Renewing the Field and Training Researchers: The Contribution of the PhD Programme in History of Education and Children’s Literature at the University of Macerata

Abstract

Within the framework of studies dedicated to the history of the universities and higher education in Italy, research training has unfortunately received limited attention. Indeed, since the advent of the first organised and systematic works in the early 20th century, the most investigated strands have predominantly concerned the history of universities in the medieval and Risorgimento periods. Since the late 20th and early 21st centuries, scholarly attention has been directed towards the contemporary period, encompassing the evolution of university policies and systems. However, the scientific debate of a historical-pedagogical nature has typically been more dynamic about topics such as the history of individual universities or the theme of education, while devoting little space to the analysis of research training. This paper aims to address that gap by offering an initial overview of the contribution made by the Ph.D. in programme in History of Education and Children’s Literature, established at the University of Macerata in the 2004/2005 academic year, and by analysing its significance in terms of the quality of scientific training offered and the enhancement and promotion of research activities in the field.