UFV and University of Turin formalize Double Degree Ph.D. agreement
15 de April de 2026
The Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), in Brazil, and the Università di Torino (UniTo), in Italy, held on April 2, 2026, an online ceremony for the signing of a Double Degree Program (Ph.D.) agreement, marking a new milestone in the academic cooperation between the two institutions .
The session was chaired by Alessandra Pachì, Head of International Relations and Development Cooperation at UniTo. It followed a predefined official structure, including institutional remarks, a technical presentation of the program, and the formal signing of the agreement.
Initially expected to include the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Brazil, the ceremony was attended instead by Minister-Counsellor Federico Ciattaglia, who conveyed the Ambassador’s greetings and highlighted the event as the outcome of a process initiated more than two years ago, within a broader context of strengthening scientific relations between the two countries. In his remarks, he emphasized the significant growth of Italy–Brazil academic cooperation, with more than a thousand bilateral agreements in place and a notable increase in joint scientific publications, underscoring the favorable environment for initiatives such as the newly signed program.
Following this, the Rector of UniTo, Cristina Prandi, emphasized that the agreement reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to scientific excellence, advanced doctoral training, and international cooperation. She highlighted that the program will enable students to develop their research under joint supervision, with study periods at both universities, ultimately leading to the awarding of two doctoral degrees fully recognized within their respective national systems.
Representing UFV, the Rector Demetrius David da Silva underscored the consistent trajectory of cooperation built between the institutions over recent years, highlighting academic missions, institutional visits, and the strengthening of relations within the framework of the UNITA international consortium. He emphasized that this path results from a joint effort grounded in mutual trust, strategic vision, and a strong commitment to the internationalization of teaching and research. The Rector also noted that the double degree agreement represents a natural and highly significant step forward in this trajectory, creating concrete opportunities for training researchers in integrated international environments. According to him, the initiative reinforces UFV’s role as an institution committed to academic excellence and to the development of long-lasting global partnerships capable of generating scientific, social, and institutional impact for both universities.
The ceremony also featured remarks by the Italian Consul in Belo Horizonte, Nicoletta Gomiero, who highlighted the strategic role of universities in bringing countries closer together and in strengthening long-term academic partnerships, with a direct impact on the training of highly qualified human resources.
The technical presentation of the agreement was introduced by UniTo’s Vice-Rector for Research, Luisella Celi. In her presentation, she outlined the main structural elements of the program, including the cotutelle model, the need for individual agreements for each student, the academic criteria, and the requirements for obtaining the double degree. She emphasized that the agreement covers several strategic fields, including sustainable development, agricultural and food sciences, veterinary sciences, chemical and materials sciences, as well as biological sciences and biotechnology, reflecting the breadth and complementarity of the academic strengths of both universities. The program provides for doctoral candidates to carry out research and academic activities at both institutions under joint supervision, with defined mobility periods, culminating in the defense of a single thesis evaluated by a joint committee composed of members from both universities. Upon completion, students are awarded two doctoral degrees, one from each institution, recognizing their integrated international training.
Following the technical presentation, the Director of International Affairs at UFV, Vladimir Di Iorio, presented the institutional perspective of the Brazilian university, highlighting the strategic role of the agreement within UFV’s graduate internationalization efforts. In his remarks, he emphasized the program’s potential to expand mobility opportunities, strengthen research networks, and promote a more balanced academic exchange between the institutions.
The formalization of this program represents the consolidation of a cooperation process developed over recent years, which includes UFV’s integration into the international initiative UNITA – Universitas Montium, the organization of institutional missions, and the intensification of academic dialogue between the teams of both universities.
More than a formal agreement, the Double Degree Program establishes a structured platform for the development of joint research, high-level international training, and the creation of lasting scientific networks. It is expected that the initiative will significantly contribute to the training of researchers capable of operating in global contexts and to the advancement of scientific cooperation between Brazil and Italy.
