Department of Political and Social Sciences
The Department of Political and Social Sciences (DiSPOL) has long been engaged with generational issues, which are strongly intertwined with demographic, educational, and mobility-related matters, in line with the guidelines of the PNRR (which, for the first time, introduces not only youth-oriented policies but also establishes intergenerational equity as a mainstream element alongside gender equity).
A research group and research network operate at local, national, and international levels on youth-related issues. In this area, in addition to studying the new processes of transitioning to adulthood, various forms of youth mobility are analyzed (also examining the relationship with European Programs and Policies). Particularly fruitful is the theme of young people's ability to anticipate the future and the new forms of collectivity they develop in different contexts and situations.
Regarding childhood, a topic generally underexplored in Italian scientific literature, DiSPOL also promotes research projects and networks at an international level. The approach used in both cases is generational.
Research projects on the analysis of young generations
- AUSTERITY AND ALTERED LIFECOURSE (PI Sarah M Hall, University of Manchester, UKRI-funded Future Leaders Fellowship: country liaison partner, with S. Benasso (University of Genoa) for a global Generation Z study (led by C. Seemiller and M. Grace, Write State University, US) (Sept 2021-).
- 2020-2021: Scientific responsibility for a study on the project 'MY FIRST EURES JOB', in collaboration with Eurodesk, 2022-2023 (1 year).
- IANG (Indagine Aperta Nuove Generazioni) funded by Fondazione di Sardegna (2019-2022).
- YOUNG MIGRANTS IN PRATO: SPORT, PLAY, AND URBAN PLACE-MAKING, Monash University, Department of Italian Studies, Faculty of Arts, Australia (Coordinator Dr. F. Ricatti).
- PRIN Mapping Youth Futures, where the department is the national coordinator (2017).
- EURES TARGETED MOBILITY SCHEME (2012-2015): Scientific responsibility for a study on the project.
- ‘Time and Space in the Transition to Adulthood’: Setting the basis for empirical investigations on youth, Marie Curie COFUND Fellowship at Max Weber Kolleg, University of Erfurt, Germany (2016/17).
- Youth in Context (2018), funded by the Region of Sardinia based on a competitive call. The project was conducted at the University of Vienna, Institute of Sociology, Co-applicant Yuri Kazepov.
- IFUTURE (2015): Youth, Citizenship, and the Capacity to Aspire (Funded by Fondazione di Sardegna, Law 7).
Research networks on the analysis of young generations
- ‘Youth, Intergenerational Dynamics, and the Future’ (University of Newcastle, Australia) (2021-).
- ‘Independent Adulthood Society’, Yale School of Medicine, US. (Nov. 2021-).
- Young and Generation RN of the European Sociological Association and the International Sociological Association (DiSPOL members have also held coordination roles).
- Pool of European Youth Researchers (PEYR), 2014-2016; 2019-2020; Youth Partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe on youth policies; network.
- ITER /IARD (2019-2020).
- Centre for the Study of Childhood and Youth, University of Sheffield, UK.
- Forwardto (participation in the scientific advisory committee, 2021-).
- Everyday Futures Network (based at University of Lancaster) (2015-).
- The itinerant discussion network on future studies, Anticipations (2015-).
The school system is obviously a central element in youth policies, but it also plays a key role in lifelong learning. On these topics, DiSPOL brings together a wide range of expertise that analyzes these issues from different perspectives, particularly sociological and statistical. The focus is on educational inequalities, the relationship between schools and their local territories, technological innovations in education, educational performance, the evaluation of training systems, and student mobility. From a statistical perspective, research has been conducted to measure the quality of university teaching based on student evaluations, as well as studies on graduates' employment integration times and migration patterns. The expertise of DiSPOL researchers has had a significant policy impact at both regional and national levels, also thanks to the role of the CIRD (Interuniversity Research Center on Didactics), which involves many scholars from the department.
Research projects on education and educational institutions
- FDS Research Project 2019-2022: "THE OUTSIDER’S DESTINY. RESEARCH ON VOCATIONAL STUDENT MOBILITY, TRAINING, AND LABOR IN MARGINAL AREAS."
- ALTERNANZA SCUOLA LAVORO – Regione Sardegna, Legge 7 (2019-2021).
- PRIN 2017 - Cagliari RU – "FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO JOB PLACEMENT: MICRO-DATA LIFE COURSE ANALYSIS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENT MOBILITY AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ITALIAN NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE."
- LR 7-RAS 2011: "THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION IN THE SARDINIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM: STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS, PROFESSIONAL, ORGANIZATIONAL, AND TEACHING CULTURES FACING THE CHALLENGE OF INNOVATION."
- PRIN 2007: "MODELS, INDICATORS, AND METHODS TO REPRESENT THE EDUCATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF DEGREE PROGRAMS FOR ACCREDITATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVEMENT."
- PRIN 2006: "DESIGNING INNOVATIVE CURRICULA FOR PERSONALIZED LEARNING PATHS, BUILDING SKILLS FOR EMPLOYABILITY, AND ENHANCING TALENTS TO CREATE NEW PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES."
Research networks on education and educational institutions
- 2018-2022 SESE Network (SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION IN SOUTHERN EUROPE): This network consists of coordinators and members of sociology associations from different Southern European countries (Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece). Its objective is dialogue and exchange between researchers from these regions.
- AIX-Marseille Université - INSPÉ d'Aix-Marseille, in partnership with Magali Ballatore, for the exchange of researchers and students in the field of teacher training.
- 1995-2001: COMPARATIVE RESEARCH IN HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEMS.
- Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Jean-Claude Combessie (Director of the Institut IRESCO – Paris).
- 1999-2001: THE EFFECT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF ITC ON WORK AND PROFESSION.
- Scientific Supervisor: Michel Gollac.
- University of Kentucky (USA), College of Education (2015-).