PhD Program in Sustainable Development and International Cooperation

The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) represents an authoritative call for commitment to develop a culture of sustainability in all levels of education, included the tertiary one.
CIRPS, as an interdisciplinary research centre engaged since 20 years in issues of energy and environmental sustainability in partnership with similar organizations from the North and the South of the world, takes up this challenge by developing a PhD program which provides graduates with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and competencies necessary to address complex, trans-disciplinary and transnational questions as: the causes and consequences of climate change, the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of natural ecosystems, the globalization of the processes of impoverishment, the current demographic dynamics and the consequent changes in the society, economy and environment.

Research Areas

The PhD program has two fields of specialization:

• field A focuses on research and development of energy and environmental technology;
• field B addresses innovation in policy and practise of international cooperation to development.

In both cases candidates are expected to contribute with their work to the advancement in sustainability science’s knowledge.

Teaching Objectives

The course extends up to a period of three years and it consists of two phases:

• the first year is mainly dedicated to widen students’ background in sustainable development and to provide them with research skills specific to their PhD project; this education period may be performed partially abroad (max 6 months);
• in the two following years the students are required to produce an original piece of research; study periods abroad are possible (max 12 months) to perform field work or to deepen knowledge on issues of interest in other universities and research centres.

Field A “Energy and Environmental Technologies for Development”
As regards specialization field A, the program offers a PhD degree course to graduates who want to improve their understanding of environmental dynamics and to acquire the ability to develop original approaches and sustainable solutions to energy and environmental problems emerging in both the North and the South of the world. Those solutions must be balanced to meet objectives of economic efficiency, environmental sustainability and technological feasibility, such as e.g. solutions ensuring high levels in services of energy provision while promoting the use of renewable energy sources, or developing agro-forestry techniques locally adapted and with a low environmental impact, or addressing issues related to climate change and biodiversity loss.
The disciplinary contents related to this specialization field are taught by short courses, thematic seminars, guided research activities, adopting a flexible approach which involve academics and researchers from Italy and abroad.

Field B “Cooperation to Sustainable Development”
As regards specialization field B, the program a PhD degree course to graduates who aspire to work as researchers in public and private centres as well as at a senior managerial level in national and international agencies committed to foster and support cooperation among countries for a sustainable world. The goal is to educate experts in:

• the assessment of the social, environmental and economic implications of policy, programs and actions for development cooperation;
• the development of new approaches and methods to ensure the sustainability of public aid initiatives;
• the design of international cooperation R&D projects fostering sustainable practices in the fields of energy, agriculture, industry, transport and urban management.

The course takes advantage of a variety of post-graduate programs taught at the Sapienza University of Rome and other University affiliated to CIRPS, such as the master program in Cooperation and Project Design for Development yearly offered by CIRPS.

Course contents

Field A “Energy and Environmental Technologies for Development”

1. sustainable development in the North and the South of the world
2. sustainable energy planning
3. assessment and design of environmentally adapted energy systems
4. energetic and exergetic analysis
5. sustainable low-impact agriculture
6. forestry and climate change
7. biomass generation for energy in short rotation forests
8. environmental dynamics in both natural and highly modified contexts

Field B “Cooperation to Sustainable Development”

1. international politics and public aid to development
2. policies and practices of development cooperation
3. development cooperation and technological innovation
4. social, environmental and economic aspects of development processes
5. climate change related issues in the South and the North of the world
6. links between technological innovation and development, as regards the fields of energy, agriculture, industry, transport and urban management.
7. policies and practices in gender and development;
8. methods and tools for evaluating the sustainability of policies, programs and projects for development cooperation.