The educational objective of the PhD Programme in Industrial Engineering is to prepare professionals capable of independently planning and conducting research and development activities. These activities are based on the theoretical and methodological competencies acquired in the fields of industrial processes and technologies, and are intended to address the needs of companies, service organizations, universities and research centres, as well as public institutions and administrations.

The curriculum and the scientific activities required for PhD students to acquire the relevant competencies are defined and approved by the Academic Board of the programme. The aim is to ensure a level of academic and cultural training suitable for the development of the skills required for the integration of PhD graduates into advanced research or innovation activities within universities, public administrations, research institutions and organizations, industrial development centres, and production units.

The training pathway of the programme requires doctoral students to obtain a total of 180 credits. These credits are earned through the attendance of courses as well as through activities such as participation in workshops and study days, research periods abroad, the dissemination and valorisation of research results through scientific publications, and presentations at conferences.

PhD students are required to undertake a study and research period abroad lasting at least six months at universities or research centres. This experience is intended to deepen their theoretical and applied knowledge while providing valuable training from both a linguistic perspective and in terms of technical and cultural development.

Through annual presentations of their research activities, the dissemination of research results, participation in seminars and study days, the preparation of papers for conferences or for publication in specialized journals, and the writing of the doctoral thesis, candidates will also acquire the communication skills necessary for a more effective integration into the professional world.

The 180  credits required by the programme are allocated as follows:

a minimum of 24 credits obtained through taught educational activities;

45 credits awarded for doctoral progress evaluations (end-of-year examinations for each year of the programme), scheduled annually (15 credits per year);

30 credits awarded for the final defence of the doctoral thesis;

the remaining credits may be obtained through other activities specified in Annex 3 of the Programme Regulations.

Training Plan and Credit Recognition

PhD Students are required to prepare an individual training plan, indicating the activities selected to obtain the required credits. The correspondence between credits and the activities carried out is specified in Annex 3 of the Programme Regulations.

The training plan must be signed by the Supervisor and approved by the Academic Board, and may be modified at least once per year.

The recognition of credits is formally approved each year by the Academic Board upon request of the PhD student.

The forms required for the submission of the individual training plan and for the recognition of academic credits are available in the Forms section.

Educational Activities

 

Educational activities include:

third-level courses specifically offered by the PhD Programme (see the PhD Programme Course Offerings);

second-level courses offered by the University;

other educational activities provided by the University or by other Italian or international universities, comparable in terms of duration and assessment methods to the courses offered by the PhD Programme;

national and international doctoral schools;

activities such as study days and seminars not included in the categories listed above;

the acquisition of English language competencies above the B2 level during the doctoral programme.