At the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science (DiPSCo) we study the mind and its processes in interaction with different contexts following a multidisciplinary approach with the aim of promoting well-being and social inclusion.

The "Department of Excellence" Project

Starting from the excellent results achieved in the previous Department of Excellence Project, the ambition for the period 2023-27 is to further strengthen the positioning of the DiPSCo at a national and international level.
The project – built following participatory meetings and co-planning strategies that involved all the members of the DiPSCo – is structured around three main objectives:

RESEARCH AND INFRASTRUCTURES

DiPSCo aims to strengthen its research practices, infrastructures and skills in the area of basic and applied psychology, to broaden its trans- and multidisciplinary relationship with the other disciplines of the department and to intensify its external collaborations with local and international institutions through the:

  • Strengthening of multidisciplinary research in line with the NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) with an emphasis on well-being, social inclusion, sustainability and the green transition
  • Promotion of open and rigorous research practices by encouraging publications in open access journals, the organization of training for teaching staff and researchers and the opening of visiting professor positions
  • Strengthening of research infrastructures by expanding and renovating laboratory spaces, equipment and enhancing human resources to support research activities
  • Develop and strengthen collaborative projects with other research institutions (i.e., the Research Center "Sport, Mountains and Health (CeRiSM)” and the Digital Society group of the Bruno Kessler Foundation).

HIGH QUALITY TEACHING

DiPSCo intends to promote and develop support actions for teachers and students in the adoption of methodological approaches that encourage participation and active learning and expand its course program with a particular focus on well-being and inclusion. Specifically, we aim to:

  • Activate a new three-year bachelor degree in Motor Sciences (L-22) in collaboration with the University of Verona
  • Activate a Graduate School in Psychology
  • Develop support actions for teachers and students and methodological approaches that promote participation and active learning through training workshops, appoint an academic developer and promote a culture in which the student voice is heard
  • Further support the university-work transition through the implementation of orientation activities for students 
  • Improve our infrastructure to facilitate participatory teaching.

OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

DiPSCo plans to implement new outreach activities that promote a culture of well-being and social inclusion in the clinical, health, educational and social field and to actively interact – through dissemination and training actions – with public schools, institutions (museums, hospitals, cultural associations), private organizations (companies, private research institutions) and the general population through the:

  • Promotion of the involvement of the local economy in the research of the department
  • Strengthening of local professional training activities through open badges and micro-credentials