Literature - Statecraft - World Order
Spring 2026 | Amb. Fernando Gentilini
Course Description
The course will focus on literature, statecraft and world order. It will try to demonstrate that geopolitics does not explain everything, and that myths, traditions and literature are equally important to understand “how the world really works”. We will focus on books that have inspired kings, queens, statesmen and autocrats of all times; and on how these books have shaped their thinking. We will try to respond to the question whether contemporary leaders still consume literature, as well as what kind of literature, and discuss whether the restoration of literature as a tutor for statecraft is still a possibility in today’s world.
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Diplomatic Negotiation
Spring 2026 | Amb. Patrizio Fondi
Course Description
The course will focus on nature and technique of the diplomatic negotiation, both in bilateral and multilateral context. In addition to a general overview of possible patterns, selected cases and practical examples based on the experience of the lecturer/practitioner will be extensively used to describe the negotiation process under different aspects: contents, interests and values, skills, formats, tools. Also the impact of new technologies on the development of diplomatic mechanisms will be analysed. The course is tailored for students interested in understanding better the dynamics of negotiation in the framework of a diplomatic environment, to identify as well its peculiarity in comparison with other contexts (such as business, technical-scientific or juridical fields).
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Entrepreneurship & Blockchain
Spring 2026 | Dr. Lorenzo Alibrandi and Dr. Michele Favilla
Course Description
This course aims to provide students with a solid understanding of the internal and external factors that shape an organization’s ability to create value. Students will be familiarized with tools to analyze industries, sectors, competitive advantages, firm resources, and competitive positioning, both on the individual business and the corporate level.
Particular attention will be put on the Blockchain and Crypto sector.
The course strives to instill a digital strategic mindset that will enable students to go beyond a simple application of tools and enhance their own strategic decision making. The sessions will rely intensively on the case method. Through the discussion of the different organizations described in the case studies, students will be able to develop analytical, critical thinking from a practical perspective.
Learn how to recognize and evaluate new venture opportunities. Understanding both the entrepreneur´s as well as the investor´s perspective; Understand the issues faced by entrepreneurs when starting a venture, as well as acquire some of the fundamental skills and tools required for embarking on a new venture - Understand the nature and purpose of a business plan in the context of new ventures, and be able to write, articulate and present a business plan.
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do” – Johan Wolfgang von Goethe
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Public Policy and Administration
Spring 2026 | Dr. Stefano Scalera
Course Description
The course aims to train students in the analysis, design, evaluation, activation and management of public policies taking Italy as a benchmark case study. The course focuses on the implications of globalization and the need for an international comparative perspective to understand the formulation, implementation and results of public policies.
The features of the program are:
- "Evidence - based" approach.
- Need for research of comparable policies.
- Focus on political social sciences (economics, sociology, philosophy, public administration, political science)
- Draft of a legislative and administrative decrees.
The program focuses on how to approach the response to public problems, explaining how the administration may help the political decision maker to develop the policies needed or to implement a political decision in an efficient way. The program addresses of how bureaucracies interact with other political institutions (parliament), the political and legal context of administration, and how organization structures and governance structures affect the actions of the government.
The course is tailored for students interested in understanding better how a government works, in particular the fiscal administrations.
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Strengthening Impact Entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa-Italy Relations
Spring 2026 | Dr. Dina Rosa Agyemang
Course Description
The course explores the dynamic landscape of social entrepreneurship in Africa, highlighting how young innovators across the continent are addressing local challenges through sustainable, scalable, and socially impactful initiatives. It also examines how these innovators are driving change while building bridges of collaboration between Africa and Italy.
Designed for university students interested in development, innovation, business, and international cooperation, the course combines theoretical frameworks, case studies, and hands-on project work.
Through engaging discussions, group activities, and guest talks by African social entrepreneurs and diaspora leaders, participants will gain a deeper understanding of:
- Ecosystems challenges related to financing and infrastructure, and stability
- The intersection of ICT, AI, youth capacities, and social impact entrepreneurship
- Opportunities for cross-continental collaboration, co-design, and joint innovation.
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International Disaster Response in the 21st Century
Spring 2026 | Dr. Chiara Romano Bosch
Course Description
Disasters are striking faster, harder, and in more complex ways than ever before. Countries around the world are facing slow-onset disasters such as long droughts, loss of livelihoods and means of sustainment, while other parts of the world are ridden with conflict and sudden shocks like typhoons, tsunamis, etc. This workshop seeks to help you understand the operating environment of disaster response, who and what are the typical responders, what are the challenges in these situations and what can be done to overcome them by being better prepared. The workshop will be founded on four pillars listen below.
- Understanding the trends and the triggers;
- Mapping the actors in disaster response;
- Recurring challenges;
- What can we do better?
By the end of this workshop, students will be able to: understand the major themes, trends and triggers of modern-day emergencies; have a solid overview of the key players and their roles involved in disaster response; examine the manner in which specific factors exacerbate coordination and challenge the disaster response and develop an understanding of what emergency preparedness is and how it can help mitigate some of the effects.
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Transformations to Just and Sustainable Futures
Spring 2026 | Dr. Clara Saglietti
Course Description
This course aims to open a space for students to explore how to collaboratively address complex contemporary challenges and navigate deliberate transformations towards just and sustainable futures. Following a methodology of prefigurative backcasting, it will focus on fostering imagination and transformative capacities to enact and embody desired futures in the present, rather than assessing the likelihood of future eventualities or forecasting plausible future scenarios. Specifically, it will support students in (1) envisioning preferable futures; (2) analysing the current situation and comparing it to the desired futures to identify gaps, obstacles, and areas with transformative potential; (3) starting to experiment with transformative processes in the identified areas; and (4) reflecting on the overall process and the emergent learning.
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