Training Programme

The training and research activities integrate economic analysis tools with legal methodology, through an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach. Specifically, by focusing on human capital, financial variables, marketing skills, governance and measurement tools, transparency and accountability, the interpretation of rules and principles, subjective and fundamental rights, and various regulatory techniques, the doctoral program aims to provide the keys to understanding, analysing, and critically evaluating the complex scope of interrelated institutional and business dynamics, as they evolve in light of technological innovations. 

The PhD Programme therefore contextualizes traditional corporate and legal categories within the current economic and social reality, globally connected by financial, commercial, social, and digital interactions. It also aims to identify the emerging modes of "hybridization" between institutional processes and corporate and market processes that intersect at different levels of national, subnational, supranational, and transnational governance, for the best promotion of sustainability and social responsibility, including from an intergenerational perspective (in line with the values of the PSA, as expressed across the various Areas and their respective strategic lines). 

In short, the entire doctoral program is inspired by the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals. To this end, and taking into account the findings of the survey of doctoral students and the Advisory Board, the PhD programme is constantly updated. With a particular focus on transdisciplinary skills, the academic proposal includes mandatory courses related to research methodology and open science (which are the core of the Introduction to Research course and the new Research Methods course), while recognizing the need to differentiate their content and tools based on the diverse backgrounds that qualify B&L doctoral students. 

Also, with a view to strengthening transdisciplinary skills and supporting the internationalization of doctoral students, two additional mandatory courses will be added, starting in cycle XLII, in the second and third years: Academic English Writing and Public Speaking. Internationalization is further promoted, both through study and research periods abroad and through in-depth seminars by foreign professors, in order to strengthen cultural exchange, openness to research (open science), the comparison of best practices, and the development of integrated, transversal and innovative approaches (in line with the provisions of the PSA; Area 2, Research, p. 35; Area 4, Internationalization, p. 39; with particular regard to Objectives 1 and 2, R.LS2.01-11; R.LS2.02-12, p. 64; and Objective 1, R.LS3.01-13, p. 65). In this sense, the PhD academic proposal aims to align with the Sustainable Development Goals identified by the UN according to the 2030 Agenda (V4, PSA, p. 27), as defined and implemented at the national level, including through the operational intervention of the PNRR. 

To be admitted to the following year, doctoral students are required to: 

1) attend at least two-thirds of the compulsory courses in person; 

2) develop a "Major Paper" consisting of adequately detailed scientific research, supported by a critical approach, and capable of serving as the basis for future publication. They must also develop a "Minor Paper" of a systematic, reconstructive, and investigative nature. Both papers must be replicated at the end of each of the two cycles of lectures (Module I and 5 Module II of the Cross-cutting Course) scheduled for the first and second years, resulting in the submission of four papers in total. In keeping with the multidisciplinary nature of the doctorate, the two papers must be developed in different research fields (one in economics and business and the other in law) and must achieve a grade of 18/30 or higher; 

3) take and pass (in the first two years of the program) the exam required for the courses related to research methodology: "Introduction to Research" and "Research Methods" (with a grade of 18/30 or higher). 

Starting in the second year of the PhD Programme a period of study and research abroad of at least six months at highly qualified institutions is strongly recommended. 

The third year of doctoral studies (writing period) is dedicated to writing the thesis. 

To enhance and disseminate the research findings of doctoral students, ad hoc meetings are organized for their production, presentation, and communication, fostering dialogue and mutual exchange between doctoral students, researchers, and faculty, also in collaboration with the other PhD Programme of the Department of Economics and Management (Analytics for Economics and Management – AEM, see PhD Meetings at https://business-and-law.unibs.it/quality-and-internationalization). 

Doctoral students are encouraged to publish data and research products in line with the University's Open Access policy, and therefore with the FAIR principles. In this regard, doctoral students are required to periodically upload their publications to the IRIS-OPENBS platform and to indicate their handle in the annual report submitted to the PhD Board of Professors to be admitted to the following year.