40th CYCLE

EMIS aims to train PhDs who can apply analytical and computational tools to functional data to make complex decisions in economics and management. The goal is achieved by integrating-as a particular specificity of the course-the tools of economics, management and mathematical-statistics. Students are provided with a solid interdisciplinary foundation and the cultural training necessary to deal with the methodological specificity of the chosen topic, identify an original research perspective and develop a doctoral thesis capable of contributing effectively to the advancement of knowledge.

The course enables participants to approach the doctoral research project from both the perspective of economic theory and the perspective of business theory, embracing the precipitous study contexts of the relevant theoretical fields: business economics, business economics and management, business organization, political economics, applied economics, public economics, firm finance, economics of financial intermediaries, as well as the methods supporting economic and business disciplines.

The focus is on various areas of economics that are areas of interest both academically and practically. Therefore, businesses, nonprofit organizations, companies to public administrations, and international institutions may be the object of research.

The knowledge and skills transferred to students are designed to ensure a fruitful professional placement in academia or, alternatively, in companies or public administrations and international institutions in positions with strong research connotations in the regional, Italian, and European labor markets.

Students are provided with rigorous methodological foundations and functional design skills to carry out research activities in the topic of specialization of the doctoral project. Training is developed at both the multidisciplinary and disciplinary levels. Multidisciplinary training confers unity in the approach to research and in the vision of problems; disciplinary training associates the doctoral student with the research group that ensures consistent epistemological foundations with respect to the topic under analysis. The training is carried out through various types of integrated and ad personam didactics to acquire knowledge of the problems and research techniques specific to the topics in which the course is divided.

The training objectives are achieved by structuring the doctoral course as follows:

• 1st year, foundations of research with definition of the doctoral research project;
• 2nd year, development of the doctoral thesis with research activities and possible period of visiting research at qualified foreign universities/research institutes;
• 3rd year, completion of the doctoral thesis with research activities and presentation at academic conferences.

The first year is devoted to transferring the basic knowledge needed to properly structure the research project and developing soft skills, language skills, and computer skills.

After providing the methodological foundations of scientific research, as early as the first year and throughout the second year, the course of training is designed ad hoc for each individual student by declining the activity, lectures and seminars in coherence with the chosen research area. Participation in national and international conferences and presentation of studies for their potential publication is largely encouraged and supported from the second year onward. The writing of the doctoral dissertation becomes, however, the main commitment of the third year.

Strongly encouraged is a period of study abroad, starting in the second year of the course, so that students can learn advanced research techniquesand/or address emerging research topics with respect to their chosen scientific field. All three universities under the agreement have signed collaborative training and research agreements with other foreign universities. Students can, therefore, rely on the tutor's international relations network to identify the most suitable overseas location with respect to their specific research interests. For the stay abroad for research activities, the amount of the scholarship is increased to the extent of 50% for a total period not exceeding 12 months. This period can be extended by an additional 6 months for doctoral programs in co-tutorship or activated in accordance with Article 3 paragraph 2 of Ministerial Decree 226/2021.The website of the doctoral programs of the University of Parma, and in particular the Regulations of the Doctoral Programs of the University of Parma contain detailed information on how to access international mobility. It is possible to follow the doctoral course in co-tutorship with a foreign university upon agreement with the tutor and coordinator and drawing up an agreement between the two universities. The co-tutela may be activated, subject to approval of the Board of Teachers, in favor of students enrolled in the first or second year of the course, in order to allow the research program to be carried out at both contracting locations.

Each doctoral student is assured, in addition to the grant and within the existing financial resources in the budget of the accredited subjects under current legislation, a budget for research activities in Italy and abroad equal to 10% of the amount of the grant itself. This budget is managed by the Department seat of reference of the student's activities, according to the specific procedures provided.

After admission to the course, each student is assigned a tutor (and possible co-tutor) by the Board of Lecturers, who acts as supervisor of the research and with whom he/she agrees on the annual plan of the educational activity.
At the end of each year, the student is required to submit for the tutor's approval the annual final report card of the activities carried out, including an analytical list of these activities, certification of the aptitudes achieved, and a summary on the research activity carried out (methodology, objectives, results obtained). The tutor verifies the consistency of the annual activity carried out with the overall three-year plan of the student's education, training and research. The consumptive form signed by the tutor must be forwarded to the coordinator.

Acquiring the annual consumptive form, the Board of Lecturers annually evaluates the progress of the research project by means of a verification test consisting of a public presentation of the results achieved by each individual student. The College of Lecturers' judgment of suitability is binding for admission to the following year and/or the final examination.

The fundamentals of research courses are organized according to three pillars: Theories, Methods and Applications.

Theories pillar includes theoretical courses in Micro-Macroeconomics and Management Theories.

The Methods pillar includes courses related to literature search, research design, quantitative and qualitative research techniques, and qualitative and quantitative data analysis tools.

The Applications pillar is declined according to the students' teaching needs through lectures and seminars consistent with the chosen research topic.

Other activities including courses aimed at the development of soft skills, language skills and computer skills complete the coursework.

The total number of credits to be earned in the three-year period is 180 CFUs, with 1 CFU of face-to-face educational activities being equivalent to 7 academic hours of teaching. The number of annual credits that can be acquired is 60 CFUs. During the three-year period, at least 20 credits must be earned in educational activities, equally divided between disciplinary and interdisciplinary activities.

The acquisition of credits requires participation in the educational activity and a positive evaluation by the teacher in charge of the course/lab.

• PILASTRO THEORIES

• PILASTRO METHODS

• PILASTRO APPLICATIONS

• Other TRAINING ACTIVITIES

The EMIS doctorate offers the opportunity to acquire skills that are expendable for both academic careers and knowledge-based employment positions. Anticipated employment profiles include occupations within market-driven organizational entities, public institutions, and nonprofit organizations. This is made possible by the learning gained during the doctoral program, aimed at managing the complexity of socio-economic phenomena in small-medium and large organizations open to the challenges posed by the international environment. The synergy between economic, business and mathematical-statistical skills promotes a broad and flexible cultural education, where the conceptual principles of the research areas envisaged by the doctoral project guarantee an integrated package of tools and knowledge correlated with occupations in enterprises, business associations, institutions and administrations and public companies.

Specifically, the main expected outlets are:

• managerial professions in managing value chain activities (research and development, accounting, management control, marketing, sales, human resources and intellectual capital) in enterprises, public companies and administrations, and institutions, including NGOs;
• managerial professions in policy management in public bodies (policy on innovation, environment, territory, welfare, management of integration between policies);
• project manager and research manager;
• researchers at universities, public research organizations and enterprises.

Occupational outlets, moreover, are fostered by the international experiences that students undertake during their doctoral studies.

The call for applications for admission to the Ph.D. program can be viewed and downloaded here
Other information accompanying and specifically referring to EMIS can be found on the dedicated page of this website.

There are 12 scholarship positions being advertised:

• N. 8 positions (N. 4 from the University of Parma, N. 3 from the University of Ferrara, N. 1 from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Piacenza Branch)

They pertain to the research themes characterizing the PhD course.
While not exhaustive of the research compendium carried out by the College of Professors, some of the research areas consistent with the curricula of the professors are noted:
- Branding and value creation
- Consumer behavior and marketing management
- Determination and communication of value in firms
- Knowledge economics, organization, human capital and labor
- Economics of environment and natural resources
- Public economics and management
- Economics and industrial policies: Innovation, productivity, growth and convergence
- Finance and risk management
- Health care and health management
- Entrepreneurship and business strategy
- Performance measurement, budget analysis and business management control
- Agri-food policies and economics
- Intangible resources and management systems, evaluation and reporting in financial and non-financial terms
- Economic choices in the presence of risk

• N. 1 Grant funded by the EMILIA ROMAGNA REGION (PR.FSE + 2021/2027 - DGR n. 2111 of 04/12/2023) - CUP D92J24000010002 - Forecasting urban mobility flows and optimal management of local transport

City mobility is constantly at the center of urban policy choices in every city reality. Modes of travel have changed in recent years, outlining a complex scenario that requires a highly specialized study to understand all its dynamics in order to propose new approaches to sustainable mobility.
The project must contain a proposal that deals with real-time monitoring of the flow of users using "road" means of transport. Proposals involving use of modern automatic image identification classification techniques are elements of preference. Additional favorable elements are projects that include solutions with:
- Proposals based on modern statistical methods.
- Multidisciplinary proposals.
Strong partnerships with the City of Parma and its subsidiaries are expected.
Scientific Lead: Prof. Fabrizio Laurini, University of Parma

• N. 2 European Union-funded grants - NextGenerationEU from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRP) Mission 4, Component 1, Investment 4.1 (M.D. 629/2024 Art. 9 "Public Administration")

1. ESG Sustainability and Impact Assessments in Public Administration and Public Investee Companies
The research project intends to investigate, with reference to Public Administration (PA) and public investee companies, economic and social impact assessment systems, as well as non-financial performance and sustainability reporting models. The objective is to identify Italian and international best practices for defining a path for sustainability reporting and impact assessment in actions by the PA and its investee companies.
Economic and social impact assessments enable public companies, and specifically also public investee companies, to monitor and assess the effects of their activities on people and communities, health and the environment, as well as to identify any negative side effects. This allows them to improve performance and account more accurately for the impacts of their activities on society and the environment. This is where the non-financial performance reporting models of institutions come in, with particular reference to ESG principles. The latter have become an increasingly important benchmark for public administrations and investee companies that want to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Non-financial reporting allows companies in general to transparently and reliably communicate objectives and performance in this area, providing complete and reliable information to stakeholders.
The doctoral student will also have the opportunity to study, specifically, the management and organizational models of investee companies of public entities, through empirical analysis and the development of case studies, working through close collaboration with public investee companies present in the local and national territory and the presentation of the results of the studies conducted at national and international scientific conferences. The doctoral student will have to spend a period of study and research abroad in order to acquire new skills and learn about different realities. 
Scientific supervisors: Professors Pier Luigi Marchini and Veronica Tibiletti, University of Parma

2. The role of management in promoting innovation and change in public health companies
Good performance in Public Administration (PA) in terms of quality depends strictly on those who manage the services. This is also true for public hospitals, and it is, therefore, necessary to work to develop and reward good health management practices geared toward promoting innovation and change. The research project aspires to develop criteria and systems capable of defining the competencies of management as well as tools that can contribute effectively to the improvement of public administrations.
The doctoral student will have the opportunity to study the management and organizational models of public hospitals. The research activity will enable the doctoral student to increase knowledge of the Italian public health system through empirical analysis and the development of case studies. Close collaboration with various public health companies in the country and presentation of the results of the studies conducted at national and international scientific conferences is expected. The doctoral student will have to spend a period of study and research abroad and a period in the company.
Scientific supervisor: Professors Antonello Zangrandi and Simone Fanelli, University of Parma

• N. 1 Grant Funded by REGIONE EMILIA ROMAGNA CUP F71J23000130009 - TALENTO: what are the most in-demand skills on the labor market? New analytical approach, data mining and policy implications

What skills do employers look for in new employees? This is a central question for understanding and identifying policy implications not only for industrial development but also for the education system.
Employers are increasingly reaching job seekers through online job ads, particularly for jobs that require a higher education qualification (OECD, 2020). Job ads available online provide a rich source of detailed, real-time data on the qualifications and skills sought by employers in all sectors, occupations, and locations.
For these reasons, the UNESCO Chair in Education, Growth, and Equality is proposing the development of TALENTO, an original big-dataset of online job ads in Italy that allows for new analytical approaches and data mining methods in order to understand what skills and competencies are most in demand in today's labor market.
The research aims to explore both the content of the new occupational profiles in demand and the geographic distribution of this demand across regions, territories, and municipalities.
It is believed that data on job ads hold promise for complementing existing labor market information systems and helping educators and policymakers align labor demand and educational supply. If analyzed and disseminated effectively, such data could also help students and workers make learning and career decisions, for example by identifying opportunities to build their own nontraditional pathway to high-demand occupations.
At the same time, following a macroeconomic perspective, the research findings could have a strong impact in understanding structural changes and economic dynamics, focusing on skills and competencies for sustainable development.
Scientific lead: Professors Sandrine Labory and Patrizio Bianchi
 

Beatrice LUCERI, Coordinator, University of Parma, SECS-P/08 - Economics and Business Management

Emidia VAGNONI, Deputy Coordinator, University of Ferrara, ECON-06/A

Paolo ANDREI, Univ. of Parma, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Maria Cristina ARCURI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/11 - Economics of Financial Intermediaries

Filippo ARFINI, Univ. Parma, AGR/01 - Rural Economics and Estimation

Stefano AZZALI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Donatella BAIARDI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/02 - Economic Policy

Federica BALLUCHI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Silvia BELLINI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/08 - Economics and Business Management

Alessandro CALVIA, Univ. Parma, SECS-S/06 - Mathematical Methods of Economics and Actuarial and Financial Sciences

Jacopo CANELLO, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

Gianluca CAPONE, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

Maria Grazia CARDINALI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/08 - Economics and Business Management

Andrea CERIOLI, Univ. Parma, SECS-S/01 - Statistics

Aldo CORBELLINI, Univ. Parma, SECS-S/03 - Economic Statistics

Doriana CUCINELLI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/11 - Economics of Financial Intermediaries

Simone FANELLI , Univ. Parma, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Luca FORNACIARI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Katia FURLOTTI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Gino GANDOLFI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/11 - Economics of Financial Intermediaries

Marco IEVA, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/08 - Economics and Business Management

Fabio LANDINI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

Andrea LASAGNI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

Sabrina LATUSI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/08 - Economics and Business Management

Fabrizio LAURINI, Univ. Parma, SECS-S/03 - Economic Statistics

Stefano MAGAGNOLI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/12 - Economic History

Maria Cecilia MANCINI, Univ. Parma, AGR/01 - Rural Economics and Estimation

Pier Luigi MARCHINI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Tatiana MAZZA, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Mario MENEGATTI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/01 - Political Economy

Gianluca MORELLI , Univ. of Parma, SECS-S/03 - Economic Statistics

Annamaria OLIVIERI, , Univ. of Parma, SECS-S/06 - Mathematical Methods. of Economics and Actuarial and Financial Sciences

Davide PELLEGRINI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/08 - Economics and Business Management

Gianluca PODESTÀ, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/12 - Economic History

Simona SANFELICI, Univ. Parma, SECS-S/06 - Mathematical Methods of Economics and Actuarial and Financial Sciences

Paola Gina Maria SCHWIZER, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/11 - Economics of Financial Intermediaries

Maria Gaia SOANA, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/11 - Economics of Financial Intermediaries

Giulio TAGLIAVINI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/11 - Economics of Financial Intermediaries

Veronica TIBILETTI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Mario VENEZIANI , Univ. Parma, AGR/01 - Economics and Rural Estimate

Donata Tania VERGURA, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/08 - Economics and Business Management

Antonello ZANGRANDI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Cristina ZERBINI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/08 - Economics and Business Management

Cristina ZILIANI, Univ. Parma, SECS-P/08 - Economics and Business Management

Mauro ALIANO, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/11 - Economics of Financial Intermediaries

Stefano BONNINI, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-S/01 - Statistics

Enrico BRACCI, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Maria Novella BUGETTI, Univ. Ferrara, GIUR-01/A

Greta CESTARI Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Enrico DEIDDA GAGLIARDO, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Alberto DE FRANCESCHI, Univ. Ferrara, GIUR-01/A

Fulvio FORTEZZA, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/08 - Business Economics and Management

Sandrine LABORY, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

Salvatore MADONNA, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Susanna MANCINELLI, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/02 - Economic Policy

Giuseppe MARZO, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Giovanni MASINO, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/10 - Business Organization

Sabrina MASTURZI, Univ. Ferrara, IUS/04 - Business Law

Antonio MUSOLESI, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/05 - Econometrics

Beatrice ORLANDO, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/08 - Economics and Business Management

Chiara POLLIO, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

Giorgio PRODI, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

Stefania RAGNI, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-S/06 - Metodi mat. of Economics and Actuarial and Financial Sciences

Laura RAMACIOTTI, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

Leonzio Giuseppe RIZZO, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/03 - Financial Science

Ugo RIZZO, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/02 - Economic Policy

Lauretta RUBINI, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

Alessandra VECCHI, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/08 - Economics and Business Management

Stefano ZAMBON, Univ. Ferrara, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Luca BAGNATO, Univ. Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, SECS-S/01 - Statistics

Enrico BELLINO, Univ. Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, SECS-P/01 - Political Economy

Matteo COTUGNO, Univ. Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, SECS-P/11 - Economics of Financial Intermediaries

Andrea LIPPI, Univ. Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, SECS-P/11 - Economics of Financial Intermediaries

Nicolò PECORA, Univ. Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, SECS-S/06 - Mathematical Methods of Economics and Actuarial and Financial Sciences

Elisa BARBIERI, Univ. "Ca' Foscari" VENICE, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

Michele BIGONI, Univ. Kent (UK), SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Marco Rodolfo DI TOMMASO, Univ. Bologna, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

Chiara OPPI, Univ. Bergamo, SECS-P/07 - Business Economics

Gaetano VECCHIONE, Univ. Naples Federico II, SECS-P/06 - Applied Economics

The Teaching Body has designated a Quality Assurance (QA) management group with the task of assisting the EMIS Coordinator in monitoring the processes and results relating to the research, teaching and third mission/social impact activities of the doctoral students, also through detection and analysis of their opinions, of which the results are systematically analysed in a specific document. 
The QA group is made up of: Prof. Beatrice Luceri (PhD Coordinator), Prof. Emidia Vagnoni (Deputy Coordinator), Prof. Andrea Lasagni (member of the Teaching Board) and Dr. Chiara Bacchilega (Representative of the 38th PhD students Cycle).
The QA Group has established a permanent Steering Committee made up of parties interested in the cultural and professional profiles emerging from the doctorate to assess the connection between the objectives/contents of the course and the necessary profiles for the world of production, services and professions.
The members of the permanent steering committee are:
•    Dr. Francesca Giuliani, Freelancer, Giuliani Associati
•    Dr. Massimo Sangiorgi, Human Resources Office, Chamber of Commerce of Ferrara and Ravenna
•    Dr. Elisa Martini, New Business Development, BARILLA G. and R. FRATELLI
•    Prof. Lauretta Rubini, President of CLM Economics and Management for the Creation of Value and CLM Economics, Management and Policies for Global Challenges, University of Ferrara
•    Prof. Veronica Tibiletti, President of CLM Administration and Business Management, University of Parma
•    Dr. Fabrizio Tollari, Head of Climate and Energy Unit, ART-ER S.cons.p.a. Attractiveness Research Territory
•    Prof. Cristina Ziliani, President of CLM Trade & Consumer Marketing, University of Parma

• Dr. Giovanni Romano, Representative of Doctoral students of the 39th Cycle