The teaching internship at the Alberto Hurtado Faith and Culture Center (Collegium Maximum), particularly within the Macrothymia School, is an opportunity open to PhD students to develop or strengthen their teaching skills through a pedagogy inspired by the Ignatian tradition and grounded in interdisciplinarity.

We offer a distinctive pedagogical experience based on preparing lessons collaboratively, considering students as an integral part of the process of building shared knowledge, and paying attention not only to what is said—or left unsaid—but also to gestures and the cultivation of human relationships.

Specifically, all classes are conducted in a seminar format and are led by pairs or groups of three instructors from different academic backgrounds. Participants will have the opportunity to gain invaluable hands-on teaching experience through collaboration and supervision by more experienced professors, while also developing teaching skills through seminars designed and delivered together with the trainees themselves.

Objectives

The program aims to help participants develop an educational approach based on collective thinking and transdisciplinary teaching.

To achieve this, the internship seeks to:

• provide the opportunity to work within a team, strengthening interpersonal relationships, dialogue skills, and the capacity for critical self-evaluation;
• develop experience in planning, organizing, delivering, and evaluating teaching activities within a diverse team composed of members with different areas of expertise;
• foster the development of a personal teaching style through practical experience and engagement with influential authors in pedagogy and educational theory;
• encourage future participation in research groups.

Methods and Strategies

The pedagogical approach promoted by the program emphasizes doubt and the learning process rather than the final outcome. This is achieved through interaction across intellectual, emotional, and relational dimensions.

Particular attention is paid to language, balancing students' existing knowledge—acquired through diverse educational and cultural backgrounds—with realities that extend beyond their current level of understanding. Since participants come from a wide range of academic disciplines, they may not be familiar with theological concepts or terminology. Moving from the familiar to the unfamiliar requires engaging with uncertainty, guiding the learning process while navigating the tension between faith and doubt, and between certainty and uncertainty.

Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to practice team teaching during the courses offered by the Macrothymia School. In addition, there will be shared training and evaluation sessions, including two seminars each year dedicated to discussing significant authors and foundational educational texts.

The internship lasts two academic years and is open to PhD students from all Faculties and Institutes of the three Missions of the Pontifical Gregorian University, starting from their second year of doctoral studies.

Applicants are required to submit:

• a curriculum vitae (CV);
• a motivation letter (statement of purpose);
• and attend an interview with a representative of the Center.

Applications must be submitted by 23 April 2027 to: cfc@unigre.it.