Address book
Contacts
ANDREA PETRELLA
Position
Ricercatore a tempo det. art. 24 c. 3 lett. A L. 240/2010
Address
VIA BEATO PELLEGRINO, 28 - PADOVA
Telephone
Since January 2023, I have been a fixed-term Assistant Professor (RTD-A) in the academic discipline PAED-01/A at the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua. Following the outcome of the National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) procedures launched by Directoral Decree no. DD 1796/2023, in 2025 I obtained the National Scientific Qualification to serve as Associate Professor (second level) in the Competition Sector 11/D1 – Pedagogy and History of Education. My research activity is situated in the fields of social pedagogy, family education, and family vulnerabilities.
From 2018 to 2022, I worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the same Department within the Programme of Intervention for the Prevention of Institutionalisation (P.I.P.P.I.), in the academic discipline M-PED/01. The programme is funded by the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and aims to design and evaluate educational and social interventions with families at risk of child removal. In 2022, the Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of the University and Research System (ANVUR), within the framework of the Research Quality Assessment (VQR), recognised P.I.P.P.I. as a best practice among Third Mission case studies.
Within the programme, I focused on assessing the wellbeing levels of families and children involved in the experimental implementation, and on mixed-method research related to educational planning, home-based educational interventions, family foster care, informal social support, and the use of ICT in socio-educational services. Together with the Research and Intervention Laboratory on Family Education (LabRIEF) at the University of Padua, of which I have been a member since 2016, I organised and coordinated training activities for social practitioners involved in the programme. I also participated in action-research experiences aimed at strengthening the operational and theoretical model of P.I.P.P.I. within Italian Territorial and Social Districts. Moreover, I contributed to the management of the Moodle and RPMonline platforms (used for collecting data on interventions with families), the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data using NVivo software and Excel spreadsheets, and the drafting of final evaluation reports related to the programme, its impacts, and outcomes.
From 2019 to 2022, I was involved in training activities (online and in-person) addressed to case managers within the national anti-poverty measure Reddito di Cittadinanza (based on an agreement between the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology of the University of Padua). I also prepared teaching and in-depth learning materials on governance, Community Utility Projects (PUC), family support measures and, more generally, on the pathway of Social Inclusion Pacts (preliminary assessment, analytical framework, Social Inclusion Pact). Within this project, I also collected and systematised good practices regarding integrated service work, the implementation of Community Utility Projects (PUC), and agile/remote working in socio-educational services.
Within the same research group, I received a postdoctoral research grant to conduct a participatory research and evaluation project on home-based educational interventions promoted by the Municipality of Trento (funded by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Trento e Rovereto). I also contributed to the dissemination of the national Guidelines “Intervention with children and families in situations of vulnerability” across different regional contexts (Autonomous Province of Trento, Lombardy, Campania) and local settings, through training sessions, planning activities, and co-research initiatives with local social and socio-educational services.
From 2018 to 2021, together with other members of LabRIEF, I participated in the European Erasmus+ project “GEFA-GIFT – Grandir En Famille Aujourd’hui / Growing In Family Today”, in partnership with other universities and non-profit organisations from four European countries (Italy, France, Romania, Spain). The aim of the project was to compare different social representations of family and to explore the role of local services in addressing vulnerabilities affecting parents and children, identifying guidelines for innovating professional practices.
Since 2019, I have been involved in the Groupe de recherche international sur la vulnérabilité des familles (GIREFV), which brings together academics from Canadian, French, Czech, and Spanish universities. The research group is developing a methodological, theoretical, and operational framework for participatory approaches in child protection contexts.
Since 2022, I have been a regular member of the Italian Society of Pedagogy (SIPED) and the Italian Society of General and Social Pedagogy (SIPeGeS).
I currently teach at the University of Padua: Pedagogy of Otherness in Intercultural Education in the Master’s Degree programme in Cultural Pluralism, Social Change and Migration; Social and Community Pedagogy in the Master’s Degree programme in Pedagogy; and Pedagogy of Educational Services for Minors in the Bachelor’s Degree programme in Educational Sciences (Rovigo campus). In the academic years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, I taught Professional Education with Vulnerable Families in the Bachelor’s Degree programme in Professional Education in Medical Practice (Rovigo campus, University of Padua). In the academic year 2021/2022, I also carried out supplementary teaching activities for the course General and Social Pedagogy and Foundations of the Therapeutic Relationship in the Bachelor’s Degree programme in Neuro and Psychomotor Therapy in Developmental Age.
In September and October 2024, I supervised three visiting researchers from the Universitat de Lleida (Spain) hosted at the FISPPA Department of the University of Padua. Within the framework of the Erasmus KA131 Teaching Staff programme, I was a visiting professor at the Departament de Mètodes d’Investigació i Diagnòstic en Educació of the Universitat de Barcelona (Spain) in November 2024, and at the Department of Social Work of NTNU Trondheim (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) in August 2025.
These activities, together with my participation in the above-mentioned European projects and my continuous involvement in international conferences and seminars—either by invitation or through peer-review selection of submitted contributions—have enabled the expansion of my international research perspective through ongoing exchange with experts and colleagues from different universities.
My academic background originally developed in the field of sociology: I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Milano-Bicocca, a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Trento, and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Florence, focusing on active citizenship, civic associations, and local and urban development. I taught Urban Sociology at the University of Trento and conducted research on behalf of public and private institutions. Individually and within research teams, I carried out studies on social policies, environmental sustainability, local development, and participatory practices, with particular attention to the role of local communities and civil society, also in international contexts (Mongolia, South Africa, Botswana).
After completing my PhD in 2010, I expanded my research interests towards pedagogy, gradually focusing on participatory and educational practices. Since 2016, through my involvement in the Research and Intervention Laboratory on Family Education at the University of Padua, I have integrated this sociological background with pedagogical research, valuing contributions from both fields and adopting an interdisciplinary approach grounded in the themes and perspectives of social pedagogy.
Notices
Orari di ricevimento
Lunedì 10.30-12.30 e su appuntamento concordato attraverso mail: andrea.petrella@unipd.it
Publications
A. Petrella, F. Maci (2025). Lavorare insieme è possibile? Il partenariato e la collaborazione interdisciplinare e intersettoriale. Civitas Educationis. Education, Politics, and Culture, vol. XIV, n. 1, 85-105.
P. Milani, A. Petrella (2025). Introduzione al Symposium “Un framework partecipativo di relazione fra famiglie e servizi: questioni teoriche, limiti e potenzialità in alcune esperienze di attuazione. Civitas Educationis. Education, Politics, and Culture, vol. XIV, n. 1, 17-21.
A. Petrella, A. Salvò, F. Maci, A. Bello, F. Rizzo, P. Milani (2025). Emerging practices of foster care in Italy within the framework of the European Child Guarantee: case studies from a participatory perspective. Children and Youth Services Review, vol. 177, 1-12.
A. Petrella, A. Zenarolla, L. Capparotto, P. Milani (2022). Il reddito di cittadinanza come opportunità di formazione, capacity building e integrazione fra servizi. L’esperienza del corso di formazione nazionale per case manager. Rivista Italiana di Educazione Familiare, n. 1, 59-72.
A. Petrella (2022). Nonostante il Covid. Progettare con famiglie e bambini in situazione di vulnerabilità tra lockdown e azioni trasformative. Ricerche Pedagogiche, n. 223, 91-119.
A. Petrella, P. Milani (2022). Alla ricerca di nuove forme di sostenibilità nel periodo pandemico: le comunità di pratiche tra operatori sociali e ricercatori per affrontare le trasformazioni nell’intervento con le famiglie in situazione di vulnerabilità. Pedagogia & Vita, n. 1, 86-94.
S. Serbati, A. Petrella (2021). La vicinanza solidale in contesti di vulnerabilità familiare: la partecipazione nella comunità come strada per ricostruire i tessuti sociali. Rivista italiana di educazione familiare, vol. 18, n. 1, 273-299.
A. Petrella (2020). Distanti ma connessi? Lo smart welfare nei servizi socio-educativi ai tempi del Coronavirus. Encyclopaideia, vol. 24, n. 57, 57-73.
A. Petrella, M. Ius, P. Milani (2020). Smart Welfare. Studium Educationis, XXI, n. 2, 139-148.
P. Milani, F. Santello, M. Ius, S. Colombini, A. Petrella (2019). I risultati di P.I.P.P.I. e il loro impatto nelle politiche regionali e locali. Studium Educationis, XX, n. 1, 23-52.
A. Petrella (2018). L’utilità comune: civismo e associazionismo in Italia. Altrestorie, n. 54, 4-6.
A. Petrella, S. Serbati (2017). Educativa domiciliare: quale partecipazione possibile? Operatori e genitori si confrontano con le proposte di una sperimentazione in corso. Encyclopaideia, n. 48, 46-69.
A. Petrella, P. Milani (2024). Contrastare le disuguaglianze attraverso la multidimensionalità. Prospettive sociali e sanitarie, vol. LIV, n. 1-2, 7-10.
A. Petrella, L. Capparotto, P. Milani (2022). La generazione di nuovi sostegni rivolti alla prevenzione della povertà educativa nella policy del Reddito di Cittadinanza. Sicurezza e Scienze Sociali, n. 2, 244-257.
S. Serbati, A. Petrella, P. Milani (2021). Garantire i diritti dell’infanzia e dell’adolescenza in tempo di pandemia. Consultori Familiari Oggi, 29, n. 1, 11-25.
P. Milani, A. Petrella, S. Colombini (2019). L’intervento con le famiglie beneficiarie del RdC. Un modello culturale, metodologico e formativo. Welforum.it, 20 dicembre 2019.
C. Sità, D. Di Masi, A. Petrella (2023). Le città visibili. La ricerca trasformativa nei Laboratori Territoriali. Padova: Padova University Press (senza referaggio).
A. Petrella (2022). Mappare la comunità. Una proposta teorica e metodologica per il lavoro socio-educativo. Lecce: Pensa Multimedia.
M. Amadini, C. Bellotti, S. Damiola, S. Maggiolini, R. Maurizio, E. Musi, A. Petrella, G. Romanazzi, S. Serbati, P. Zonca (2025). Partecipazione. In L. Cadei, G. D’Addelfio, G. Elia (a cura di). Lemmi e legami del familiare. Tra legislazione, pratiche e servizi educativi. Lecce: Pensa Multimedia, 87-99 (senza referaggio).
A. Petrella (2025). Community Mapping as a participative tool to enhance informal social support: possible pathways for practitioners. In S. Serbati, E. Marthinsen, B. Featherstone (a cura di). Sense and Sensibility in Social Work with Families and Children. European Perspectives on Developments in Child Protection and Welfare. Bristol: Bristol University Press, 134-155.
A. Petrella (2024). Milano. Il caso-studio D1. In P. Milani (a cura di). Rafforzare il sistema dell’affidamento familiare in Italia nell’ambito della Child Guarantee europea. Studi di caso sulle pratiche emergenti di Affido in Italia. Padova: Padova University Press, 58-80.
A. Petrella, P. Milani (2024). Introduzione. In A. Petrella, P. Milani (a cura di). L’educativa domiciliare. Metodo, pratiche, strumenti e attività. Trento: Erickson, 7-10 (senza referaggio).
K. Bolelli, A. Petrella (2024). Accoglienza e assessment. La fase della conoscenza educativa. In A. Petrella, P. Milani (a cura di). L'educativa domiciliare. Metodo, pratiche, strumenti e attività. Trento: Erickson, 73-94 (senza referaggio).
A. Petrella (2024). Progettazione e azione. Attività e percorsi nelle pratiche educative domiciliari. In A. Petrella, P. Milani (a cura di). L'educativa domiciliare. Metodo, pratiche, strumenti e attività. Trento: Erickson, 95-115 (senza referaggio).
A. Petrella, M. Ius (2024). Conclusioni. Riflessioni e domande per l’uscita dalla soglia. In A. Petrella, P. Milani (a cura di). L'educativa domiciliare. Metodo, pratiche, strumenti e attività. Trento: Erickson, 165-168 (senza referaggio).
A. Petrella (2022). Quale governance per implementare? In P. Milani. Il modello logico e il sistema di supporto di P.I.P.P.I., Sezione 02, Quaderno di P.I.P.P.I., Programma di Intervento per la Prevenzione dell’Istituzionalizzazione. Padova: Padova University Press, 19-23 (senza referaggio).
S. Serbati, A. Petrella, A. Salvò, M. Tuggia (2022). Il servizio di educativa domiciliare e territoriale. In S. Serbati, P. Milani. Dispositivi: l’agire di P.I.P.P.I., Sezione 04, Quaderno di P.I.P.P.I., Programma di Intervento per la Prevenzione dell’Istituzionalizzazione. Padova: Padova University Press, 19-28 (senza referaggio).
S. Serbati, A. Petrella, A. Salvò, M. Tuggia (2022). Vicinanza solidale. In S. Serbati, P. Milani. Dispositivi: l’agire di P.I.P.P.I., Sezione 04, Quaderno di P.I.P.P.I., Programma di Intervento per la Prevenzione dell’Istituzionalizzazione. Padova: Padova University Press, 28-37 (senza referaggio).
S. Serbati, A. Petrella (2022). Interventi nella domiciliarità. Educativa domiciliare. In D. Bianchi, S. Ricci (a cura di). Manuale di programmazione e progettazione dei servizi per le nuove generazioni. Firenze: Istituto degli Innocenti, 272-283 (senza referaggio).
P. Milani, F. Santello, A. Bello, M. Ius, S. Serbati, A. Petrella (2021). La double invisibilité des enfants dans les 1000 premiers jours de vie. Résultats et défis de l’intervention avec des familles d’enfants de 0 à 2 ans impliqués dans le programme P.I.P.P.I. en Italie. In C. Lacharité, T. Milot (a cura di). Vulnérabilités et familles, Vol. 8, Trois Rivières: Les Editions CEIDEF/UQTR, pp. 245-269.
A. Petrella (2020). Il paradigma della governance e i mutamenti in atto nel sistema dei servizi alla persona. In A. Petrella, P. Milani (a cura di). Quaderno del corso di formazione per “Professionista esperto nella gestione degli strumenti per l’analisi multidimensionale del bisogno e per la progettazione degli interventi rivolti alle famiglie beneficiarie della misura di contrasto alla povertà e sostegno al reddito”, Padova: Padova University Press, 63-74 (senza referaggio).
A. Petrella, P. Milani (2020). I sostegni alle famiglie. In A. Petrella, P. Milani (a cura di). Quaderno del corso di formazione per “Professionista esperto nella gestione degli strumenti per l’analisi multidimensionale del bisogno e per la progettazione degli interventi rivolti alle famiglie beneficiarie della misura di contrasto alla povertà e sostegno al reddito”, Padova: Padova University Press, 111-131 (senza referaggio).
A. Petrella, P. Milani (a cura di) (2024). L’educativa domiciliare. Metodo, pratiche, strumenti e attività. Trento: Erickson (senza referaggio).
A. Petrella, P. Milani (a cura di) (2020). Quaderno del corso di formazione per “Professionista esperto nella gestione degli strumenti per l’analisi multidimensionale del bisogno e per la progettazione degli interventi rivolti alle famiglie beneficiarie della misura di contrasto alla povertà e sostegno al reddito”, Padova: Padova University Press (senza referaggio).
Thesis proposals
- family vulnerabilities
- informal social support
- participatory practices
- social and community pedagogy
- participatory/collective mapping
