Call for applications for XXXIX cycle of the Phd in Reggio Childhood Studies

The Call for applications to the XXXIX Cycle of PhD Program in "Reggio Childhood Studies - from early childhood to lifelong learning"  for the academic year 2023/2024 has been published 

Fondazione Reggio Children and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia - Department of Education and Human Sciences are the promoters of the industrial PhD in Reggio Childhood Studies - from Early Childhood to Lifeolong Learning: a course of study and research that aims to deepen and elaborate on the educational experience of Reggio Emilia and address emerging challenges in education.

The course in Reggio Childhood Studies is also proposed as an innovation in the framework of doctoral programs: it constitutes a residential community in which all participants share spaces and working hours in the industrial context of Fondazione Reggio Children - Centro Loris Malaguzzi.

The PhD in Reggio Childhood Studies, which can be accessed with any Master's degree or equivalent degree acquired abroad, is a highly interdisciplinary doctoral program that is intentionally open to different fields of knowledge.

You can submit applications for Academic Year 2023/2024 no later than July 27, 2023 at 1 p.m. on this page: https://www.unimore.it/bandi/StuLau-Sdott.html
12 places available, 11 of which are scholarships.

Places with scholarship:

• 7 without specific topic (1 of which is financed with funds from MIUR Call “Department of
  Excellence 2023-2027″ – Department of Education and Human Sciences – CUP:
  E83C22006680001);
• 1 on topic “The art of understanding” (financed by Regione Emilia Romagna in
  implementation of the programme “Territory: technological, cultural, economic and social
  transition towards sustainability” – ESF+ PR 2021/2027 – CUP E83C23000510002)*;
• 1 on topic “Re-imagining learning environments” (with PNRR DM118/2023 funds,
  Mission 4, Component 1, Investment 4.1, “PNRR”);
• 1 on topic “The Eurac corpus of Academic Cover Letters (Italian, German,
  English): Linguistic success in cover letter writing in academia and beyond”;
  Reserved places:
• 1 industrial PhD for employees of the Reggio Children Foundation – Loris Malaguzzi
  Centre;
• Places without scholarship: 1

*Description of the project related to the topic “The art of understanding” (financed by Regione Emilia Romagna in implementation of the programme “Territory: technological, cultural, economic and social
transition towards sustainability” – ESF+ PR 2021/2027 – CUP E83C23000510002):

The project pertains to the “philosophy of education,” understood as a subdiscipline of a practical philosophy that deals with the nature and goals of education and the philosophical problems arising from educational theory and educational practice.

The distinguishing element of this approach to the philosophy of education is the complex methodology, which makes use of theoretical elements of ethics and social/political philosophy, epistemology (general, moral and social) and philosophy of mind and emotions.

The theme of the project is the role of art in educating for understanding of inter-generational conflict from the perspective of an inter-generational alliance. The project is divided into a theoretical and an applied part. The theoretical part dealing with the constructive nature of the artifact and its relationship with in ethical-social context. The method of investigation is inspired by the constructivist epistemology of Nelson Goodman and, especially, of Catherine Z. Elgin (Harvard University). The main objective is to identify the epistemological functions of the artifact as a construct social and ethico-political, not so much in relation to the production of ‘knowledge’ (knowledge), but as a tool for ‘understanding’ (understanding) of the real through its manipulation, paying particular attention to the testimonial, subversive, reparative and rehabilitative functions of art. From the application point of view, the project of proposes to devise workshops-pilots to articulate social dynamics intergenerational through guided stages (e.g., the explicitation testimonial, emotional expression and verbal articulation of conflict, dialogic design in communicative, restorative and rehabilitative). The project has important spin-offs both from the point of view of production scientific, as well as from the point of view of social impact. In relation to the scientific production, the project aims to analyze functions of art hitherto unexplored in their epistemological, ethical and social, in particular, paying special attention to the testimonial, reparative and rehabilitative functions. The innovative element of the project consists in the reconceptualization of art as a tool for understanding and intervention in social reality, rather than as a cognitive mode, representational or performative. The project makes use of a strong network of international collaborations and aims to train the epistemological and ethical-political skills necessary for the analysis and articulation of conflicting social situations through artistic elaboration. Such skills can be activated to understand personal and general existential change, express in an orderly manner generational conflict through the testimony of art, lay the foundation for better mutual understanding, and thus promote social cooperation, in the full protection of the dignity and respect for the diversity of values of the interlocutors. This is a highly expendable training project in the economic system production: the pilot workshop, distinguished by a structure markedly dialogic, represents a model that can be remodeled and exported in as many situations of social confrontation. The training activities aim to build professional profiles that are not only useful but indispensable in the different areas of social work and are aimed at educators, social workers, child welfare workers, social workers for childhood, social workers for the Third Age, museum workers, managers of communities, RSA managers.

For more information visit the Course website https://www.phdreggiochildhoodstudies.unimore.it/en/homepage-english/  or write to phd@frchildren.org