The Program involves the participation of several universities (with Rome Tor Vergata as the administrative headquarters), Academies of Fine Arts (Rome, Florence, Macerata, Lecce, and Catania), and the ISIA Roma Design – Higher Institute for Artistic Industries, along with cultural and research institutes such as the MAXXI Foundation – Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI secolo – and the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA). The innovate approach of having universities and Higher Education Institutions in Art, Music and Dance (AFAM) collaborate in the same doctoral educational project opens up new perspectives to develop ideas resulting from a broad interaction between the material and critical levels of research in the field of cultural heritage. The goal is to bring together the expertise of each of these institutions in the artistic, archaeological, historical, architectural, conservation and restoration, and new media fields.
The co-participation of universities and AFAM institutions provides doctoral students access to a more diverse set of shared research and study methodologies. Moreover, it should be emphasized that the participation of academics from the academies involved with the Fine Arts and their historically-grounded expertise in the productive and creative process of artworks provide students with the unique opportunity to enhance the understanding and study of art and works of art as cultural products and means of social communication.
The PhD Program aims to enhance a wide set of methodological approaches in the study of cultural heritage in keeping with the Faro Convention principles and criteria and UNESCO’s guidelines, and, notably, to contribute to Mission 1 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP): Digitization, Innovation, Competitiveness, Culture, and Tourism.
The three-year program is intended to promote advanced academic training of students, for some of whom an academic career may be the end goal,but also for those who desire to become highly qualified professionals capable of carrying out research and working in the management of public and private institutions, including international ones.
Doctoral researchers in Cultural Heritage will be primarily employed by the public administration, cultural institutions, and private cultural foundations, though a certain percentage will pursue their careers in the academia. The Program also aims to reduce the number of PhD scholars leaving the Country owing to poor career prospects, effectively contrasting the “brain drain” phenomenon, i.e. the emigration of skilled human resources.