One-year postgraduate specialization course - Call for applications 2022/2023

The Scuola Internazionale di Alti Studi “Scienze della cultura” of the Fondazione Collegio San Carlo in Modena (Italy) invites applications for seven places on a postgraduate specialization course in Cultural Sciences.

The School aims to provide advanced training in Cultural Sciences according to four research programs (Anthropology, Philosophy, Sociology, Religious Studies) and awards, at the end of the specialization course, a Postgraduate Certificate in Cultural Sciences. The School pays close attention to the field of philosophical disciplines also in an interdisciplinary perspective, aimed at enhancing the fields of study and research at the crossroads between the history of philosophy, historical anthropology, the history of religions, the history of political thought and the history of science.

Compulsory didactic activity takes place in the semester March-June 2023 and entails the attendance of advanced interdisciplinary seminars for a total of 250 hours. The lectures are held in Italian, English and French by teachers of renowned international standing. 25 hours of training course about transversal skills are scheduled, included in the training contract of the Collegio San Carlo such as member of the Conferenza dei Collegi Universitari di Merito (CCUM), recognized and confirmed by the Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca (MUR).

The Postgraduate Certificate will be awarded subject to the compulsory attendance of at least 70% of the total number of hours of teaching activity, i.e. 175 hours, and having passed an end of course assessment, which is based on topics dealt with in the seminars. The School also issues students, as required by the ministerial regulations of the Collegi di Merito, a Certificate attesting the transversal skills or soft skills acquired.

The selection is open to Italian and non-Italian citizens who, by the application deadline, are below the age of 32 and hold a degree qualification, or an equivalent qualification by the terms of the law in force, in Philosophy, Social and Human Sciences or Religious Studies.

The application for admission must be completed and sent by e-mail to sas@fondazionesancarlo.it not later than 3 pm on Monday 16 January 2023.

Applicants, who will be held responsible for any false declaration, must declare:

a) first name, surname, date and place of birth;

b) citizenship;

c) not to have had penal convictions;

d) to be immune from illnesses incompatible with living in a community;

e) permanent address;

f) address to which all correspondence should be sent.

Applicants should enclose the following documents:

1) curriculum vitae et studiorum (max 2 pages);

2) an electronic copy of the applicant’s degree certificate specifying (where available) the single marks for each exam, the date and the mark of the final exam. This certification may be replaced by a simple declaration signed by the applicant specifying the aforesaid information. Foreign students are to submit a certificate proving that their degree is legally the equal of an Italian Laurea magistrale (second-cycle degree), or forward an undersigned declaration to the same effect;

3) an electronic copy of the degree final dissertation, with the official frontispiece;

4) an electronic copy of every other scientific title or qualification relevant to the selection procedure;

5) a signed declaration of the applicant’s knowledge of French and English, and of her/his comprehension of Italian (including levels of language proficiency);

6) an electronic copy of the document “Information on the processing of personal data and request for consent” (“Annex 2”), signed for acceptance;

7) one letter of reference to the Scientific Coordinator of the Scuola Internazionale di Alti Studi “Scienze della cultura”, written by an academic referee in subjects relevant to the course, expounding the applicant’s scientific profile. This letter of reference can be replaced by a covering letter (max 3000 characters) written by the candidate, in which her/his study and research interests related to participation in the specialization course are declared.

8) publications (already published) that the candidate deems suitable for the purposes of the application (max 5).

The Adjudicating Committee comprises two members of the Scientific Committee and the Scientific Coordinator of the School.

The Adjudicating Committee will make the selection based on candidate’s scientific titles and qualifications.

A list of successful candidates and a list of suitably qualified candidates will be publicly posted on the School Board and on the web page www.fondazionesancarlo.it. Both lists will be expressed in order of merit, in terms of an ascending mark scale from 1 to 10.

The School will communicate the outcome of the selection procedure only to those who have been awarded a place not later than 27 January 2023.

Before the deadline fixed by the Adjudicating Committee, successful candidates should produce the documents mentioned under art. 7. If one or more successful candidates fails to take up the offer of the place at the beginning of the course, the Committee will award the vacant place or places to suitably qualified candidates in strict adherence to the published order of merit.

No later than 10 February 2023, successful candidates must confirm acceptance of their place and produce the following documents addressed to the Direction of the School:

a) recent medical certificate (dated no more than 3 months previously) stating that the student is immune from illnesses incompatible with living in a community and indicating the possible presence of allergies or intolerances;

b) two passport photographs, one countersigned;

c) a copy of the degree certificate or equivalent qualification specifying the mark obtained in each single exam (where available), the date and the mark of the final examination (only for candidates who have produced a simple declaration in their application);

d) a colour copy of a valid identity document, dated and signed.

At the beginning of academic activities, at their arrival to the School, the elected candidates will be asked to sign for the Direction of the School a declaration of acceptance of all the rules and regulations of the Collegio of the Fondazione San Carlo, seat of the didactic activities of the School for all students.

The data relating to surname, first name, place and date of birth, nationality and residency must be covered by a document attesting their validity. The School reserves the right to verify the truth of data contained in the identification document. Furthermore, the School reserves the right to request from the competent authority of the State in question a certificate relating to the candidate’s legal status.

Covid-19 Prevention Protocol

The Fondazione Collegio San Carlo applies stringent measures to protect the health security of its users. The Management guarantees daily cleaning and periodic sanitization of the premises, rooms, study stations and common areas. Sanitation points are available in every common area. All spaces are set up in such a way as to allow constant compliance with the safety distances even when carrying out training activities, when not carried out remotely. The Management constantly monitors the onset of any risk conditions, in close relationship with the medical staff and the competent health authorities.

The students of the specialization course must attend to their studies according to a plan approved by the Scientific Committee which includes participation in advanced interdisciplinary training seminars for a total of 250 hours. In order to obtain the Postgraduate Certificate, students must attend at least 70% of the total number of hours of teaching activity, i.e. 175 hours. Students must also take a test at the end of the course which will focus on the topics covered in the courses referred to in art. 1.

The School provides for the carrying out of face-to-face teaching activity. If, on the scheduled start date for the activity of the academic year 2022/2023, the government and/or regional provisions aimed at limiting the movement of people following the health emergency from Covid-19 are issued or extended, the School will activate the remote teaching method.

The School, with a motivated resolution and having heard the interested party, may order that a student be excluded from the course, with the consequent loss of the benefits pursuant to art. 10, in case of:

a) infringements of the obligations to attend and participate in teaching activities (unjustified, prolonged absences or in any case such as not to allow the achievement of the 175 hours required in the academic year);

b) disciplinary violations of the rules and regulations of the Collegio of the Fondazione San Carlo.

Elected candidates must be present on the day fixed by the School to begin their courses. Students of the specialization course cannot accept commitments that are incompatible with their teaching duties.

The specialization course lasts one academic year. Elected candidates benefit from the complete free of charge of the courses; of the restaurant service of the Collegio della Fondazione on the days when teaching activities are carried out (lunches and, based on the needs of the teaching activities, dinners), except for holiday periods, according to the academic calendar defined by the Fondazione Collegio San Carlo; privileged access to the heritage and services of the Library of the Fondazione.