Patrik Vesan

Patrik Vesan is an Associate Professor of Political Science in the Department of Economic and Political Sciences at the University of Valle d'Aosta. He serves as head of international student mobility and internships for the Political Science and International Relations degree program, and is a member of the Orientation Commission of the University. Additionally, he is a member of the Graduate School teaching board at the University of Milan, and holds positions as co-director of the journal "Politiche sociali/Social policies" and board member of Espanet-Italy and the Interuniversity Center on the Law of International Economic Organizations (CIDOIE).

Dr. Vesan earned his degree in Political Science from the University of Pavia and a diploma from the Cycle Supérieur d'études Européennes at Sciences Po Paris. He received his PhD in Political Science – Comparative Analysis of Democracies from the University of Pavia in 2005. His academic journey includes work as an associate researcher with the European Governance Research Unit (URGE) at Collegio Carlo Alberto in Turin (2004-2007) and at the Percorsi di Secondo Welfare Laboratory at Centro Einaudi in Turin (2014-2019).

Professor Vesan's research focuses on public policy analysis, with particular emphasis on labor policies, social policies, local development, and European governance. His work examines comparative employment policy, theoretical policy analysis, comparative local development policy, European governance structures, and multilevel governance theory. He investigates how national welfare systems adapt to European integration, with special attention to the Italian context and its relationship with broader European social policy frameworks.

His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the evolution of European social policy, particularly examining the impact of crises (including the financial crisis and pandemic) on welfare systems. A significant portion of his work analyzes the Youth Guarantee initiative, flexicurity approaches, and the changing nature of labor market policies in Italy and Europe. His research increasingly addresses the implementation challenges of European social policy at national and regional levels, with growing attention to the Third Sector and collaborative governance models.

Professor Vesan serves as Secretary General of the Aosta Valley Community Foundation and was previously a national councilor of Assifero, the Italian association of foundations and philanthropic organizations. He has provided consultancy services on social and labor policies to regional authorities, the European Commission, Eurofound Dublin, the Brodolini Foundation, and Ramboll Consulting.

His current research includes the "European Employment Policy and Flexicurity" project (PRIN 2009), serving as research director for the "Regions on the International Stage" project, and participation in the EU 7th Framework Programme project "Work and Life Quality in New and Growing Jobs" (WALQUING) at Laboratorio Revelli.