ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
Introduction
The PhD Programme in
Studies in English Literatures, Language and Translation (hereafter SELLT) was established with the 34th cycle and has been accredited as an international joint doctoral programme in co-supervision with the University of Silesia in Katowice, awarding successful candidates a double doctoral degree. Teaching activities and the management of students’ academic careers are therefore conducted collaboratively by the two institutions, which offer courses, seminars, and supervisory activities aimed both at students’ overall academic research training and at the development of their dissertation projects. Each doctoral candidate enrolled in the joint programme is assigned a supervisor and a co-supervisor, one affiliated with the home institution and the other with the partner institution.
For the academic year 2024–2025, admissions at Sapienza University of Rome included four fully funded positions and one unfunded position, in addition to two scholarships funded by the University of Silesia in Katowice. The partner institution also selected, as in previous years, two fully funded positions for Polish students.
During the academic year 2024–2025, doctoral activities were structured around the following areas:
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Integrated teaching provision combining Sapienza and Silesian seminar activities;
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Lectures and conferences hosted at Sapienza;
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Study periods abroad and institutional and individual research activities;
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Annual progression examinations;
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Completion of the doctoral programme by students of the 36th and 37th cycles.
1. Integrated Teaching Provision: Sapienza and Silesia Seminar Activities
All lectures and seminars were conducted entirely in English and delivered in hybrid mode, in order to enable participation by doctoral candidates residing at either institution or engaged in research mobility. SELLT includes research projects within one linguistic/translation curriculum and two literary curricula: English Literature and Anglo-American Literature. In line with this structure, the teaching provision is articulated across these three tracks.
At Sapienza, a constant educational objective has been to provide all doctoral candidates with multidisciplinary tools and content relating to theoretical frameworks, critical approaches, and linguistic and literary texts, while maintaining close attention to the research areas that characterize SELLT’s academic profile and reflect the expertise of the members of the Doctoral Board, as outlined in the programme description.
In particular, during the academic year 2024–2025, several significant learning opportunities were offered. Two distinguished international scholars in linguistics and stylistics, Professors Jonathan Culpeper and Elena Semino, each delivered four seminars for SELLT doctoral candidates, focusing respectively on approaches in linguistic pragmatics and on critical metaphor analysis. A course in public speaking was also provided. Additionally, a series of seminars explored linguistic, literary, and cultural dimensions of the concept of post-truth (the full calendar and summaries in Italian and English are attached).
First-year doctoral candidates are required to attend all seminars offered within both the linguistic and literary curricula. Second-year candidates, in agreement with their supervisors, may select approximately 70% of the seminars and courses most relevant to their research projects. Third-year candidates, likewise in consultation with their supervisors, may tailor their seminar attendance to their research needs; however, they are primarily engaged in dissertation writing and in the organization of a Graduate Forum, as specified in the section dedicated to the teaching provision.
The teaching provision of the University of Silesia includes both compulsory and elective courses for all students enrolled in the joint doctoral programme. Each year, the partner institution offers courses specifically designed to support doctoral and research training in academic contexts, including: Academic English; Teaching Skills; Intellectual Property Law; Ethics in Research; Scientific Career Planning and Personal Development. These courses are delivered online and amount to approximately 90 hours overall.
2. Study Periods Abroad
During the academic year 2024–2025, all doctoral candidates, also with the support of university funding, completed the required study period at the partner institution. During these stays, students conducted research activities, engaged in continuous consultation with their Polish supervisors, and participated in teaching activities. Many candidates also presented papers at conferences and academic meetings held across Europe and in the United States.
3. Annual Progression Examinations
Annual progression examinations involved students of the 39th and 40th cycles.
By agreement with the partner institution, first-year students (40th cycle) undertook their progression interview before a committee composed of Sapienza supervisors. During the examination, candidates discussed selected readings agreed upon with their supervisors and related to their research projects, as well as the development of their projects after one year of research activity.
Also by agreement with the partner institution, second-year students (39th cycle), Michele Brugnetti and Martina Lombardo, undertook their progression interview first before the Doctoral School Board of the University of Silesia and subsequently before a three-member committee composed of one Sapienza representative and two representatives from Silesia. Candidates discussed the progress of their research projects and the methodological issues underpinning their work. Both students successfully passed the examination with excellent results.
Giulia Travaglini (not enrolled in the joint supervision scheme) undertook her progression examination to the third year before a Sapienza committee, with which she discussed the current state of advancement of her dissertation.
4. Graduate Forum
Students of the 38th cycle organized a Graduate Forum entitled
States of [Perma]Crisis (9–10 June 2025). The programme poster and the book of abstracts are attached.
5. Final Examinations
During the academic year 2024–2025, two students from the 36th cycle and all students from the 37th cycle completed their doctoral programme and were awarded the title of Doctor of Philosophy following the successful defence of their dissertations.