Research
Network
The D-ChallengHE HUB is organised into interdisciplinary research groups (RN) that share the same interests, passions and research objectives through a fertile knowledge exchange and virtuous collaboration. The groups organise regular meetings between their members, are open to participation by all and play an essential role in animating the HE research observatory.
Each group has one or more coordinators that animate the discussion and collaboration within the group.
Research networks are focused sufficiently to motivate people and to enable them to work effectively on specific topics. They meet in a very smart workshop to favour active participation, intellectual debate and the exchange of ideas.
Currently, there are seven active groups. It is possible to promote new groups by sending a program of activities and indicating the promoters’ names and a short bio
The existing research groups are as follows:
RN.1 New Role of HEIs in Front of Globalisation and Global Crises. Values, Mission And Goals For The Future Of HEIs
RN Coordinators
Concetta Fonzo
Degrees in both Economics and Sociology, has been collaborating for over 20 years on initiatives and programs, both national and international, related to lifelong learning, lifelong guidance, transnational mobility for study and work, systems for the recognition and transparency of skills, and quality assurance in vocational education and training. Coordinator and scientific collaborator of various research groups and technical task forces at national and European level, she is currently an Italian delegate for the CareersNet network and a member of ReferNet Italia, both European networks of both public and private institutions and representatives engaged in education, training, and lifelong guidance in Europe.
Laura Evangelista
National Coordinator of the EQAVET National Reference Point for Italy. Senior researcher at INAPP, Head of the Research Group “Accreditation and Quality for VET”. She coordinates research projects related to the monitoring and the evaluation of the accreditation systems of VET providers in Italy, the implementation of quality arrangements in line with the principles and indicators defined at EU level.
Edita Lenkauskaitė
PhD researcher in Management, focusing on inter-organisational networks, European University Alliances, and meta-organisational sustainability and resilience. She is a Member of the Senate of Klaipėda University and the Senate Scientific Committee.
RN.2 Artificial Intelligence in HEIs
RN Coordinators
Federica De Stefani
Lawyer and adjunct professor at LCU. She specialises in new technology law, data protection and artificial intelligence. She is a member of the Scientific Committee of the DITES Research Centre, Head of the RNF Observatory on Privacy, Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies, and a member of the Legal Scientific Committee of the National Authority for Artificial Intelligence. Her work focuses on research, consulting and teaching in the legal, regulatory and ethical aspects of digital innovation.
RN.3 The Economic, Social And Ecological Sustainability Of Digital Transformation
RN Coordinators
Luana Ladu
Dynamic and results-driven senior sustainability expert and project manager with 15+ years of experience leading international research and innovation projects in sustainability assessment, standardization, and quality infrastructure. Demonstrated success in securing and managing large-scale EU- and nationally funded programmes, developing innovative sustainability certification tools, and contributing to international sustainability standards. Recognized for excellence in stakeholder engagement and interdisciplinary, intercultural collaboration. Fluent in six languages.
RN.4 Curriculum design and mismatch job supply demand, skills for a changing society
RN Coordinators
Stefania Capogna (ad interim)
Associate Professor at Link Campus University; Director of the PhD Link School, Delegate of the Rector for Quality Assurance; Chair of Business Communication and Sociological Organization at Link Campus University in Italy.Chair person for the EUonAIR General Assembly. She is also the founder and director of the Digital Technologies, Education & Society research centre and the “Quaderni di Comunità” academic journal. In her research, she examines the education system as a unitary macro-sector in which education-training-university-work converges. Online leaning expert for teaching design and implementation. Main research fields: social impact of digital transition on people, organization and community and empowerment actions to enhance people, organization and community to face the “change of era”.
RN.5 Soft skills for HE students, innovating teaching models, tools for supporting teaching and learning (e-learning, traditional, gamification, AI, augmented reality: methodologies, competencies, etc.)
RN Coordinators
Vincenzo Scalcione
He teaches at the University of Basilicata, holding a PhD in Human Relations Sciences, a degree in Philosophy, and a degree in Primary Education Sciences. His teaching activity encompasses General Pedagogy, Theories and Methods of Educational Planning and Assessment, and Special Education Didactics. His academic profile is distinguished by a significant international dimension, including numerous presentations at conferences both in Italy and abroad (Malaysia, Nepal, Albania, Cuba, Portugal, Poland, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Moldova, Norway), as well as active participation in international research networks. His scholarly output includes monographs, peer-reviewed journal articles, and book chapters, reflecting a sustained commitment to the national and international academic community. Research interests: school assessment and social-educational impact evaluation, competency-based instruction, inclusive pedagogy, and learning environments.
Astrid Favella
Political economy and education researcher.
After completing her doctoral thesis on the politics and policies of secondary education in Italy, her research now focuses on skill formation in VET; educational transitions to the workplace; alternative credentials and lately student mobilization for housing and finance. She is also a member of the Centre for Global Higher Education research group on higher education finance, UCL London.
Emiliane Rubat du Mèrac
Associate Professor of Experimental Pedagogy at Sapienza University of Rome. Her research focuses on innovative pedagogies, Service-Learning and Third Mission, the assessment of transversal competences, students’ agency and wellbeing, and the social and democratic impact of higher education practices. She serves as Academic Advisor for CIVIS on innovative pedagogies and Service-Learning, and has led and contributed to several national and European projects on teacher education, educational evaluation, and the design of micro-credentials.
RN.6 Digital and emerging skills (green, STEM, inclusive…)
RN Coordinators
Marialuisa Villani
Marialuisa Villani is a Junior Assistant Professor at the Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Bologna. Her research focuses on the transformation of academic working conditions in Europe, with particular attention to early career researchers; educational inequalities in school and university choice processes, including the construction of educational aspirations and job expectations; and the NEET condition.
RN.7 Academic Research:
ethical and methodological issues, Computational challenges for humanity
RN Coordinators
Maria Chiara De Angelis
Social researcher specializing in public ethics. Her work centers on human flourishing and well-being, the ethical implications of digital culture, and the effects of digital innovation on people, educational systems, and organizations.
RN.8 Global women Leaders in AI
RN Coordinators
Nilgun
Ozdamar
Professor of Educational Technology at Anadolu University’s Open Education Faculty in Turkey, where she conducts research on AI-driven transformations in higher education. She holds a master’s degree in Business Management from Klaipeda University and a PhD in Computer Education and Instructional Technology from Anadolu University. She was a visiting scholar at the University of Central Florida in the USA from 2010 to 2019. She received a British Council grant for a mobile learning project from 2011 to 2013. She has nearly 20 years of experience in open and distance learning and e-learning, with related publications. From 2017 to 2023, she managed a human- computer interaction laboratory and conducted usability research using eye-tracking technologies.
On behalf of Anadolu University, she organised and managed the first and second Digital Education Hackathons (24-hour grassroots local hackathons) supported by the European Digital Education Hub.Recently, her research has focused on women’s leadership, algorithmic management, and smart university models. She has authored numerous international articles and book chapters, led interdisciplinary projects, and organised international seminars, workshops, and training sessions.She is currently a member of the UK’s Rising Women Leaders in AI program and the Oxford AI Program. She has strengthened her leadership skills, broadened her international outlook, and expanded her professional network.
RN.9 Digital Communication and Socialization
RN Coordinators
Marino
D’Amore
Marino D’Amore is an Italian sociologist, criminologist, university lecturer and journalist, working mainly in the field of communication sociology and criminology. D’Amore holds degrees in Communication Sciences and Political Sciences. He has a PhD in Criminology and Geopolitics and Geoeconomics. He teaches General Sociology, Social Network Analysis, Sociology of Communication and Communication and Intelligence at the Niccolò Cusano University and is the author of numerous scientific publications and essays.
RN.1 New Role of HEIs in Front of Globalisation and Global Crises. Values, Mission And Goals For The Future Of HEIs
RN Coordinators
Stefania Capogna (ad interim)
Associate Professor at Link Campus University; Director of the PhD Link School, Delegate of the Rector for Quality Assurance; Chair of Business Communication and Sociological Organization at Link Campus University in Italy.Chair person for the EUonAIR General Assembly. She is also the founder and director of the Digital Technologies, Education & Society research centre and the “Quaderni di Comunità” academic journal. In her research, she examines the education system as a unitary macro-sector in which education-training-university-work converges. Online leaning expert for teaching design and implementation. Main research fields: social impact of digital transition on people, organization and community and empowerment actions to enhance people, organization and community to face the “change of era”.
RN.2 Artificial Intelligence in HEIs
RN Coordinators
Olimpus
Istrate
President, Institute for Education (Romania) associate professor, University of Bucharest, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Teacher Training Department
Simona
Velea
Director of Teacher Training Department – National University of Political Studies and Public Administration Senior researcher, Institute for Education Romania
RN.3 The Economic, Social And Ecological Sustainability Of Digital Transformation
RN Coordinators
Julija Melkinova
Klaipeda University, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of Pedagogy, Senior Researcher
Ligita Simanskiene
Klaipeda University, faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of Management, Professor
Ligita Simanskiene
Professor at Klaipeda University in Lithuania, Chairperson of the Faculty Council and of the Quality Committee of studies
RN.4 Curriculum design and mismatch job supply demand, skills for a changing society
RN Coordinators
Zan
Dapcevic
Chief Executive Officer at Academia, College of Short Cycle HE In 2021 named on Forbes Under 30 Europe list as the young person making the biggest positive impact on the world.
Nina
Gaube
Project and Program Manager (International Office) at Academia International education center Maribor
Natalija
Zunko
Project & Program Manager at Academia, College of Short Cycle HE
RN.5 Soft skills for HE students, innovating teaching models, tools for supporting teaching and learning (e-learning, traditional, gamification, AI, augmented reality: methodologies, competencies, etc.)
RN Coordinators
Stefanos Armakolas
Laboratory Teaching Staff Department of Educational Sciences and Social Work University of Patras
Fotis
Lazarinis
Senior Research, DAISSy group Hellenic Open University
Theodor Panagiotakopoulos
Senior research fellow and Lecturer Hellenic Open University
RN.6 Digital and emerging skills (green, STEM, inclusive…)
RN Coordinators
Dario
Carrera
Doctor of Business Administration Research Fellow in Social Innovation and Impact Economy and Contract Professor in Startup & Business Models and Start-up & Spin-offs at Link Campus University
Michela
Fiorese
Senior Trainer and Assessor, Digital Instructional Designer, HR Consultant, Partner at SINTAXIA s.r.l.
Angela
Macrì
Consulente HR , Coach ACC ICF, Formatrice Manageriale, Career Counselor
RN.7 Academic Research:
ethical and methodological issues, Computational challenges for humanity
RN Coordinators
Maria Chiara De Angelis
Social researcher specializing in public ethics. Her work centers on human flourishing and well-being, the ethical implications of digital culture, and the effects of digital innovation on people, educational systems, and organizations.