Vision

The Department of Political and Social Sciences aspires to be a national and international point of reference for the study and analysis of the Italian, European, and international political systems, as well as their interdependencies and social transformations.

In a context marked by tensions between globalization and emerging processes of deglobalization, the Department intends to contribute to a critical understanding of the dynamics redefining democratic institutions, practices, and values, by developing interdisciplinary approaches capable of grasping their complexity and multilevel implications.

The Department’s vision is founded on the objective of promoting an integrated model of research, teaching, and knowledge enhancement that—in alignment with the University's strategic guidelines—contributes to building a knowledge-based society founded on innovation, sustainability, and social justice. From this perspective, the Department channels its strategic goals along several priority directions:

• Innovative teaching and training of competent citizens: developing advanced, interdisciplinary, and skills-oriented educational pathways, including through innovative and participatory teaching methodologies, in line with the goal of training informed and responsible citizens and supporting students' career progression;
• Excellence and interdisciplinarity in research: strengthening the capacity to produce high-level scientific knowledge on the transformations of democracies, promoting basic and applied research, open data, and international collaboration, with a particular focus on major global challenges;
• Social impact and public engagement: increasing the Department's role as an active player in the public sphere, fostering dialogue with institutions, businesses, and civil society, and contributing to the co-production of knowledge useful for local development and the quality of public policies;
• Inclusion, well-being, and personal development: promoting inclusive learning and working environments focused on individual and collective well-being, valuing diversity, and supporting the personal and professional growth of the academic community;
• Sustainable development and infrastructural and digital innovation: contributing to digital and sustainable transition processes by strengthening research and teaching infrastructures and adopting innovative, efficient organizational models.

Within this framework, the Department is particularly committed to:

• interpreting the transformations of political representation and participation;
• analyzing the role of technology and new media in redefining the public sphere;
• tackling the global challenges facing European democracies, including migration, conflict, and climate change;
• understanding and countering new forms of social marginalization, while valuing emerging practices of solidarity.

A central element of this perspective is the development of innovative scientific infrastructures and networks aimed at integrating advanced research, consultancy, and public impact, capable over time of generating knowledge relevant to both the academic community and institutional decision-makers. Furthermore, the Department aims to stand out for advanced teaching, also grounded in laboratory-based, participatory, and interdisciplinary approaches capable of training professionals equipped to operate in complex and constantly changing environments. From this perspective, the interplay between teaching and research helps build dynamic, open, and innovation-oriented learning environments. Finally, the Department position itself as an active player in the dialogue between the university and society, strengthening its networks with local, national, and international institutions, and promoting forms of knowledge transfer and public engagement that foster the development of more inclusive, resilient, and democratic societies.