Niccolo is a Lecturer in Political Economy of Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh and a Research Associate at LSE Enterprise, where he has worked since 2010.

Niccolo holds a PhD in Social Policy from LSE, an MSc (distinction) in European Political Economy from the LSE European Institute, an MA (honours) from the University of Bologna in International Cooperation, Development and Human Rights, and a BA in International and Diplomatic Science. His research on education, skills and labour market policy has appeared in leading politics and social policy journals such as Journal of European Public Policy, Politics and Society, Socio-Economic Review and Social Policy and Administration.

Niccolo is co-author of several reports for various public sector clients, including a research paper for the UK Government, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the social benefits of higher education and a study for the European Commission, DG Education and Culture on university-business cooperation in the US. His other clients have included the European Parliament, EU agencies, national governments and international organisations.

Expertise: higher education; skill formation and labour market policy; comparative political economy; comparative social policy

LSE Consulting projects:

• Business Cooperating with Vocational Education and Training Providers for Quality Skills and Attractive Futures
  December 2017
  
  Client: Panteia
  End Client: European Commission - DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
  Authors: Paul Vroonhof, Niccolo Durazzi, Johan Secher, Jakob Stoumann, Simon Broek, Laura de Haan, Inge van den Ende & Simon van Loo

• From University to Employment: Higher Education Provision and Labour Market Needs In the Western Balkans
  February 2016
  
  Client: European Commision – DG for Education and Culture 
  Authors: Niccolo Durazzi, Will Bartlett, Milica Uvalić, Vassilis Monastiriotis & Tanguy Sene

• Cross-Beneficiary Report for ‘Regional Support for Inclusive Education
  November 2015
  
  Client: European Union & Council of Europe
  Authors: William Bartlett (LSE), Bregtje Kamphuis (LSE Consulting) & Niccolo Durazzi (LSE Enterprise)

• Impact of the Economic Crisis on Social, Economic and Territorial Cohesion of the EU
  June 2014
  
  Client: European Parliament – DG for Internal Policies
  Authors: Dr Simona Milio, in cooperation with Dr Riccardo Crescenzi, Dr Waltraud Schelkle, Niccolo Durazzi, Elitsa Garnizova, Pawel Janowski, Dr Agnieszka Olechnicka, Dominika Wojtowicz, Davide Luca & Maria Fossarello

• Higher Education Entrance Qualifications and Exams in Europe: A Comparison
  May 2014
  
  Client: European Parliament - DG for Internal Policies
  Authors: Cecile Hoareau McGrath, Marie Louise Henham, Anne Corbett, Niccolo Durazzi, Michael Frearson, Barbara Janta, Bregtje Kamphuis, Eriko Katashiro, Nina Brankovic, Benoit Guerin, Catriona Manville, Inga Schwartz, Daniel Schweppenstedde

• Study on Innovation in Higher Education
  February 2014
  
  Authors: John Brennan, Steve Ryan, Marina Ranga, Simon Broek, Niccolo Durazzi & Bregtje Kamphuis
  Client: European Commission - DG for Education and Culture

• Things we know and don't know about the Wider Benefits of Higher Education: A review of the recent literature
  October 2013
  
  Authors: John Brennan, Niccolo Durazzi & Tanguy Séné
  Client: Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS)

• Study on University-Business Cooperation in the US
  May 2013
  
  Authors: Marina Ranga, Cecile Hoareau, Niccolo Durazzi, Henry Etzkowitz, Pamela Marcucci & Alex Usher in collaboration with Panteia
  Client: European Commission - DG for Education and Culture