I&MSE 458 Guest Lecture 119 November 1999

The Making of an Industrial Engineer -- Italian Style

Roberto Revetria

I&MSE 458 Guest Lecture 219 November 1999

Scuola Superiore• Equivalent of U.S. “high school”• 5 years (start at age 13 or 14; end at age 18

or 19)• Italian literature, mathematical analysis including calculus, arts, law (like U.S. civics) + electives (e.g., management)

• One or two foreign languages (chosen from French, German, English); one continued from previous studies begun at age 6; the other studied for 3-5 years

I&MSE 458 Guest Lecture 319 November 1999

Università - I

• 5 years’ engineering program• 29 examinations (university-wide)• 1st 2 years are biennio (core program):• mathematics (analytical & geometrical with

significant emphasis on theory), physics• oral, aural, reading, and writing competence

in one foreign language must be proved

I&MSE 458 Guest Lecture 419 November 1999

Università - II• The biennio is a monastic existence, during

which the following are vague apparitions beyond the lecture hall and library:– boy/girl friend– parties– sports– leisure

• Study 6am - midnight with 2 quick meals• No lectures Saturday -- can study all day

I&MSE 458 Guest Lecture 519 November 1999

Università - III• Triennio (subsequent 3 years)• All applied courses (physics, mechanics,

mathematics) e.g., thermodynamics, hydraulics, automated control methods, informatics, propulsion, electrical engineering, process simulation, structural analysis, ergonomics, machining technology

• Economics, management

I&MSE 458 Guest Lecture 619 November 1999

Università - IV• Lectures are in Italian• Most textbooks are in English; some in

French (e.g., works based on work of Laplace & Lagrange); some in German (especially metallurgy and chemistry)

• No, there’s no translator -- student reads the books

• Very little “read this textbook;” very much “study books from this bibliography as needed”

I&MSE 458 Guest Lecture 719 November 1999

Università - V• At end of 5 years (biennio + triennio)

student begins preparation of a thesis• After 1 additional year’s work on thesis,

student orally defends the thesis• Student, if successful [30%], then receives

Laurea (equivalent to “Master’s Degree”)• Student then eligible to study for Dottorato

(equivalent to “Ph.D. Degree”)• Dottorato program 3 years, culminating

with writing and defending 2nd thesis