibility (responsibility in intercultural communication, in relationships among speech communities and languages; translation role and responsibility in a multilingual ecosystem). Scientific knowledge and methodological expertise are developed and enhanced through a variety of approaches, especially within the scope of the following disciplines: sociolinguistics, pragmatics, discourse analysis, conversation analysis, interactional linguistics, linguistic anthropology, applied linguistics, language acquisition, translation studies and digital humanities.

Languages: Knowledge of Italian is mandatory. Languages can be chosen from the following list: Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, English, Dutch, Spanish, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, German. The interview will assess their knowledge.

NRPP Call Admission Board
Appointed by RD 1103/2022 Prot. n. 0162873 of 17/07/2022

Call for Application Admission Board
Appointed by RD 830/2022 Prot. n. 0127511 of 30/05/2022

Internationality, interdisciplinarity, transculturality, cultural and linguistic Diversity, Inclusion, Citizenship and gender studies are the key words of the PhD course developed in the curricula: DESE European literature as seen through one main transversal theme, therefore providing a vision of the literature that overcomes the concept of foreign language and culture; EDGES: gender and women’s studies, literature literature as site for the production, circulation and stabilization of gender cultures of equality, gender theory and gender practice. World Literature: transversal theoretical approaches in postcolonial studies, transmedia studies, border studies, migratory phenomena, new Forms of textuality. LINGMOD aims at forming specialists in at least two languages who approach research in linguistic and cultural diversity in multicultural and multilingual societies from the perspectives of pragmatics, communication, translation theory and applied linguistics.

Along with the cross-curricula teaching activities of the first year, each curriculum has its own specific activities.

• DESE

Mandatory activities according to the agreements with partner institutions. 1st and 2nd year: evaluation of research projects about the annual topic (no more than 20 pp.) (4 projects during the 1st year and 2 during the 2nd). 1st year: tutoring aimed to developing those projects. Professors and PhD candidates of the institutions gather for a scientific evaluation, balances and prospects. 2nd year: lessons (10-20 hours) with foreign professors. 3rd year: doctoral meeting: the PhD candidates present their research topics. It is mandatory to do an internship relevant to the research and to spend 12 months abroad. The PhD thesis must be written in French or English.

• EDGES

Meetings and tutorings with national and international supervisors; presentation of the research in the national and foreign branches according to the co-tutorship agreements provided for the double title; a 250-hours formative internship in institutions with which EDGES has joint agreements or with other institutions that have to sign agreements; 1st year: locating primary and secondary sources; halfway through 2nd year: drafting the 1st theoretical-methodological chapter of the research; PhD thesis written in English.

• WORLD LITERATURE and LINGMOD

1st year specific courses and seminars organized for the curriculum; detailing the project and collecting bibliography, presenting it to the Supervisor and the faculty board, report on one’s activities at the end of the year. 2nd year at least six months of research abroad and writing of one chapter of the thesis by the summer, report on the activities performed. The 3rd year devoted to writing the thesis. PhD candidates organize and/or take part in cultural activities and conferences relevant to their research.

During the first year of the PhD course there will be some cross-curricula teaching activities to be followed by all doctoral students on topics such as: using libraries and databases, research and the humanities; project writing; fundraising; research and international networking; digital publishing; Information Technology and Humanities.
In addition to this, each curriculum has different courses:

• DESE: Working on a macro topic; seminars of evaluation where students' research is presented and discussed with the board; organization of a conference about the state of the art of the topic, internship; end of 3rd year: conference with presentation and evaluation of students' research in preparation of the final exam; mandatory research abroad 12 months.
• EDGES meetings and tutorials with national and international supervisors; candidates are expected to present their research projects both nationally and abroad according to co-tutelle agreements. 250-hour mandatory training internship on equal opportunities, access to education, valorization of diversity, conflict management and the promotion of corporate well-being and diversity management. Mandatory research period abroad for at least 6 months. Seminars on corporate welfare, gender budgeting and diversity management.
• WORLD LITERATURE and LINGMOD 1st year specific courses and seminars organized for the curriculum; detailing the project and collecting bibliography, presenting it to the Supervisor and the faculty board, report on one’s activities at the end of the year. 2nd year at least six months of research abroad and writing of one chapter of the thesis by the summer, report on the activities performed. The 3rd year devoted to writing the thesis. PhD candidates of all curricula organize and/or take part in cultural activities and conferences relevant to their research.

Within the PhD programme there are specific agreements with foreign universities aimed at educational and research activities. There are co-tutorship agreements finalized to the release of double or multiple PhD degrees for students enrolled to this PhD and/or for PhD candidates enrolled to foreign universities. Foreign Professors can take part in the Commission for the awarding of the title of PhD doctor.  Depending on the curriculum, the PhD course can require the participation of PhD candidates to winter/summer schools, conferences and seminars organized by European networks. Thanks to its scientific and cultural specialization, the Phd programme coordinates and supports a large number of collaborations with European and non-European universities (Agreements, double PhD degree, co-tutorships). A Joint Doctorat between Utrecht University (NL) and Bologna University (department LILEC) has been ratified for the curriculum EDGES, which also has agreements for double titles with the Universities of Granada and Oviedo (Spain). The PhD has a stable relationship of scientific partnership with numerous European and non-European universities:

Europe:

• Algarve (P)
• Clermont-Ferrand (F)
• Coimbra (P)
• Complutense de Madrid (E)
• Granada (E)
• Haute Alsace - Mulhouse (F)
• KU Leuven (B)
• Leeds (UK)
• Oviedo (E)
• Paris Creteil (F)
• Paris III-Sorbonne Nouvelle (F)
• Paris IV-Sorbonne (F)
• Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense (F)
• RGGU – Mosca (RU)
• Saarland, Saarbrücken  (D)
• Sofia (BU)
• Tbilisi (Georgia)
• Valladolid (E)
• Utrecht (NL)

Extraeuropean universities:

• Dakar (SN)
• Universidade Federla Fluminense-UFF (Brazil)
• North Western University, Chicago (USA)
• Seattle University (USA)
• Universidad de Montevideo (Uruguay)
• Universidad Nacional Tres de Febrero (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
• Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (MZ)

During the three years of the doctoral cycle  the following scientific initiatives by the PhD candidates are expected and advised:

• organization of seminars, conferences, graduate conferences, etc.
• participation in the organization of activities at the mobility site and/or in the institution where the internship is completed
• publication of articles, essays and reviews on national and international academic magazines and in various volumes
• taking care of conference proceedings
• presentation of papers at national and international academic conferences (at least an essay or a paper a year) about topics related to the PhD research.