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Winter School | A.Y 2026-2027

Business in conflict-affected and high-risk areas: social innovation and peacebuilding

 

 

 

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Language English
Location Milan
When February 16-18, 2027
Delivery Mode In-person
Attendance Full time
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Overview

In 2025, there were 59 active armed conflicts between states, the highest number recorded since World War II. The situation of conflict has profound and complex consequences: it radically alters economic, social and institutional environments; it compromises the sustainability and operations of organizations; it seriously affects the living conditions of entire communities, requiring systemic interventions.

 

These dynamics require systemic and coordinated methods of intervention between the different actors, private and non-operating in the territories concerned.  In these contexts, private actors play a crucial role in supporting the population, contributing to inclusive socio-economic development and consolidating conditions conducive to establishing lasting peace processes in the post-conflict period.

 

Existing studies make it clear that awareness around the role of business in peace processes has grown considerably in the last decade; however, this awareness is confronted with a limited availability of knowledge, skills and operational tools necessary to design and implement truly effective actions.

 

In response to this need, the Winter School Business in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: Social Innovation and Peacebuilding, in collaboration between ASERI and ALTIS - Graduate School of Sustainable Management, aims to bridge this gap, through an interdisciplinary path aimed at developing the knowledge and skills necessary for companies and other private actors to be able to define and disseminate entrepreneurial and managerial models capable of triggering solutions that are as sustainable and lasting as possible in contexts characterized by conflict and post-conflict situations.

Objectives - microcredentials

Knowledge:

At the end of the activities, participants will have acquired the following knowledge related to:

 

  • The main economic, social, political and institutional dynamics that characterise conflict, post-conflict and fragility contexts.

  • The  role of businesses in peace processes and the impact that economic activities can generate on the territories.

  • Models, tools and good practices of management and entrepreneurship applicable in complex and highly vulnerable contexts.

  • The challenges and opportunities related to inclusive socio-economic development processes in countries affected by conflicts and crises. 

Skills and application skills:

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Analysing complex issues by adopting an interdisciplinary and systemic approach that fosters collaboration between business, non-profit organisations, NGOs and public institutions.

  • Evaluate the interconnections between geopolitical dynamics and managerial implications, identifying possible contributions to peacebuilding and territorial development. 

  • Promote processes of dialogue and collaboration between subjects from different sectors, but engaged in the same fragile contexts.

  • Contribute to the design of inclusive socio-economic development initiatives and programs aimed at building conditions of coexistence and sustainable development.

Structure and program

The course includes integrated teaching that includes frontal interventions with theoretical and methodological insights, laboratory teaching and guided discussion about the challenges encountered in places of conflict and high-risk areas.

 

The School is spread over three days: two of classroom activities (lectures, exercises and workshops), the third dedicated to the discussion of project work (morning) and the realization of a conference open by invitation also to external participants.

 

The course will be available in presence in English. Participants will be provided with the slides used by the teachers in the classroom.

The program is summarized below:

  • Tuesday 16 February 2027, 9.30-18.00: Institutions, Peace, and Business: Bottom-Up vs Top-Down Perspectives

  • Wednesday 17 February 2027, 9.30-18.00: Empowering Entrepreneurship to Sustain Peace

  • Thursday, February 18, 2027:
    Morning, 9.30-12.30: Finalization and discussion of the project works
    Afternoon 14.00-20.30: International Conference Entrepreneurship in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: Social Innovation and Peacebuilding

The course will take place at the Milan campus of Università Cattolica over the course of three days of training, for a total of 14 hours of teaching, plus 6 hours of international conference.

 

The Course in its entirety includes a total of 20 hours of training.

 

SCIENTIFIC DIRECTION

  • Damiano Palano, Full Professor of Political Philosophy, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
  • Laura Maria Ferri, Associate Professor of Business Administration, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

 

TEACHING COORDINATION

  • Andrea Sottini, Assistant Professor in Business Administration, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

 

TEACHERS

The course makes use of the contribution of university professors and professionals with previous skills and consolidated experience, including:

  • Damiano Palano, Professor of Political Philosophy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart;
  • Laura Maria Ferri, Associate Professor of Business Administration, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore;
  • Andrea Carlo Maria Sottini, Researcher in Business Administration, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart;
  • Riccardo Redaelli, Professor of Asian History and Institutions, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart;
  • Ashenafi Biru, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology;
  • Ramzi Fathallah, Telfer School of Management.

At the end of the training course, participants who have attended at least 75% of the course and worked adequately on the Project Work will receive the Certificate of Participation and the official Open Badge of Università Cattolica, a digital credential that represents an innovative form of sharing the skills acquired.

 

Thanks to Blockchain-based technology, the open badge is uniquely associated with each individual user, allowing them to build a personal page for the presentation of their digital curriculum (e-Portfolio) and share their achievements with all their contacts.

 

Participants who have attended at least 75% of the Course and have not carried out the Project Work will only obtain the official Certificate of Participation from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.

Recipients

The Winter School is aimed at professionals and students interested in understanding, managing and supporting the role of private activity in conflict and post-conflict situations, with a focus on the interaction between economic development, international cooperation, sustainability and peacebuilding.

 

With reference to professionals, it is aimed in particular at:

  • managers and professionals in the private, non-profit and public sectors;

  • leaders of international organizations, engaged in empowerment, stabilization and peacebuilding programs;

  • professionals and operators of NGOs, foundations, social enterprises and civil society organisations active in the humanitarian, local and sustainable development and reconstruction fields;

  • managers, professionals and consultants interested in consolidating their skills on the issues of intersectoral collaboration and the promotion of economic activity in conflict and post-conflict areas.

 

With reference to students, it is mainly aimed at:

  • Master's Degree students of the Faculties of Political and Social Sciences, engaged above all in courses related to international policies and relations, European policies, cooperation and sociology, who intend to deepen the role that companies, and in general private action, can play in peace and development processes and how this can be achieved in a coordinated, collaborative and complementary way to that of government institutions, NGOs and non-profit organizations;

  • Master's degree students of the Faculties of Economics, linked in particular to internationalization, business sustainability and sustainable development, social innovation and entrepreneurship in fragile areas or developing countries.

  • Graduate degree students from other Faculties, including Philosophy, Law, Linguistic Sciences, interested in discussing the human, ethical and institutional implications deriving from the behavior of companies and private actors in conflict and post-conflict zones.

Admissions and costs

  • Registration closes
    2027-02-07T00:00:00+01:00

Registrations take place via an online platform. 
SIGN UP HERE 

 

 

The participation fee for the entire course is equal to:

  • € 366.00 VAT included (€300.00 + VAT) for students;

  • € 488,00 VAT included (€400,00 + VAT) for professionals.

 

To register, please fill out this registration form and send proof of payment of the registration fee by e-mail to altis.amministrazione@unicatt.it with the subject line "Business in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas".

 

If an adequate number of participants is not reached, the Management reserves the right to postpone or suspend the start of the Course. All participants will be promptly notified.

 

PAYMENT METHODS

Payment of the registration fee can be made by:

  • Bank transfer to: Banca Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., IBAN code: IT 07 W 03069 03390 211610000191 made out to Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, specifying the name of the participant and the title of the course in the reason for payment

  • Credit card (VISA or Mastercard) at the same time as online registration.

 

Doubts or technical problems? See the instructions

 

The registration fee is non-refundable except in the case of non-activation of the course and in any case within the terms set out in the Activation and Withdrawal Procedures.

The following discounted fees are available to students :

  • € 298.90 VAT included (€ 245.00 + VAT) for ALTIS and ASERI students;

  • €298.90 VAT included (€245.00 + VAT) for student registrations completed by December 15, 2026 (Early Bird).

 

For professionals , the following subsidized fees are provided:

  • € 439.20 VAT included (€ 360.00 + VAT) for registrations completed by December 15, 2026 (Early Bird);

  • € 414.80 VAT included (€ 340.00 + VAT) for ALTIS Alumni registered in the LinkedIn group or ASERI Alumni and for Winter School partners;

  • € 390.40 VAT included (per participant) (€ 320.00 + VAT) for multiple registrations of several participants from the same organization.

 

The concessions cannot be combined with each other.

For further information on the programme, faculty and board, write to:

info.aseri@unicatt.it