Online Thesis Defense of the First Ph.D. in Political Science at ASU

On March 28, a joint meeting of the Doctoral Board of Astrakhan State University and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice saw a successful defense of a double degree of Ph.D. in Political Science by Ph.D. student Patricio Ignasio Barbirotto.

His thesis is dedicated to an urgent topic "Political and legal processes and prospects of the Eurasian Economic Union. Comparative analysis". The study programme, undertaken by Patricio, was quite unique as he studied both at the ASU Department of Political Science & International Relations under scientific supervision of Prof. Rafik Usmanov and, at the same time, at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice under scientific supervision of Prof. Fabrizio Marrella.

It is worthy of note that studying within a double degree Ph.D. programme, initiated by Olga Egorova, the Director of the ASU Project Office of International Cooperation & Development, is being implemented quite successfully at our university and extended on other majors.

The defense took place at the ASU Caspian Higher School of Interpreting and Translation via videoconference connection with the Venetian university.

Before the meeting, Konstantin Markelov took the floor and welcomed the audience. He wished the Ph.D. student a successful defense and expressed his intention to maintain partnership with Ca’ Foscari University.

In his presentation, the Ph.D. candidate outlined the main points of his thesis and answered some questions, after which the commission members discussed the results of his studies on the EAEU development prospects. The scientists reached consensus on awarding Patricio Barbirotto with a scientific degree of Ph.D. with the mark "excellent".