Laurea Magistrale (Second cycle degree/Two year Master - 120 ECTS) in Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability

The 2nd cycle degree programme in Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability aims to provide students with a solid cultural and professional background to operate in highly qualified areas of the mechanical engineering field.
Graduates in Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability have a high cultural and professional background in the specific subjects of the class, with a focus on innovative design and management of components, machines, plants, products and processes. A solid background in the fundamental subjects of Mechanical Engineering is complemented by knowledge of tools and methods for the evaluation of functional and constructional aspects with a focus on the skills required for the evaluation and optimisation of environmental, economic and social sustainability aspects of design solutions and process management.
The Second Cycle degree programme in Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability has the specific objective of training professionals to occupy positions of responsibility in the field of design, management, coordination and development of industrial and/or research activities in Companies and Public or Private Bodies, as well as in advanced activities related to freelance profession: in this sense, the degree programme aims to build analytical and methodological skills in the field of the disciplines characterising mechanical engineering in general, with in-depth studies on the sustainability assessment systems of industrial processes and products (life cycle, environmental impact, ESG environmental and social management, etc.).
These skills are then declined more specifically in the fields of automation, energy and industrial plants, sustainable design and technology. A further learning outcome relates to transversal skills, with particular reference to the ability to communicate (drafting technical reports and presenting projects in public), to interact profitably with colleagues (group projects) and to tackle multidisciplinary problems, which require the synthesis of the skills acquired in the individual subjects. A further objective concerns the ability to use practical tools (software and hardware) for the development of projects of industrial interest, which, combined with knowledge of the dynamics of industrial companies' operations, accompanies the student smoothly into the world of work.
The computer and experimental equipment that can be used in the site's laboratories allow the in-depth study of application aspects through activities, including multidisciplinary and/or group activities, in which students can put into practice and test the skills acquired in a dynamic and intercultural environment. Internship activities in preparation for the dissertation may be carried out through the collaboration of public and private companies or organisations. Among others, the professional figures described below may be developed.
The second-cycle degree programme in Mechanical Engineering produces graduates with a solid and flexible background based on the in-depth technical and scientific knowledge gained during the curriculum, which they can successfully put to use in the world of work or continue to develop by continuing studies to 2nd cycle Master's Degree level or PhD programmes in Mechanical Engineering and similar industrial disciplines.
Having passed the state examination, in compliance with the applicable regulations, graduates in Mechanical Engineering may exercise the freelance profession (feasibility studies, design, technical arbitration, technical expert for parties and on behalf of the courts, etc.), also dealing with complex issues which require great skill.
Educational path
In the first year, the degree programme includes a series of compulsory and some elective course units. In their second year, students will have to opt for one of the 'guided choices' made available to them, each of which studies the concept of sustainability within specific subject areas (automation, energy and industry, design and technology). Further core and elective learning activities and laboratory activities, as well as a final examination, complete the final year of studies.
In the first year of the programme, both core subjects of mechanical engineering are addressed, introducing the topic of sustainability in their specific fields, and disciplines necessary for the completion of the mechanical engineer's methodological and technical knowledge. The elective course units aim to fill any gaps in learning in subject groups that may be covered in depth in the course units available in the guided choices.
In the second year, students will have the opportunity to focus their learning on one of the areas provided by the guided choices: in the area of automation, the technologies and architectures of drives, communication, control and functional design are explored in order to enhance electrification in industry. In the area of energy and industry, analysis methodologies and technologies oriented to resource optimisation in the fields of mobility, energy exchange processes, and industrial plant design are presented. In the area of mechanical design and technology, design and production techniques using advanced materials are illustrated, with particular reference to the possibility of reuse.
In the second term of the second year, students can choose two workshop-based course units, each consisting of the integration of two units addressing a practical problem of industrial relevance with tools and approaches typical of different disciplines, to further enhance the multidisciplinary nature of the training. The workshops, which may be replaced by learning-by-doing activities developed with student associations, lead the student to the internship and dissertation activities, through which they must demonstrate that they have acquired all the tools and knowledge necessary to complete a significant and professionally relevant project with originality and independence.
Subject to the presentation of the learning agreement, the student will be able to carry out learning activities abroad: teaching in English and the possibility of accessing calls for the preparation of dissertations abroad will facilitate student exchanges to and from the Degree Programme.
The learning methods involves lectures and laboratory exercises, as well as visits to companies and seminars, conducted by company speakers, for the presentation of industrially relevant case studies. Some course units will be able to make use of teaching equipment set up for distance learning, as well as innovative teaching approaches (flipped classroom).

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES (KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING)
Students with the Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability have a solid knowledge in the field of Mechanical Engineering, which constitutes the basis for the deepening of both complementary knowledge and further detailed studies of the characterizing disciplines of the field. The degree's multidisciplinary approach is guaranteed by complementary educational activities and laboratory activities in areas similar or related to Engineering.
Aspects related to the product and processes' environmental, economic, and social sustainability are analyzed in the compulsory courses, and then further explored in optional courses that each student can choose to best complete her/his study plan. Overall, students of the Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability become familiar with:
- advanced tools for products and components modelling;
- advanced mechanical design methods;
- advanced metalworking technologies;
- the most widely used advanced mathematical methods in Engineering;
- the principles of electromechanical energy conversion and the characteristics of main electrical machines;
- traditional and innovative energy systems;
- theoretical principles, functional diagrams, component selection criteria for mechanical systems and industrial logistics;
- the principles of functional design and modelling of mechanisms, and vibration analysis;
- the application of sustainability paradigms in the field of industrial automation;
- the sustainable use of resources for mobility, energy conversion and transport, and the sustainable design of industrial plants;
- design methods and production technologies for the development of sustainable products.
Knowledge will be acquired through lectures in presence, classroom exercises and individual study.
Learning outcomes will be tested mainly through written or oral examinations and classroom tests.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The Master's degree graduate is able to design sustainable products by using design methods and technologies that allow the adoption of advanced materials, implement efficient industrial automation systems, use new digital technologies for the efficiency of industrial processes, guide company choices in the field of energy conversion and of energy transport, and in the mobility and plant design fields.
The learning skills in terms of applied knowledge and understanding will be acquired through class lectures and the execution of numerical and laboratory exercises.
The teaching approaches include attendance to seminars and exercise sessions, either in the classroom or in the laboratory, guided self-study and independent study. Learning outcomes will be tested mainly through written or oral examinations and classroom tests.
Thanks to the presence of application-based teaching, the carrying out of projects, and the company testimonials that are offered during the course, the Master's degree student is able to use the acquired theoretical knowledge and can:
- analyze Engineering problems, generally in the mechanical and industrial field, making use of multidisciplinary methodologies and technologies that allow the analysis to be extended to the field of product and process sustainability;
- propose solutions to complex problems, taking into account not only technical issues but also socio-economic-environmental aspects, using multidisciplinary approaches, moving from theoretical formulation to practical synthesis;
- design sustainable products and processes by understanding market demands and using digitization tools to make the development phase faster and more efficient, and the life cycle sustainable;
- conduct complex experiments, using and possibly developing highly advanced instrumentation and software;
- experiment with new methodologies and technologies to develop products and processes;
- communicate, also in English, with colleagues, customers, suppliers, and, in general, with social partners outside the Engineering field, in order to better define the constraints and specifications of the product/process that needs to be developed, and effectively show the proposed solutions;
- manage team-working, also in a heterogeneous, international, multicultural and multidisciplinary context.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS
The Master's degree graduate:
- is able to identify, formulate and solve design or production process problems of industrial products, even if these are a completely new item by company standards;
- is able to keep up with methods, techniques and tools in the field of Mechanical Engineering, either by informing himself or by following specialized courses aimed at acquiring new skills;
- is able to independently coordinate activities in the fields of experimentation, research and development, testing and quality control of conventional and unconventional products;
- is able to assess the impact of technologies, materials, machines, and equipment used on industrial sustainability of products and processes.
The educational activities included in the study plan promote the ability to apply, using an interdisciplinary approach, and the knowledge acquired throughout the degree program. The activities strengthen judgement autonomy, increased through the development of projects, experiments, and applications also within the framework of other courses. The ability to judge is also acquired through meetings and discussions with industrial and research representatives promoted through the organization of seminars, conferences, and company visits: company testimonials are considered essential in order to put into practice the knowledge acquired during the courses.
The Master's thesis represents the highest moment in which the student, confronted with the Mechanical Engineering context, elaborates original and innovative ideas. The student takes on the task of illustrating the aforementioned ideas by supporting their validity during the thesis discussion. The internship activity in preparation for the Master's thesis allows the student to acquire the necessary judgement autonomy for the development of the final project in a professional context.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
The Master's degree graduate:
- is able to communicate successfully in written and oral form in English as well as in Italian, with particular reference to technical language;
- is able to autonomously draft technical reports on projects, company standards, technical manuals and interpret similar documents written by others;
- is able to collect, filter and evaluate data, making autonomous judgements on their technical relevance;
- can communicate data, information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialists and non-specialists, also in technical fields that differ from Mechanical Engineering;
- can work or integrate into teamwork, also in the role of manager or coordinator;
- can, therefore, also interact with subjects and professions other than her/his own.
The teaching approach involves, in some degree characterizing courses and in the thesis work, applications and tests that stimulate active participation, a proactive attitude and the ability to communicate the results of the work that has been carried out. The examination methods are also fundamental in assessing and deepening students' different communication skills. According to the specificities of the educational module, these are differentiated into oral/written, textual/graphic, and individual/group tests. All the teachings, exercise sessions, examinations and the final project are conducted in English. This aspect, together with the international dimension of the degree program, which hosts international students and adheres to international student mobility programs for study abroad, accustoms the student to English communication.
LEARNING SKILLS
The Master's degree graduate:
- is able to independently update herself/himself on methods, techniques and tools in the field of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, in the field of design, including innovative design, technology, modelling, optimization, advanced functional analysis, structural and fluid-dynamic simulations, the fine-tuning of complex mechanical and industrial plants, industrial automation, and tools for the assessment of industrial sustainability;
- has all the necessary tools to undertake, with a high degree of autonomy, subsequent in-depth studies (PhD or Master's degree) in Italy or abroad, as well as to constantly update and improve her/his skills, as currently required for someone working as a professional in the field.
The educational activities of the study program aim to provide, rather than detailed and exhaustive information on the technical problems of Mechanical Engineering, the right methodology and ability to approach Engineering problems that are not necessarily the same or similar to those faced during studies. This approach aims to support the development of a constant learning ability and the capacity of undertaking further studies even after the completion of the Master's degree, either independently or through postgraduate courses. The Master's degree courses use teaching methodologies such as the analysis and resolution of different and complex problems, the integration of the various disciplines and team-working; these methodologies foster the acquisition of autonomous learning skills.
Learning outcomes will be tested mainly through written or oral examinations, which may include the development of projects that need to be presented in front of the examination committee.