The EoF Academy is an international young scholars network that was born to promote and conduct scientific research on themes related to the Economy of Francesco. The EoF Academy program aims to help young scholars that are committed or aspire to an academic career to attain and explore the required scientific background on topics relevant to the EoF community. The program is intended for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and promising master students in economics, social sciences, or related scientific fields. For this purpose, EoF Academy annually schedules an education activity plan and awards fellowship grants for these young scholars. 

Mission Statement 

The mission of the EoF Academy is to promote scientific research in the main research areas of the EoF. Interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research are particularly encouraged. In this direction, EoF Academy researchers enhance their skills by attending academic activities scheduled for them (crash courses, research seminars, summer schools, and other meetings). Thus, the researchers will be enabled to elaborate high-quality academic projects with societal implications thanks to these activities. To reach this goal, every researcher will be assisted by an EoF Academy Fellow to mentor them and follow the progress of their work. Furthermore, the EoF Academy cooperates with international universities and institutions to develop joint research and educational activities. The broad objectives of the proposed cooperation are to promote cultural, educational, and scholarly exchange through technical interchange with the parties involved as academic partners.

The EoF Academy is composed of the following:

• Academy Researchers Fellows: Ph.D. students/postdoctoral researchers/promising master students (with or without fellowship) selected through a standardized procedure: application stage, possible supervisor selection, shortlisting panel, interviews, and outcomes. The Academy researchers follow a one-year activity program (lectures, scientific papers, promoting initiatives) – renewable for one year.
• Academy Senior Fellows: researchers and professors under 40 years old. The Academy Fellows are involved in education and research activities. Their primary role is to guide EoF Academy researchers in their research path. 
• Advisory Board: professors of international prestige close to EoF (e.g., Helen Alford, Gael Giraud, Kate Raworth, Jeffrey Sachs, Vandana Shiva, Stefano Zamagni, etc.). They will give special lectures and Crash Courses for the EoF Academy.
• EoF Academy Scientific Committee: coordination and organization of the EoF Academy activities. Coordinators: Luca Crivelli, Gherardo Girardi, Valentina Rotondi, Paolo Santori. Academic Secretariat: Valentina Erasmo 
• Academic Partners: CIIESS at Ibero University (Mexico); IMDOSOC – Mexican Institute of Christian Social Thought (Mexico); LUMSA Università di Roma (Italy); Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy); Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas – PUST (Italy), St Mary’s University – Twickenham, London (UK); CLeF Christian Leadership Formation (Lebanon).

EoF Academy Activities

1. EoF Research Fellowship program. The annual EoF Research Fellowship program is open to young doctoral-level or master students in economics, social sciences, or related academic fields from all countries to help young economists who are committed to or are aspiring for an academic career to achieve the necessary scientific background in particular with regards to EoF-related topics of interest. Students attending the EoF Academy have the opportunity to intensify their knowledge in their fields of study and research and to get to know peer-leading researchers in an interdisciplinary co-generative environment. To achieve this goal, annual small research fellowships are granted. After the evaluation and selection process fostered by the Scientific Committee, the Researchers take on an annual online program of activities. The program consists of a mix of seminars, lectures, and workshops. In particular, the Research Seminars occur monthly. The EoF researchers will present their work in progress and get feedback from peers and the EoF Academy Scientific Committee to which the supervision of the EoF researchers is also entrusted.

2. EoF Academy Courses. EoF Academy offers intensive academic courses to catch up with the basic principles of the Economy of Francesco. Courses are designed to reinforce a few key concepts and are aimed to align the knowledge of all the enrolled students coming from different backgrounds. The main topics covered include behavioral and experimental economics; business ethics and philosophy of economics; economic, environmental, and social sustainability; feminist economics; Franciscan economic thought; management. Courses are open to the public. Attendance is mandatory for EoF Academy researchers. Participants receive a certificate of participation on completion of the courses.

PAST COURSES:

The Franciscan Tradition in Economic Thought (May-June 2023)

3.  EoF School. Capitals and Capabilities in the on-life era. The global economy is in constant transformation. The meaning that concepts such as inequality, poverty, capital, sustainability, and others have today is not the same as twenty years ago. The 4th edition of the EoF School focuses on this change, inquiring about one topic that, in the previous year, has been at the core of EoF community reflections: the various forms of capital (spiritual, relational, social, economic, environmental, and so on) and, as a complement, the notion of capabilities (basic human functionings). Free online course open to everyone. Deadline for registration: MARCH 1, 2024.

4. EoF International Summer School. The EoF Academy offers an annual Summer School with research and dialogue-oriented lectures from leading experts in economic fields. The EoF International Summer School 2023 discussed the topic of Spiritual, social, and narrative capitals: going beyond capitalism. The next International Summer School 2024 will also be held at La Verna in September and the title is Homo Mendicans – Companionship, Wandering, and the Pursuit of Joy.

5. EoF sessions in International Conferences. This is a list of International Conferences that we feel close to our research interests where we would like to like to participate as EoF Academy organizing thematic sessions. For submitting a proposal with us, please write to [email protected]. We emphasize that all the members of the EoF community might keep in touch with us for joining our session proposals.

• 2024 HDCA Conference – Kolkata, India | Human Development and Capability Association (hd-ca.org). Deadline 29 February (we have already submitted a session proposal, but we encourage the submission of individual papers inspired by the EoF perspective)
• 21st STOREP Annual Conference – 27-29 June 2024 – Storep Deadline March 17 (Conference website: Storep – Associazione Italiana per la Storia dell’Economia Politica. Our session proposal IS THIS. To apply, write an email to Valentina Erasmo: [email protected])
• Conference ’24 – Swiss Business Ethics Network (ebenswiss.ch). Deadline March 31 (For details about how to apply, write an email to Luca Crivelli: [email protected])

The deadline for application for the Research Fellowship Program was March 31, 2023. Thanks to all those who sent us their applications! The outcomes were communicated in May 2023.