Sergio Catignani Email & Phone Number

Exeter, Gb

Exeter, England, United Kingdom

Exeter, England, United Kingdom

Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Director of Education, Department of Politics

Exeter, Uk

I took up on 1 April 2013 a Senior Lectureship in Security & Strategic Studies position at the Strategy & Security Institute and am working alongside Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Sir Paul R. Newton and Professor Patrick Porter, amongst others, in the creation and provision of the Masters in Applied Security Strategy. I was, furthermore, SSI's Director of Education 2014-16, and am currently the Department of Politics Director of Education, the responsibilities of which consist of being:- Accountable to the Associate Dean (Education) and working closely with the Head of Discipline to direct the academic unit’s performance towards meeting agreed subject and programme targets on University and College education metrics, including entry standards, NSS results, graduate employment and international student numbers;- Acting as a source of information and advice for academics in the discipline on all matters relating to the delivery and development of education plans and targets;- Accountable to the Associate Dean (Education) on delivering the educational development agenda within the College; and - Working closely with the Associate Dean (Education) and other members of the College Executive on subject and programme targets and the effective allocation of resources to deliver the College’s strategies and policies for education and to enable subject and programme level targets to be met.Between 2018 and 2020, I was the Department of Politics International Student Marketing & Recruitment Officer, whereby I had the responsibility to deliver across the full breadth of the University of Exeter's Global Strategy, including Global Partnerships, Reputation, Student Recruitment, Experiences, and Advancement. My responsibilities entailed working closely with the Head of Department, Directors of Research and Education within the department and working closely with the Associate Dean Global on the College Global Strategy Board to delivery Exeter's ambitious internationalisation agenda.

South West England

This 4-year study was conducted out by Dr Sergio Catignani (University of Exeter) and Dr Victoria Basham (Cardiff University). They have examined military personnel and organisational issues for over a decade. This research was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), with the British Army and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) but was conducted independently of these organisations. The key aim of this study was to provide insights into how reservists experience the multiple roles and duties that they must balance as a result of their reserve service, family and job commitments. It also examined what support reservists receive for helping them to manage these commitments, and to consider how both pressures and support influence their commitment to Reserve service.One of this study’s main objectives was to offer insights into any practical steps that the MOD and Army in particular could take to better support the particular needs of reservists and their families.Project policy-related interim findings were presented in May 2016 at the Royal United Service Institute, London and to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Reserves Forces and Cadets in July 2016. Programme level policy-related final findings were presenting to Ministry of Defence and other stakeholders at the Royal United Services Institute, London in June 2018.

Convenor for following courses:International Relations (1st Year, BA)International Security (2nd Year, BA)Irregular Warfare (MA course)Teach on:International Regions and Institutions (1st Year, BA)New Security Challenges (MA course)Chair of the New Security Challenge Lecture Series, which senior external international relations practitioners and academics lecture on. Some examples of previous speakers:Prof. Malcolm Chalmers (RUSI)Maj. Gen. Andrew Sharpe (DCDC, MOD)Dr. Jamie Shea (NATO HQ)Ms. Clare Short (former DFID, MP)Lord Carlile, QC (counter-terrorism legislator)Prof. Michael Cox (LSE)Mr. Walter Schwimmer (former Council of Europe)Mr. Nigel Inkster (IISS)

Founded in 1992, SEI is the leading research and postgraduate training centre on contemporary European issues. SEI has a distinctive philosophy built on interdisciplinarity, a broad and inclusive approach to Europe, policy-relevance at the academic cutting edge, and integrating the European and the domestic levels of analysis.SEI was designated a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in 1998 and works in close collaboration with pre-eminent research centres in Europe and the wider world. As well as delivering internationally renowned Masters and doctoral programmes, and providing tailored programmes for practioners, SEI is also one of the foremost centres of cutting edge academic research on contemporary European studies. SEI acts as the hub of a large range of networks of academics, researchers and practitioners who teach on our programmes, supervise our doctoral students and collaborate with us on research projects.SEI was ranked second in European Studies research in Britain in the prestigious Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) of 2008.

I conducted a detailed empirical study on the British Army in order to examine the extent to which it has adapted to the counterinsurgency campaign in Helmand, Afghanistan. The study was endorsed by FDT-Land Commander, Lt. Gen. Sir Paul R. Newton and sponsored by the Land Warfare Directorate General Commander, Maj. Gen. Nick Carter. Research involved interviewing key members of the Lessons Exploitation Centre, the Afghan COIN Centre, the Doctrine & Lessons Team at the Land Warfare Centre, the Operational Training Advisorty Group, the Military Stabilisation Support Group. It also involved a field visit to the Stanford Training Area in order to examine PDT training exercises. Finally, in order to examine, whether lessons were being implemented on the ground by combat units, I conducted 2-day visits to various battalions that had recently returned from Operations Herrick 11, 12 and 13. These battalions were: 1 Royal Gurkhas, 1 Scots Guards, 1 Royal Welsh, 1 Duke of Lancaster's, 3 Para. Individual and group interviews were conducted with the battalion CO, 2IC, Influence Officer, Coy OCs and 2ICs, Platoon commanders, company, platoon and section-level NCOs.Findings have been reported back to the Land Warfare Directorate General and my first public article came out in the Journal of Strategic Studies (March 2012); a second one will be coming out in early 2014.

Convened and taught on three MA courses offered both to the MA Politics and MA International Relations and Diplomacy programmes:MA Conflict and Security in the Middle EastMA Irregular WarfareMA International Politics: Democracy, War and Peace (thesis seminar).Member of the MA International Relations and Diplomacy Admissions CommitteeSupervised 11 MA thesis projects on security-related projects (COIN, NATO, Afghanistan, piracy, terrorism, refugee warriors, solidarism and humanitarian interventions, etc.).

The Max Weber Programme provides a unique research and training environment for scholars in the early stages of their professional careers, with the support of a mentor from one of the EUI’s Departments.The Programme is part of a new trend in postdoctoral education in the social sciences where minimally structured programmes are proving more effective in the early stages of academic careers than the mere provision of space and time for individual research.A Max Weber Fellowship is a stepping stone in the early development of a fruitful academic career; a career which requires excellence in both professional scholarship and research and communication. The Programme is particularly suitable for those with the intellectual curiosity to take advantage of its diversity. Fellows are selected on the basis of their research and potential, their career interests and the availability of EUI faculty to provide mentorship.

Initially worked as a Teaching Assistant for various BA and MA courses being taught by Professors Lawrence Freedman, Mats Berdal and Michael Clarke as well as for Dr. David Betz.Was one of the founding members of the e-learning Masters War in the Modern World program, which I helped design and implement with a team led by Dr. David Betz.Was one of the founding members of the Insurgency Research Group with Dr. David Betz and Dr. John MacKinlay.

I obtained my PhD in War Studies under the supervision of Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman.I carried out research on the Israel Defence Forces' counterinsurgency campaign in the Occupied/Disputed Territories during the two Intifadas. My PhD was awarded the Committee for the Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy's Annual Dissertation Award (2007).A revised version of my PhD has been published with Routledge 2008 and reprinted in paperback in November 2009.

International Relations And National Security Studies

Max Weber Post-Doctoral Fellow

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, War Studies

Phd, War Studies

PhD in War Studies

Mlitt (Research) International Relations, Distinction

Wrote a 40,000 dissertation on the US-Israeli "special" relationship.

2000, Political Studies, First Class (Hons)

Activities and Societies: Student Union, Swimming team, Christian Union Undergraduate studies in Political Studies; mainly focussed.