PhD students Stephanie Arnold and Carolina Gerli selected to join Europaeum Scholars Program
Two PhD students of the Department of Political and Social Sciences, Stephanie Arnold (35th Cycle) and Carolina Gerli (37th Cycle), will represent the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna in the prestigious Europaeum Scholars Program in 2022 and 2023. They passed the highly competitive selection procedure to join the 3rd cohort of this two-year policy and leadership course aimed at the most talented, energetic, and committed doctoral candidates from within the Europaeum network, an alliance of 18 leading European universities.
Coordinated by Oxford University, the program consists of eight intensive modules, each of 3-5 days, at different locations across Europe (Oxford, Brussels, Luxembourg, Lisbon, Bologna, Geneva, Helsinki, and Berlin). Each module includes seminars, debates and workshops with leading academics and practitioners; professional skills training; and substantial teamwork. Over the two years, the Scholars team up in small multidisciplinary groups to elaborate a policy proposal to “make Europe a better place”. The final outcomes are evaluated by a panel of experts and presented at an international conference at the end of the program.
The first module took place in Oxford from 14-17 March where 36 Scholars gathered in the beautiful surroundings of Pembroke College to attend lectures and exchange opinions about a wide range of topics facing Europe today—from the war in Ukraine to climate change, the challenges of cultural leadership and the role of social enterprises in helping marginalized groups in our society. “After these last few days in Oxford, I realized how disciplinary diversity among young professionals can be a powerful tool not only to stimulate fruitful discussions, but also to develop a genuine sense of belonging and solidarity” says Carolina. Stephanie notes: “This is a truly unique opportunity to complement our competences in academic research with policy and leadership skills. Our mission will be to think ‘outside the box’ when addressing some of the most pressing societal issues—it will be demanding but rewarding”. The next module will be held in Brussels/Leuven from 30 May - 3 June 2022 and focus on policymaking.
For more information about the Program and the Scholars, you can have a look at the Program webpage.
Stephanie Arnold is a PhD candidate in Political and Social Sciences. Her research concentrates on the geopolitical dynamics of digital development in developing countries with a special focus on how international development programs and funds shape the digital transition in Sub-Saharan Africa. Before embarking on her PhD journey, Stephanie pursued a five-year master’s degree in law at the University of Bologna. As a law student, she spent an exchange semester at Leiden University as well as the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing. Besides several legal traineeships in Italy, Romania, and Estonia, she also interned at the Embassy of Italy in Tanzania and at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels where she gained practical insight into international affairs and the policy-making process. Finally, Stephanie is passionate about foreign languages. She is fluent in English, German, Italian, and Swahili, and speaks some French, Romanian, and Mandarin.
Carolina Gerli is a PhD Candidate in Political and Social Sciences. Her research explores the role of Artificial Intelligence top-down approaches to fight corruption in Europe. After a BSc in Business Administration and Management at Bocconi University in Milan, she obtained a MSc in Economics and Management of Public Administration and International Organizations from Bocconi in 2017. During her academic years, she studied in Budapest and Shanghai. She also worked as an intern at the Embassy of Italy in Beijing and at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Bangkok on corruption-related topics. Before starting her PhD, she worked as a digital transformation consultant at PwC Italy in Rome for four years.