Objectives, educational path and reasearch themes
The doctoral program provides coordinated study of disciplines and topics common to public law in the broadest sense, including national law (constitutional, administrative, criminal, procedural) and comparative and international/supranational public law.
The program equips professional for highly qualified operation in public, criminal and international law, applying the necessary investigational methods and critical processing of the acquired data. The doctorate aims to train professionals capable of:
1) entering the highest levels of public administration;
2) providing consulting services, whether in individual, public or private institutional contexts;
3) entering an academic research and teaching career;
4) entering the judiciary;
5) entering diplomatic careers or employment in the institutions of the European Union and other international organisations.
The scientific approach is based on the traditional canons of the general theory of law. It provides the participant with the tools necessary for interpretation of factual events, assisting them to develop general framework models adaptable to the specific legal phenomena under analysis. This type of analysis is particular demanded in view of the unpredictable developments arising from institutional decentralisation, strengthening of local autonomies, European integration and international cooperation.
The educational path includes study and research activities designed to develop capacities in critical reasoning. The educational activities consist of short seminars imparting basic theoretical-conceptual approaches in the areas of public law, substantive and procedural criminal law, international law, and study meetings on specific topics, aimed at building abilities in application of these basic frameworks in the analysis of specific contexts.
The educational paths divide in view of the two curricula (Public law, Criminal justice and international law), however in both cases, studies deal with classical themes and current issues. The educational seminars and meetings include participation from both Italian and foreign experts from the academic and professional spheres (public administration, judiciary, lawyers, international organisations, international courts).
In some cases, doctoral candidates may supplement their theoretical training through study stays or internships, including in foreign nations or with international institutions, for immediate permitting immediate comparison of the theoretical frameworks with the operational realities in the different contexts. This type of participation is subject to constant verification of the results and progress of each of the individual’s research projects, leading to feedback and continuous exchange of knowledge and theoretical reflections with the tutor, other lecturers and experts from outside the relevant academic institutions.
The educational process concludes with the presentation of an original-research thesis, attesting to the scientific maturity of the candidate and their commitment to a research vocation, whether in the private sector, academic or public-service sectors, or international institutions and structures.
Over the course of the three-year program, participants are also supported in the publication of short research articles or case law notes in the main specialist journals.
The three-year education program includes:
1. about ten lectures;
2. seminars led by specialists in current research themes;
3. regular six-monthly meetings at the University of Pavia, during which the student reports on their research progress before the Academic Faculty;
4. participation of candidates in conferences and meetings, identified by the Academic Faculty as particularly significant for the purposes of scientific preparation;
5. scientific collaboration in the university courses of the candidate’s reference tutor;
6. options of study abroad, of duration 1 to 18 months, in courses and research activities relating to the candidate’s thesis subject.
Formal teaching, concentrated in the first year, aims to enrich the candidate’s existing theoretical and practical knowledge as they begin their research activities. The reduction of formal teaching in the second year leaves room for potential stays abroad. The third year is generally reserved for preparation of the doctoral thesis.
The program will also include interdisciplinary courses in the main themes of legal science, potentially involving the other UNPIV doctorate, in Private law, Roman law and European legal culture.
As noted, candidates are subject to an internal evaluation at six-month intervals.
Currently, the doctoral research themes may include, among others:
1. Theory, structure and evolutionary dynamics of Italian comparative and public law;
2. Relations between international, European and national legal systems;
3. Principles and general profiles of administrative law;
4. Forms of state and forms of government
5. Domestic, international and European systems of protection of fundamental rights
6. Constitutions and constitutionalism
7. Citizenship, immigration and right of asylum
8. European, comparative and Italian administrative law on food
9. Food safety
10. Comparative environmental law
11. Domestic and international criminal law
12. Domestic and international terrorism
13. Criminology
14. International cooperation in criminal matters
15. Domestic and international criminal procedure
16. Fair trial
17. Criminal enforcement
18. Public international law
19. Private international law
20. International civil procedural law§
21. The European judicial area and free movement of civil and criminal judgments
22. International organisation
23. The institutions of the European Union
24. Internal and external relations of the European Union
25. European structural funds regulations, procedures and organisation: national, comparative and European Union law.