Global Studies. Economy, Society and Law
PhD

The Ph.D. Programme in Global Studies aims to provide interpretive tools and methods for the in-depth analysis and understanding of different aspects and mechanisms of globalization processes. A stimulating learning environment will be offered to train qualified experts at the cross-roads of different disciplines, able to undertake research and/or operational responsibilities in different (private/public/business/academic) institutions. The programme is developed over three years:

• a first year of courses and exams in Urbino, definition of the research project and start of dissertation work;
• a second year of international research and training, mainly spent at foreign universities and institutions, in connection with the Ph.D. Programme;
• a third year of research activity to complete the Ph.D. thesis and initiate publications of research results.

FIRST YEAR

The first year will be dedicated to courses, exams and other teaching and research activities in Urbino, in the context of this Renaissance city, part of the part of UNESCO World Heritage.

Introductory and background courses will be held online in September and October, in order to fill gaps in students’ competences in English for Academic Purposes, Economics, Business, Social Sciences, Quantitative Methods.

Courses with exams will take place at Urbino University and will be structured into teaching modules organised over two month periods: six weeks of teaching, one week fully dedicated to individual study, one week of exams (written tests and/or papers). An additional exam session will be offered in September 2021.

Data Labs will provide opportunities for hands-on work on databases and for the application of empirical research methods.

Seminars will be organized to address specific research topics, to enhance PhD student’s skills in English, informatics, research methods and valorisation of the research. Seminars will be held mainly in English; some seminars will be held in Italian.

By the end of the year, PhD students will identify their supervisors, will  define structure and contents of their research project, and will initiate their dissertation work.

Admission to the second year will depend on students’ achievement of a satisfactory score at final exams in each teaching module and on the attendance of the different activities.

SECOND YEAR

The second year of the Ph.D. Programme will include:

- further development of research project,  and major steps ahead in the preparation of the Ph.D. thesis;

- at least six months of research abroad at international Universities and/or Institutions, to be agreed upon with the supervisor and the Ph.D. Director;

- attendance of at least one of the courses with final evaluation offered as part of the second thematic area addressed in the next edition of the PhD programme: International economic policy, Business and Governance;

- presentation of the advancement of  research projects and of dissertation work at Ph.D Seminar sessions to be held  in Urbino

- attendance of advanced courses, seminars and workshops, summer and winter schools in Italy and abroad, agreed upon with the supervisor.

THIRD YEAR

The third year will be devoted to the following activities, both in Urbino and in international universities:

• completion of the Ph.D. thesis;
• presentation of the advancement of  research projects and of dissertation work at Ph.D Seminar sessions to be held  in Urbino
• participation to selected courses and conferences relevant for the Ph.D. topic, agreed upon with the supervisor;
• presentation of papers at international workshops and writing and publication of of research works.

Please note: Introductory courses will be offered online between September and October 2020. We are quite confident that it will be possible to regularly schedule core courses in presence at Urbino, starting from November as usual. Should the Covid 19 emergency not be over by then, however, lectures and seminars will be delivered online. 

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In the edition starting in the academic year 2020-2021 the thematic area Global Society, Cross-border Mobility and Law will be addressed following the provisional calendar below:

FIRST YEAR

Introductory and background courses (held online): Economics, Business & Administration; English for Academic Purposes; Foundations of Sociology; Introduction to Political Science; Principles of Public Law and Legal Research

First semester

- First Teaching Module: Comparative Social and Welfare Studies; European Institutions and Law; Geographies of Globalization; Globalization and Legal Systems.

- Second Teaching Module: Global Gender Issues; International Trade Law; Legal Techniques of European Integration; Methods in Social Research.

- Data labs and weekly seminars.

Second semester

- Third Teaching Module: Global Trends in Migration; Global Value Chains and Labour; Rights of Migrants in a Global Perspective; Innovation and Technology Law.

- Fourth Teaching Module: Global Inequalities; Globalization: Concepts, History, Perspectives; International Crime.

- Data labs and weekly seminars.

SECOND AND THIRD YEAR

- One course with final evaluation, to be chosen amongst those offered in the XXXVII cycle (A.A. 2021-2022)

- Development of research project,  preparation  and conclusion of the Ph.D. thesis, with the supervision of distinguished scholars and experts at the University of Urbino and at other international institutions

- Presentation of research project and advancement of dissertation work at the PhD seminar sessions held in Urbino

- Research period(s) at European and foreign Universities and institutions (minimum 6 months, maximum 18 months)

- Attendance of seminars, workshops, advanced courses, summer and winter schools in Italy and abroad related to the topic of the research project

The Ph.D. in Global Studies allows participants to develop a wide variety of skills and competences useful for an international career in research/teaching or in the private/public sector: strong analytical skills, ability in collaborative work, effective oral and written communication skills, deep cross-cultural competences, wide knowledge of the global socio-institutional context.

Notably, PhD graduates will be well placed to apply for the following professional opportunities:

- academic positions/careers in University Departments/ Research Centres active in Global Studies and in the main related disciplines;

- positions/careers as managers/analysts in:

• International governmental organizations and NGOs active in the economic-social setting, in both advanced and developing countries
• Local, national and transnational organizations and agencies supporting the internationalization processes of SMEs and social companies
• Business enterprises and professional firms (consulting/legal sector) active in international projects