Training activities

Disciplines

Teachers belonging to the following disciplines are part of the doctoral board:

History of Contemporary Art (L-ART/03)
Museology, art criticism and restoration (L-ART/04)
Performing arts (L-ART/05)
Cinema, photography and television (L-ART/06)
Ethnomusicology (L-ART/08)
Greek history (L-ANT/02)
Medieval history (M-STO/01)
Modern history (M-STO/02)
Contemporary history (M-STO/04)
Modern language teaching (L-LIN/02)
English language and translation (L-LIN/12)
Economics and business management (SECS-P/08)
Education and special pedagogy (M-PED/03)
Anthropology M-DEA/01

The following Departments support the PhD:

History
Humanities
Modern Foreign Languages
Philosophy and Education

Educational activities

General guidelines

The PhD course in Cultural Heritage, Art, History, Audiovisual, and Multimedia Production is an interdisciplinary programme that enables students to enhance their education. The aim is to conduct top-class, national and international-level research in the private and public sectors, for which an in-depth knowledge of cultural heritage is required.
The training activities comprise shared and curriculum-specific lessons on research methodology, research product development, and transdisciplinary activities. More specific modules, open to all doctoral students, focus on the methods and topics characterising each curriculum. Special attention is paid to comparing different disciplines in heritage studies and conducting transdisciplinary research. Lectures and seminars enhance doctoral students’ disciplinary skills and encourage their interdisciplinary interests. The program examines case studies, offers lectures, and favours research that aims at transdisciplinary results. Each teaching module illustrates specific case studies and explores its connections with three curricula.

The PhD course provides for the acquisition of 180 CFU/ECTS, divided as follows:

125 cfu of research activity
40 cfu of disciplinary and interdisciplinary educational activity
15 cfu of complementary research training activity

Each year, doctoral students are required to acquire 60 ECTS, divided as follows:

1 year

35 credits of research activities
20 credits of disciplinary and interdisciplinary training These activities must compulsorily include seminars and introductory lectures (see below).
5 credits of complementary educational activity

2nd year

40 credits of research activities
15 credits of disciplinary and interdisciplinary training These activities must compulsorily include seminars and specialised curricular lectures (see below).
5 credits of complementary educational activity

3rd year

45 credits of research activities
10 credits of disciplinary and interdisciplinary training activities
5 credits additional training activity

Teaching activities are specifically designed for the doctoral course and do not form part of the curricular programme of the degree courses offered by the University.
All disciplinary and interdisciplinary training activities are open to all doctoral students, who may follow them at any time during their studies.
For more detailed information on compulsory activities for each year of the course, see the Obligations of Doctoral Students page

Research activities

Research is the primary activity and consists of independent work on the topics covered by the PhD course-specific curriculum. It is conducted under the guidance of a tutor, chosen from within or outside the teaching board. With the assistance of the entire teaching board, the tutor helps the doctoral student define the project, design a work schedule, and identify the necessary sources and instruments. Research may involve mobility in Italy and abroad and can be conducted at research institutions involved in cultural heritage conservation, the arts and game design. Internships or periods of residence at companies or third-party organisations are also considered research activities. For doctoral students with PNRR grants, such internships are compulsory.
The PhD programme culminates in the submission of a thesis, which must be an original scientific work and demonstrate the acquisition of the following competencies, knowledge and skills:

Being able to identify a research topic accurately
Knowing how to reconstruct the state of the art of research on this topic
Knowing and being able to use research methodologies specific to the discipline
Knowing how to use research sources and tools to produce original results
Knowing and being able to use the specialised language of the discipline(s) concerned
Knowing how to construct a valid argument and present it

Disciplinary and interdisciplinary training activities

The shared and curriculum-specific training activities aim to develop the skills required to become independent researchers. These activities may include:

Doctoral seminars during which all doctoral students are expected to periodically present the progress of their research work to the teaching board and their colleagues. This activity has a dual objective: it strengthens the interdisciplinary dimension of the doctoral programme through the exchange of different research experiences, and it prepares the doctoral candidates to present their results to an expert audience
Basic training lessons and dedicated lectures for each curriculum. These lectures, delivered by members of the doctoral board or external experts, will deepen specific aspects or disciplines characterising the various

Complementary training activities

Complementary research training activities focus on developing transversal competencies and soft skills. These include language training, digital skills, research exploitation and dissemination techniques, fundraising, and the ability to plan one’s career inside and outside academia.
UNITO Doctoral School offers numerous modules and courses to improve these skills. To obtain the required credits, doctoral students can choose between activities offered by the doctoral school or others identified independently. For the latter, the approval of the teaching board is required.

The complementary training activities offered by UNITO Doctoral School