PhD in Pedagogical Sciences

The topics of research refer to the two curricula: Pedagogic-historic and Didactic-experimental. In detail, training activities are divided through classes, workshops and follow-up seminars on:

• General and Social Pedagogy, including: philosophy of education, pedagogy of families, intercultural education, adult education
• History of pedagogy, which includes: school history, history of education, history of the theories of childhood, the story of the imaginary child, and children's literature
• Special Education, which includes: teaching and learning methodologies, inclusive education, special educational needs, education technologies and e-learning
• Experimental Pedagogy, which includes: theories and strategies for designing and evaluate educational interventions, the methodology of empirical research in education.

Research topics also include connections between the pedagogical and psychological area.

Appointed by RD n. 709/2023 Prot n. 149534 on Jun 02, 2023

The PhD degree programme in Pedagogical Sciences has two separate curricula: a pedagogic-historic programme and a didactic-experimental programme.
For both curricula is provided the possibility to attend a pathway focused on the interactions between pedagogical and psychological knowledge on theoretical and methodological issues specific of each research area, including comparisons at epistemological and practical level, in particular in the definition of services and complex interventions.
Alongside the learning outcomes which are common to both curricula, each programme also has specific learning outcomes.

• Research on the field in the main educational contexts (formal, informal and non-formal)
• Development and implementation of educational projects in simulated contexts (educational workshops)
• Participation in action-research projects; bibliographical, theoretical-comparative and empirical research.

Lectures covering a study programme focusing on the 4 fields of interest of the PhD programme, which correspond to the subject areas of the two curricula outlined above.
Attendance of seminars delivered mainly by foreign professors who are experts in the subjects covered by the study programme, including seminars run by the Scuola Superiore di Studi Umanistici (Advanced School of Humanities) of the University of Bologna. Participation in cycles of lessons at other national and international universities. Participation in educational and learning projects. Direct knowledge of innovative, leading education experiences in the national and international field.

PhD candidates in Pedagogical Science (particularly those with scholarships) are required to spend at least three months abroad at a university or research centre that is particularly relevant in the field of educational research. Students are also stimulated to take part in international research projects and to establish agreements with European and non-European research centres and educational institutions under the supervision of the tutor. For each of the two curricula, every year the programme invites a number of foreign lecturers/researchers who are particularly distinguished in the pedagogical and didactic field. A further element of internationalisation lies:  opportunity for students to receive support in the production of their thesis also by tutors from European Universities; certification of "Doctor Europaeus" and its achievement, the opportunity to carry out joint researches with foreign universities, represent two historically elements that distinguish the quality of the phd in Pedagogical Sciences; presence of foreign professors in  PhD College (University of Salamanca- University of Sibiu - University of Valencia - University of Vienna - University of California University of Laguna, Universidad Complutense de Madrid); agreement with Universidade Federal do Paranà and University of Granada; two foreign PhD Students in 34° cycle (quote 30% on the total number of PhD enrolled) and one in 35 cycle; one in 36 cycle China Scholarship Council; agreement with UNICAMP one in 36 cycle. 

The expected products and learning outcomes during the programme include:

• reviews (at least 2 for each student, during the first year)
• scientific articles published in national and international journals (at least 3 for each student)
• presentation of results of (also ongoing) research projects at national and international conferences.

At the end of the study programme, the learning outcome consists of the publication of the PhD thesis.