The Institute of Anthropology at the Pontifical Gregorian University is committed to raising awareness about human dignity, promoting education and interdisciplinary research on human dignity. Its purpose is also to train people who specialize in applying measures that aim to promote and protect human dignity and work to create healthy relationships and environments. The Institute intends to contribute to the formation of men and women who serve others – especially those whose dignity has been wounded and those whose dignity needs special care.

The Institute’s objectives are

• a) To promote greater sensitivity and willingness to act in a way that consistently promotes human dignity and care for vulnerable people, thus contributing to a practical commitment of the Catholic Church.
• b) To contribute to the formation of professionals working to protect vulnerable people, who know how to apply their knowledge and skills effectively in different social and cultural contexts and which intend to serve the mission of the Church and society as a whole.

Academic Programs in Safeguarding and Anthropology

The Institute of Anthropology offers two academic programs in safeguarding and one in anthropology.

• Diploma in Safeguarding (one semester program, 30 ECTS). The Diploma in Safeguarding is a one-semester, full-time program, meaning the courses fill entire week days. This course is best suited for those who are going to work in a professional capacity to promote safeguarding in their home countries (in a variety of fields).
• Licentiate in Safeguarding (two-year program, 120 ECTS). The Licentiate in Safeguarding is a comprehensive two-year course that leads to an interdisciplinary licentiate degree in safeguarding. Licentiate students take part in the diploma program during their first semester. Semesters 2-4 build on that foundation. Students must accumulate 120 ECTS through their coursework.
• Doctorate in Anthropology (three-year program). The Doctorate in Anthropology is a course of study and research that aims to train specialists in anthropological studies on human dignity and the care of vulnerable people. 

Pedagogy and Methodology

Our programs have a student-centered approach aimed at providing students with a learning environment that continually challenges them to take their next step towards the lasting acquisition of knowledge, skills, and behaviors. The programs are designed to facilitate the development of the whole person and presuppose the students’ willingness to take responsibility for their own learning as well as to engage in personal reflection, feedback processes, supervision, practical workshops, and faith sharing.

This student-centered approach also fosters the contextualization of the course contents, as students are invited to continuously reflect on whether and how certain content, skills, and behaviors might or might not be applicable in their own cultures and/or professional fields. Students are perpetually graded on their efforts (learning process and class participation), their results (completion of tasks), and the level of their personal and professional reflection.