Restructuring Agricultural/Biosystems Engineering studies and employability in Italy

In Italy there is a society of Agricultural Engineering (Italian Association of Agricultural Engineering - AIIA), to which agronomists and engineers involved in agricultural, forestry and food processing sectors belong, but only recently a few Agricultural Engineering degrees were introduced. However, they are inadequately educated as Agricultural Engineers, because of the limited amount of Engineering learning outcomes. The “recognition” process of Agricultural Engineering study programs proposed by USAEE-TN will make the Agricultural Engineer profession much more known than before and the related degree more appreciated by industries, companies, private and public sectors and, therefore, the graduate employment easier throughout the international labour market. The reform of Agricultural Engineering study programs is in effect since 2003, but the sample of the related graduates is too small to be significant. Italian Universities have undertaken several activities, in order to disseminate the USAEE outputs to their staff, other Universities, professional bodies and policy makers. The reaction received was of a great interest to the future development of joint degree study programs, involving Italian Engineering and Agriculture University Faculties.