OVERVIEW

The Joint Research and Debate Workshop on Contemporary Issues is an educational initiative launched at the request of the student body and aimed at students of the Department of Political and International Sciences (DISPI). The workshop provides a space for shared, peer-based exchange—grounded in academic rigor and interdisciplinary dialogue—where students and faculty jointly analyze key current affairs.

Each academic year, the workshop is structured into two thematic cycles, each consisting of three sessions dedicated to a specific topic. Every session approaches the subject from a different disciplinary perspective—legal, political, economic, sociological, philosophical, among others—fostering an integrated analysis and dialogue between diverse academic approaches.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The workshop aims to develop the ability to critically analyze a topic of international significance from a multidisciplinary perspective, to engage in a reasoned debate that respects diverse viewpoints, and to contribute to the production of a collaborative paper resulting from the study and discussion process.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, students will be able to:

    examine a contemporary issue from multiple disciplinary perspectives (legal, socio-political/philosophical, and economic) and foster a dialogue between them;
    locate, select, and evaluate sources and data based on a shared set of documents;
    construct and deliver a reasoned argument, adapting their communication to the specific context;
    participate constructively in a debate, understanding and respecting diverse viewpoints while managing the exchange of ideas.

For students serving on the Joint Coordination Committee, the workshop also contributes to the development of transversal skills aligned with the University of Genoa’s Open Badge system. The specific skills eligible for certification will be defined by the instructor in charge when the workshop is launched.

PREREQUISITES

None. The workshop is open to students interested in exploring and discussing current affairs; no prior experience is required.

TEACHING METHODS

Each session begins with an introductory segment—led by a faculty member or external speaker—designed to frame the topic within the specific disciplinary perspective of the session. This is followed by a structured, moderated discussion conducted on an equal footing between students and faculty.

Activities include group work, cooperative learning, the preparation of brief individual contributions, the collection of questions via a dedicated platform, the shared analysis of source materials, and the collaborative drafting of the final project. Attendance is an integral part of the program.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Faculty Coordinator: Prof. Giampiero Cama (Political Science).

The workshop is led by a group of faculty members from various disciplines (international relations, law, history, philosophy/ethics, sociology, and economics) and features external speakers invited to each session.

The workshop is organized into two annual thematic cycles, each consisting of three sessions. The Joint Coordination Committee—comprising an equal number of faculty members and students—is responsible for defining the themes, selecting speakers, organizing the schedule, and supervising the final project.

First thematic cycle — "International donations and humanitarian aid management":

    First session – Economic perspective: economic, financial, and organizational aspects of the topic.
    Second session – Legal perspective: analysis of the topic from normative, regulatory, and institutional standpoints.
    Third session – Socio-political and/or philosophical perspective: social, political, and ethical implications of the phenomenon.

The theme for the second cycle will be determined after the workshop begins, based on proposals from the Joint Coordination Committee and input from participating students. The selection process will consider the currency of the public debate, the topic's academic significance, and the feasibility of approaching it from diverse disciplinary perspectives. The second cycle will also consist of three sessions, each dedicated to a different analytical perspective.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For each cycle, a common set of reference materials (preparatory readings, sources, and data) is provided, supplemented by materials supplied by the speakers at individual sessions. Specific bibliographic references will be indicated as appropriate.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIAMPIERO CAMA (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

To be determined.

Students with disabilities or other special educational needs are advised to contact both the Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it), and the lecturer at the beginning of the course, to agree on the teaching methods and examinations that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools.

To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must fill in the dedicated Webform available at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, at least 7 working days before the exam.
Students with SEN may instead send their request by e-mail to the lecturer, copying the Department Representative, Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the Inclusion Office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it).
Requests from students will be assessed by the lecturer and may be approved or rejected

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Pass/Fail (no grade).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

To obtain certification of completion, students must attend at least 75% of the scheduled activities and pass a final assessment of their choice, consisting of either a written assignment (e.g., an editorial or a short in-depth essay of 2–4 pages) or an oral presentation on one of the topics covered in the workshop.

Students who take on roles within the Joint Committee or participate in drafting the Final Report will receive—in addition to the certification of completion—recognition via the University’s specific Open Badges.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Course workload: 2 CFU, corresponding to at least 12 hours of in-person activity (meetings, presentations, and discussions) plus additional hours of individual or group work.

The workshop offers the awarding of Open Badges for the transversal skills developed.

Students who have officially submitted documentation regarding Specific Learning Disorders (SLD/DSA), disabilities, or other special educational needs are advised to contact the instructor (who also serves as the Departmental Liaison for disability and SLD matters) at the start of the course. This allows for the agreement on teaching and examination arrangements that—while respecting the course objectives—take into account individual learning styles and provide appropriate compensatory tools.

To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must complete the specific webform available at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa at least 7 working days before the exam.

Students with other special educational needs (BES) may instead submit their request via email to the instructor, copying the Departmental Liaison, Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it), and the Inclusion Office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it). Requests will be evaluated by the instructor and may be approved or rejected.