The PhD program in Public Administration and Innovation for Disability and Social Inclusion, coordinated by the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” involves ten other universities across Italy and a research institution (the National Research Council – CNR).
The doctoral program is structured into six “curricula” covering the following areas: Rehabilitation Medicine; Mental Health and Psychological Well-being; Aging; Pedagogy, Didactics, and Special Education; ICT and Bioengineering; and Law. All curricula focus on the management of individuals with disabilities in relation to contextual conditions that pose barriers to independent living and social participation, following a bio-psycho-social approach.
The PhD program aligns with the purpose of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. The PhD program has received the endorsement of FISH—the Italian Federation for Overcoming Handicaps. The PhD program has a total duration of 3 years, consisting of a one-year core period followed by a two-year “specialization” period.
The courses delivered during the first year will provide researchers with the theoretical foundations in the field of disability and social inclusion, through lectures, seminars, laboratory work and research activities of an interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary nature, specifically designed and delivered, including via online methods. The ‘specialisation’ period involves field-based training tailored to the specific characteristics of each scientific and cultural area, utilising local resources including third-sector associations and organisations. This will mainly take place in person through seminars, laboratory work, research activities and placements. During this period, further seminars shared across the various curricula will be organised to consolidate the knowledge and skills relating to research in the context of disabilities acquired during the common training period. PhD students from the various curricula will have the opportunity to attend seminars and courses of interest to them, even if these are not specifically part of their own curriculum, in order to build a personalised training pathway. To do this, PhD students will be required to acquire the knowledge and skills common to the entire PhD programme and those specific to their own field. They will then be able to shape the rest of their programme according to their own interests and plans. A further very significant element will be the internationalisation of the training programme.
Where possible, PhD students will be asked to spend a period of between three and twelve months abroad to consolidate and enhance their knowledge and scientific research skills in the field of disability, drawing on a wide network of universities and research institutions made available by the partnership through collaborations with the universities participating in the PhD programme. PhD students will also have the opportunity to participate in Seasonal Schools and in conferences, seminars and workshops of international significance in Italy and abroad. Finally, PhD students in their final year will be involved in supplementary teaching activities, to which particular emphasis will be placed.
The entire PhD programme will be based on the PhD student’s choice of a research project, to be carried out mainly at one of the programme’s partner institutions and consistent with the relevant course area, but with interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary characteristics. Indeed, the PhD student may have multiple supervisors from different curricular and thematic areas.
The PhD programme’s cultural, educational and scientific project is consistent with the objectives of the PNRR regarding the overcoming of social inequalities and investment in human capital, insofar as the research topics concern people with disabilities at different stages of life and in different educational contexts
and the workplace, with the aim of promoting their well-being and social inclusion and enhancing their employability and inclusion in the labour market. In particular, the PhD programme addresses four of the missions identified by the PNRR, specifically No. 5 (inclusion and social cohesion) and No. 6 (health and well-being), through an integrated approach to disability from a bio-psycho-social perspective.
Course objectives
The PhD Programme of National Interest in Public Administration and Innovation for Disability and Social Inclusion has as its primary aim the training of researchers and professionals capable of analysing the issues of disability and social inclusion from multidisciplinary perspectives and of proposing solutions to promote autonomy, independent living, inclusion and social participation for people with disabilities through a biopsychosocial approach.
The specific objectives of the PhD programme are:
- the training and development of skills among researchers and professionals specialising in the fields of prevention, diagnosis, rehabilitation, technological support, technical and legal consultancy, psychological, pedagogical and educational support, career guidance and, more generally, the improvement of living conditions for people with disabilities;
- the training of qualified personnel with specific knowledge and skills in the field of scientific research, to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and the implementation of care and support processes and tools specific to the various thematic areas centred on people with disabilities, in order to address the current limitations in healthcare, socio-economic, psycho-educational, technological, legislative and urban planning management in this context;
- to promote the exchange of information between universities and research centres at national and international level through the mobility of PhD students;
- to provide the necessary skills to support the development of innovative, collaborative projects aimed at removing barriers to the inclusion and participation of people with disabilities, including participation in national and international research calls
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raise the skill levels of professionals engaged in scientific research supporting people with disabilities, both in academia and in research facilities across the country.
Expected career and professional opportunities
The Doctorate of National Interest in Public Administration and Innovation for Disability and Social Inclusion responds to the growing demand for highly qualified research staff from centres operating within both public and private institutions, as well as from the industrial sector relating to technological innovation. The Doctorate plays a leading role in the training of new university teaching staff in the relevant scientific and disciplinary fields.
It contributes to the training of highly qualified professionals with an interdisciplinary background, capable of meeting current needs in the planning, monitoring, evaluation and transfer of the latest knowledge in the field of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine and the biopsychosocial approach to supporting people with disabilities. The PhD programme aims to train researchers specialising in inclusion processes who can find employment in research bodies, market research agencies, employment centres, associations, foundations, companies and public bodies (health authorities, hospital and community rehabilitation centres, community-based psycho-social planning and intervention centres, educational institutions, judicial bodies, etc.) in relation to staff selection and recruitment, human resources management, educational intervention and diversity management. It also contributes to the training of highly qualified professionals (Level 8 of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning) for roles such as expert consultants (educational consultants for inclusion in educational, organisational and workplace contexts), managers responsible for monitoring and evaluating inclusion processes, and career counsellors for people with disabilities.
From a legal perspective, the PhD holder will have the opportunity to: pursue a legal career specialising in the protection of people with special needs, carrying out work in both judicial and extrajudicial contexts (either as a self-employed professional or as an employee/consultant for law firms, companies, agencies, etc.); work in public administration as an official in sectors where knowledge of legislation protecting people with disabilities is relevant (e.g. superintendents’ offices, AgID); offer consultancy to associations, third sector organisations and institutions as an expert on the topics explored during the three-year programme; - become a disability manager; - pursuing an academic career within the ‘IUS’ scientific-disciplinary sector and, more generally, engaging in research, including comparative research (e.g. on behalf of research centres dedicated to studies in the field of disability); - working in the field of human resources as a specialist responsible for recruitment and employment relations with people with disabilities.
In the healthcare sector, PhD graduates will also be trained to address issues relating to technological and digital innovation, and to develop research programmes for innovative projects in telemedicine, teleconsultation and telerehabilitation, with a view to ensuring continuity of care between hospitals and the local community, as well as within local facilities for people with disabilities (community hospitals, care homes, health districts, etc.). In the engineering field, PhD graduates from the programme, thanks to the skills developed in highly innovative and market-driven areas such as Artificial Intelligence, augmented and/or immersive reality, as well as the quality of healthcare software, will easily find employment opportunities in industries specialising in the design and implementation of advanced services and systems to support healthcare staff in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients with disabilities, as well as in centres and laboratories dedicated to researching new methods, approaches and solutions for healthcare.
Finally, the focus on the internationalisation of the training programme promotes a gradual process of integration and opens up new horizons in the field of scientific research, including new opportunities for Italian researchers with a university education aligned with the programme’s objectives to join high-profile basic and clinical research settings. Furthermore, the participation of the five universities and one research body in Southern Italy is fundamental for the training of qualified personnel to be employed by companies, public bodies and public administrations, as well as universities and educational institutions based in Southern Italy.
Available Programmes:
Rehabilitation Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine aims at the general and specialised rehabilitation of sensory-motor, cognitive and visceral functional impairments resulting from any condition and across all age groups, utilising clinical, functional and instrumental diagnosis, aids, motor and neuropsychomotor techniques, physical therapies and comprehensive care methodologies for people with disabilities, to facilitate their recovery, functional re-education, activities, participation, and the quality and appropriateness of care (Ministerial Decree 855/2015). 2.4 billion people worldwide are estimated to require rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is the key health strategy for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3: ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. It aims to optimise the functioning of people with health problems by facilitating their independence and active participation in society.
It is within this context that the curriculum for the field of Rehabilitation Medicine is situated; the specific course aims to train professionals of high scientific calibre with specific expertise in managing disability-related issues based on the biopsychosocial model of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and in the ability to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and the development of innovative approaches or the optimisation of existing resources in terms of clinical and technological tools, with a view to devising new models of care. The training programme will place considerable emphasis on basic research, clinical research and translational research in economic and social contexts. Within the training programme, particular importance will be given to interdisciplinary approaches and multimodal management, areas in which rehabilitation can play a cross-cutting role.
Mental health and psychological wellness
Mental disorders are among the conditions with the highest disability burden worldwide, in terms of both Years Lived with Disability and Disability-adjusted life years. This burden is due both to the severity of these disorders and to the fact that most mental disorders first appear in early life.
The course aims to provide healthcare professionals and psychologists with basic knowledge of the main mental disorders and associated disabilities, with a specific focus on patients with severe mental disorders such as intellectual disability, autism, schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder. Furthermore, tools will be provided to assess individual, social and community difficulties, risks and resources, and the main strategies for countering, preventing and reducing the difficulties associated with physical/psychological disability will be discussed, along with international best practices capable of mitigating the consequences of disability.
The course is characterised by a multidisciplinary approach, involving collaboration between professionals such as psychiatrists, child neuropsychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric rehabilitation specialists and neuropsychomotor therapists specialising in child and adolescent care, with the aim of preventing and/or managing disabilities associated with mental disorders. Furthermore, collaboration with other medical specialities, such as physical and rehabilitative medicine, will be encouraged to ensure comprehensive care and continuity of treatment.
The curriculum’s objectives are in line with mission no. 5 (inclusion and social cohesion) and no. 6 (health and well-being) of the PNRR. The specific objectives of the proposed curriculum are to improve the early identification of disabling conditions in order to prevent or reduce their social impact, and to improve the social inclusion of patients with severe mental disorders who generally experience high levels of social and personal disability.
Old Age
The curriculum for this thematic area is designed to deepen understanding of the ageing process and the mechanisms underlying physical and cognitive impairment in elderly patients, with the aim of developing specific skills and promoting training activities geared towards the development of innovative solutions and approaches in the areas of prevention, the recovery of lost physical and cognitive functions, the sustainability of existing care models, the creation of increasingly personalised care networks and the use of technology.
The programme will focus on molecular and cellular aspects, as well as on the biology of ageing, age-related diseases, and an in-depth examination of certain typical clinical features associated with the ageing process, such as sarcopenia, frailty, and physical and cognitive disability, whilst also taking an interdisciplinary approach, covering various fields such as statistics (epidemiology), law (ageing and rights, the state of the art in geriatric care across different countries, health services and continuity of care), sociological (pensions and retirement, ageing in society and social care, intergenerational relationships, the role of family networks, social and environmental aspects of ageing), engineering (design interventions and assistive technologies), as well as physical and cognitive rehabilitation (muscle strength, muscle quality, sedentary behaviour and disability).
Furthermore, interdisciplinary themes concerning population ageing will be developed through research and training activities.
Pedagogy, Didactics and Special Education
This area of specialisation focuses on the study and application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and robotics in the fields of bioengineering and telemedicine in general, extending to aspects related to the architecture of sustainable spaces and the design of living environments. The main aim is to promote knowledge and the use of tools and methodologies linked to technologies capable of supporting the processes of diagnosis, treatment and management of disabilities, following a multidisciplinary and personalised approach.
The training activities in this area are designed to provide both basic and specialist knowledge on sensor technology and mechatronic devices, virtual/augmented reality systems, software platforms for telemedicine, teleconsultation and telerehabilitation, the design and development of serious games, robotic systems for rehabilitation, the architecture of smart spaces, ‘exhibit’ design and the furnishing of interactive and adaptive environments, the design of sustainable, ergonomic, functional and comfortable products, alongside the disciplines of systems engineering, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) engineering, and the energy efficiency of building and plant systems, to foster a home automation approach to the overall use of architectural space through processes of capability and affordance.
The curriculum addresses the theme of social inclusion, focusing on inclusion within the contexts of lifelong learning (from school to university to vocational training) and professional training, as well as career guidance. The aim is to contribute to the process of renewing an education system capable of meeting the demands of the modern world: one that has necessarily been rethought from the perspective of inclusivity, including through the development of a training model for teachers, university lecturers and trainers, designed to remove barriers to learning and participation for the people it serves, with a specific focus on people with disabilities. The idea is that an inclusive education system works to ensure that society becomes inclusive and, therefore, educates for social inclusion. In line with this, it aims to bridge the worlds of education and social and health services with the world of work, so that fundamental human rights are fully respected and, consequently, full and genuine inclusion is achieved in educational and organisational contexts at both public and private levels.
This is based on the understanding that educational, training and social inclusion processes are closely interlinked within an inclusive perspective on human development, as reflected in key national and international documents, which in turn incorporate the findings of the scientific literature on the subject.
This area of specialisation will contribute both to scientific research and to the training of expert professionals capable of working in diverse contexts, promoting and strengthening social inclusion through an ecosystemic approach, within the broader development of an inclusive culture, and creating synergies with local, regional, national and European government bodies, families, the world of work and local associations.
ICT and Bioengineering
This area of specialisation focuses on the study and application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and robotics in the fields of bioengineering and telemedicine in general, extending to aspects related to the architecture of sustainable spaces and the design of living environments. The main aim is to promote knowledge and the use of tools and methodologies linked to technologies capable of supporting the diagnosis, treatment and management of disabilities, following a multidisciplinary and personalised approach.
The training activities in this area are designed to provide both basic and specialist knowledge on sensor technology and mechatronic devices, virtual/augmented reality systems, software platforms for telemedicine, teleconsultation and telerehabilitation, the design and development of serious games, robotic systems for rehabilitation, the architecture of smart spaces, ‘exhibit’ design and the furnishing of interactive and adaptive environments, the design of sustainable, ergonomic, functional and comfortable products, alongside the disciplines of systems engineering, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) engineering, and the energy efficiency of building and plant systems, to foster a home automation approach to the overall use of architectural space through processes of capability and affordance.
The course involves close collaboration with medical, psychological and educational disciplines to provide students with a holistic view of disability care, where the use of technology is tailored to the individual and, therefore, fully contextualised to the specific physical, motor or cognitive disability being addressed.
Legal Area
The curriculum for this area of specialisation aims to provide knowledge within the field of law (covering administrative law, constitutional law, health law, international and European Union law, civil and labour law), and to direct research towards the in-depth study and critical analysis of institutions – relating to administrative organisation (public and private sector), the digitalisation of services, and administrative practices (as outlined in the PNRR) – with a view to achieving maximum social inclusion and ensuring the effective enjoyment of the rights of people with disabilities. The study of these phenomena, accompanied by specific training that takes into account the evolving legal doctrine in the areas highlighted above, has as its ultimate aim the identification of proposals to improve the current legislative framework, or the development of practical solutions and organisational models for implementing the measures set out in the PNRR, with a view to ensuring the effective enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities.
Specifically, the training programme aims to train scholars and professionals (such as disability managers) capable of: conducting and deepening research on the aforementioned topics; ensure, through a theoretical and practical approach: a) the effective enjoyment of the rights of people with disabilities and diverse backgrounds in the social sphere; b) the development of legal and social awareness regarding the concept of ‘design for all’; c) the management of issues relating to disability and diversity within social services and in the workplace, with a view to organisational well-being.
