PhD Programmes

Article 1 - "Purposes and scopes of application"

• 1. The PhD programme provides the skills necessary to conduct high-level research activities at universities, public bodies, or private entities, also for the purpose of accessing careers in public administrations and of integrating highly innovative professional paths.

• 2. Doctoral training, in line with the principles and guidelines shared at European level, allows:

a) the conception, design, implementation, and adaptation of independent research and innovation programmes.

b) conducting selection, critical analyses, and evaluations of new and complex ideas and processes in research institutions, in the production system, in public administration and in the field of freelance jobs.

c) contributing, through the acquisition of new scientific and transversal skills, to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals identified by the United Nations General Assembly, the targets indicated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and their interpretations in European policies.

d) contributing to the realization of the European Research Area and Higher Education Area, considering the relevant standards and guidelines for quality assurance.

• 3. To achieve the objectives set out in paragraph 1, based on the "Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training" approved in Europe, doctoral training:

a) pursues the advancement of knowledge through training in basic and applied research, as well as the excellence based on academic standards established through peer review procedures.

b) is conducted in a critically stimulating institutional environment, where the PhD student can acquire both autonomy and responsibility, useful for their subsequent professional path.

c) promotes opportunities for interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary training, including non-academic fields such as the sectors of industry, public administration, services and cultural institutions, with the involvement of experts in training activities.

d) contributes to strengthening transnational and international relations in research fields, also by activating joint doctorates and co-tutorship arrangements, ensuring appropriate periods of mobility abroad in accordance with the doctoral project.

e) includes the acquisition of transversal skills to allow their transfer and development in scientific and professional fields.

f) is realized within a quality assurance system different from the one provided for the first and second cycle of university education, aimed at improving the quality of the research environment and defining transparent and responsible procedures for admission, supervision, title awarding, and professional development of PhD students.