June 14-18, 2021 | (1st edition)

Call for applications: March 4, 2021 - April 10, 2021 via the VIU website | Deadline extended until April 30, 2021

VIU Scientific Coordinators: Agar Brugiavini, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice & Venice International University (VIU); Fabrizio Turoldo, Ca' Foscari University of Venice

The program offers students and early career researchers the opportunity to critically reflect, with the help of highly qualified experts, on topical issues that raise ethical and deontological dilemmas, relating to ageing and end of life.
A fundamental feature of the School concerns its method, which is characterized by a continuous and intense interdisciplinary exchange between doctors, philosophers, economists, jurists, psychiatrists and sociologists.
During this first edition, the course will focus on the problem of patient triage during the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, it happened that in the most dramatic phases of the pandemic and in the most affected areas there were no ventilators for everyone or that other medical aids were lacking. The rationing of medical resources has raised concerns of various kinds, which have triggered wide-ranging reflections, in the medical, philosophical, economic, legal, sociological fields.
One of the most discussed and debated criteria for access to intensive care was based on the age of the patients.

Organising Committee: Agar Brugiavini, Giovanni Leonetti, Fabrizio Turoldo

Contributing member universities:
• Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
• University of Padova
• Tor Vergata University of Rome

Faculty

Gianluca Briguglia, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy
Agar Brugiavini, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice & Venice International University, Italy
Ester Brunet, Theological Faculty of Padua, Italy
Antonio Da Re, University of Padua, Italy
Barbara Da Roit, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy
Luigi Ferrucci, National Institute on Ageing, United States
Giovanni Grandi, University of Trieste, Italy
Anja Leist, Université du Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Giovanni Leonetti, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy
Jean-Pierre Michel, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Eleonora Montuschi, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy
Emilio Mordini, University of Haifa, Israel
Andrea Nicolussi, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy
Carlo Petrini, National Institute of Health, Italy
Mario Picozzi, University of Insubria, Italy
Stefano Semplici, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy
Fabrizio Turoldo, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy

Which are the main activities?

• Presentations in the fields of bioethics, psychiatrics, sociology, moral philosophy, philosophy of science, biomedicine, geriatrics, epidemiology, patient care, health economics, public health, demography and history of art;
• Interactive sessions, such as “tutoring sessions”, aimed at giving participants the opportunity to discuss their own research ideas with senior speakers in individual or small group meetings.

What’s special about the Summer School?

Attending the school means developing transversal competences since the approach is multidisciplinary, and those who have a specific philosophical, economic or sociological background will know more about medical advances in ageing research and ethical issues related to the care of the elderly, learning the specific language in which MDs deal with these issues as well.

High-level policy makers or officials who may also take part in this program will be able to learn how to connect issues between the health dimension of ageing and the ethic, legal and economic ones.

Learning Outcomes

The course allows students, researchers and professionals from various fields to hone important skills that are located in an interdisciplinary terrain. Professional ethics and deontology are in fact transversal sectors, useful and necessary in the most diverse professional contexts.

Jurists, philosophers, economists, sociologists and political scientists will have the opportunity to test different perspectives of thought and different theoretical systems in the light of extremely important and current case studies.

Healthcare professionals will be able to reflect on the various implications that their decisions entail and which often go beyond the strictly sanitary sphere.

Who can apply?

Undergraduates, graduates, PhD students and post-doc scholars in philosophy, political sciences, sociology, social work, economics, statistics sciences and medicine, but also professionals in the pharmaceutical and ageing care industries.

What’s the relevance of the school?

Ageing population is a major concern for many European countries. Ageing is a complex process involving several dimensions, from the health one to the socio-economic context. In order to achieve a better understanding of how to guarantee successful ageing in Europe, it is crucial to take account jointly of these different dimensions, and to develop welfare models ethically sustainable that enhance the resource aspect of an ageing population: from labour supply (experience), to family care, etc.

Future generations of researchers will have to address the challenge of ageing with a multidisciplinary background, both in their academic career and in operational activities, and policy making as well. This is true also for firms (and managers) which will have to adjust to an ageing work-force and to make the best of the skills that these workers will offer. It is clear that this research agenda has a huge impact on public finances, ranging from Health care and Long Term care spending, to Pensions and Social Security.

Credits

ECTS equivalence: 2.

2 additional ECTS credits will be allocated upon presentation of a paper.

A Certificate of attendance will be issued at the end of the course.

Applications procedure and costs

The Program will admit a maximum of 35 participants.

Application via VIU website, available from March 4, 2021 (see box in this page)

Deadline: April 10, 2021 | Deadline extended until April 30, 2021

Applicants must submit via application form: a brief motivation letter including candidate’s interests and research and a curriculum vitae with photo.

Admitted candidates will be notified by April 19, 2021 | Deadline extended until May 7, 2021.
Payment of the tuition fee and accommodation (if requested) by April 26, 2021 | Deadline extended until May 14, 2021.

Fees:

Full fee: € 400 incl. VAT
Applicants from VIU member universities: € 200 incl. VAT 

The fee will cover tuition, teaching materials, lunches in the San Servolo cafeteria and social events.

Student participants will be responsible for covering their own travel expenses to and from Venice, local transportation, breakfasts and evening meals.

Accommodation costs on campus

Venice International University offers its support to book accommodation on San Servolo Campus, in multiple rooms (double) with other participants for the duration of the Summer School: further information about costs will be provided in the application form itself.

For further information:
ageing@univiu.org

As the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, VIU will continue to monitor the situation. Should the pandemic prevent international travel, a blended format could be offered: applicants can submit the request to attend the program online and it will be evaluated.

In this case, the tuition fee will be reduced and communicated after the closing of the call for applications.