Abstract:

The European/International Joint PhD in Social Representations and Communication is a pioneer case of the integration of the triple “i” (international, interdisciplinary, intersectoral) transversal dimensions of the doctoral training and to discuss the implications of adopting the distinct models for the internationalisation of the doctorates and the international joint doctorates. Combining its long-term top institutional history and its capacity for innovation, this well-established European Joint Doctorate, recognised since 1993 within the triple framework of Universities, Ministries and the European Commission and fully operational since 1996, over the years has grown beyond the EU and academic boundaries, thanks to the “unique” combination of a EC-approved Joint doctoral programme and a Scientific Thematic Network of excellence.

This supra-disciplinary area of the social sciences interested in how scientific knowledge is transformed by lay people and the media into common sense and how it is related to situated practices, has activated a conversation among social, human and natural scientists in a wide range of international research programmes, concerning public understanding of the sciences and discoveries in various fields. The "objects" studied have a strong societal impact and important applications “within” and “for” society in the political, economic and social spheres. Currently the European/International Joint PhD in Social Representations and Communication is an international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary networked doctoral programme led by Sapienza University (Italy) in 12 EU (AT, CH, CZ, FR, IT, NL, RO, ES, PT, SE, SK, UK) and 6 extra-EU countries from North America (U.S. and CA) and Latin America (AR, BR, MX) to China, including 25 universities, IFSTTAR (a French national research institute of science and technology for transport, development), 2 SME in Sweden and in Italy in diversified sectors (communication and marketing) and the multinational ELSEVIER in the strategic sector of publishing and science dissemination.

Headquartered at the state of the art SoReCom Research Centre and Multimedia Lab of Sapienza University of Rome, the So.Re.Com. Joint Innovative Doctoral Program (http://www.europhd.eu/SoReComJointIDP) has been selected in 2013 People-ITN-IDP call with the highest evaluation (98,80/100). Its mission is aimed at ensuring:

a) internationally well-reputed “research excellence”;
b) worldwide appealing institutional environment;
c) interdisciplinary research options dealing with societal issues at the interface between lay and scientific knowledge within, with and for society;
d) Innovative practices adopted for multiple training activities and tutoring and co-tutoring;
e) International and Intersectoral networking; e) training in transferable skills;
f) dedicated physical and innovative digital infrastructures, including the So.Re.Com. “A.S. de Rosa” physical and @-Library;
g) career prospect development in academic and professional sectors;
h) international joint governance structure and quality assurance from the selection process to the joint diploma award. Seven universities in five EU countries (IT, FR, CZ, ES, RO) are committed to awarding the joint degree, on the behalf of the whole network, which co-operates on recruiting, training and evaluating activities as partner organisations.

Keywords:

Triple “I” (international, interdisciplinary, intersectoral) networked joint doctorate, European/Int, Joint PhD in Social Representations and Communication.