What we do Education and Training

Education and Training

The UNESCO Chair in Human Development and Culture of Peace promotes educational and training activities aimed at fostering the development of knowledge, competences and critical thinking skills needed to address contemporary challenges related to sustainability, social cohesion, human development and, ultimately, peace.

In line with the mission of the Chair, educational initiatives adopt participatory, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, fostering dialogue between research, education, institutions and communities. Activities are addressed to students, researchers, professionals, policymakers and civil society actors through seminars, webinars, conferences, advanced training programmes, and international mobility and collaborative learning initiatives.

Among the main initiatives promoted or supported by the Chair are:

• Blended Intensive Programme “Education towards sustainable future” (https://www.euniwell.eu/what-we-offer/courses-and-training/education-toward-a-sustainable-future-bip): Now in its third edition, this international educational programme brings together students from European universities and from different disciplinary backgrounds. The 2025–2026 edition focused on the theme of commons (beni comuni), exploring their role in building sustainable, inclusive and resilient communities.The aim of the “Education Towards Sustainable Future” programme is to support participants in developing sustainability-oriented competences, enhancing their ability to interpret complexity and envision alternative futures, while promoting innovative and creative approaches to addressing social and environmental challenges. The international keynote speaker for this edition was Nevenka Bogataj, researcher and sustainability expert, National Coordinator of Study Circles in Slovenia and an internationally recognised figure in the fields of community education and commons. To view the programme, click here .
• Blended Intensive Programme “Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development: Educational Perspectives” 2026-2027 Edition. Particular attention will be devoted to the connections between heritage, transformative learning, active citizenship and sustainable territorial development. The programme, currently under development, will be addressed to international students from different disciplinary backgrounds and will focus on the role of tangible and intangible cultural heritage as an educational resource for promoting sustainable development, individual and collective well-being, and community participation.
• Blended Intensive Programme Environmental Creativity. The UNESCO Chair in Human Development and Culture of Peace participated in the 2025–2026 edition of the BIP Environmental Creativity, contributing with two presentations: “Cultural ecosystem services for well-being” (Authors: Giovanna Del Gobbo & Giulia Biagi) and  “Sustainability and well-being competences: towards a framework for future professionals” (Authors: Sofia Marconi & Manuel Sbriglione).The contributions explored how sustainability and well-being paradigms can support the reinterpretation of cultural and environmental heritage as drivers of creativity, innovation and social transformation. Through the presentation of research experiences, the sessions also examined key competences required by professionals working in the cultural sector and social economy to promote individual and community well-being, as well as sustainable territorial development. To view the programme, click here .
• Scuola in Montagna. Percorsi di Alta Formazione per la Montagna Pistoiese. The UNESCO Chair in Human Development and Culture of Peace supports research training and the professional development of young scholars by promoting doctoral pathways, research fellowships and scientific activities aligned with its areas of interest.The Chair considers the involvement of new generations of researchers an essential component in building open, interdisciplinary scientific communities oriented towards social transformation. Through participation in national and international projects, research networks and scientific cooperation initiatives, doctoral students and early-career researchers contribute to the development of innovative knowledge on topics including sustainable human development, adult education, community participation, cultural heritage enhancement, territorial policies and sustainability. To view the programme, click here .

• PhD Programme
• Master’s Degree Course in Pedagogical Sciences and Education Management for Sustainable Development
• Post-graduate Course in “Educate about Cultural Heritage with History and Memory. Building Communities between School, Museums and Territory”
• Post-graduate Course in "Pubblicità, comunicazione e creazione di eventi"