SUPSI

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana
Established 1997
Type Public; Swiss University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Fachhochschule, Haute école specialisée
President Alberto Cotti
Rector Franco Gervasoni, director
Administrative staff
 794[1]
Students 3'681 (bachelors and masters) + 5'505 continuing education[2]
Undergraduates 3'164[3]
Postgraduates 517[4]
Location Manno, Canobbio, Brig, Landquart, Locarno, Lugano e Verscio, Canton Ticino, Switzerland
Website supsi.ch

The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (Italian: Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana, SUPSI) is one of the Universities of Applied Sciences of the Swiss Confederation. SUPSI offers more than 30 bachelor and master courses, complementing theoretical scientific knowledge and practical technological advances applied to real projects. Various departments of SUPSI are based in Southern Switzerland, mainly near Lugano.

History

SUPSI was established on 11 March 1997 by Canton Ticino and it received federal recognition in 2003. The new institution integrates preexisting specialized schools and public and private research institutes which date back to 1852 with the Cantonal High School initiated by Carlo Cattaneo and providing higher education courses in mechanics and architecture.[5]

In 1997 SUPSI integrates within its new organization:

In 1997 SUPSI is divided into four departments: Construction and Territory, Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Applied Art and Business Administration.

In the following years other specialized schools and public and private research institutes were integrated:

Organization and administration

As a Swiss University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule, Haute école specialisée, scuola universitaria professionale), SUPSI is an autonomous organization, and it has a university status with a focus on professional training and applied research. Its four institutional mandates are first and second level university education (bachelor's degree and master's degree), continuing education, applied research and consulting and support services to businesses and institutions.

The governance of SUPSI is based on:

From a financial point of view, SUPSI is supported by Ticino cantonal contributions, contributions from the Swiss Confederation and is self-financing. The support of Canton Ticino is regulated by a performance contract based on the number of students enrolled and on the volume of projects acquired.

Departments and associated schools

SUPSI is organized in departments and associated schools. The associated schools are managed by private institutions, and they are integrated within SUPSI general administration. Departments include institutes, laboratories, and centres of expertise; they are organized in academic disciplines.

Due to the progressive integration of preexisting specialized schools and public and private research institutes, the structure of the departments changes through time[8]

Department for Environment, Construction and Design

Department of Business and Social Sciences

The department is structured into basic training.

Department of Health Sciences

The departments works in basic training, continuing education, research and services.

Department of Innovative Technologies

The focus of the Department of Innovative Technologies is applied engineering sciences in the industrial sector, technological and IT services for both educational and research purposes. Within the department there are:

Department of Teaching and Learning

The department works in education, research and services.

Associated schools

  1. Scuola Teatro Dimitri.
  2. Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana.
  3. Fernfachhochschule Schweiz.

Campus

SUPSI is located in southern Switzerland, in cantons Ticino, Valais and Graubünden.

Location Centres Facilities Note
Canobbio Department for Environment Constructions and Design
Manno Supsi Directorship, Department of Health Sciences, Department of Business and Social Sciences and Department of Innovative Technologies Day nursery
Locarno Department of Teaching and Learning
Lugano Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana
Verscio Scuola Teatro Dimitri
Brig Fernfachhochschule Schweiz
Landquart Physiotherapie Graubünden

Academics

The first SUPSI diplomas are awarded in 2000 in architecture, civil engineering, computer science, electronic engineering, interior design, visual communication, conservation and restoration, business administration and social work. In 2001 the Canton Ticino Chamber of Commerce for Industry and Craftsmanship, the Association of Ticino Industries, the Ticino Banking Association and by Ticino Section Swiss Construction Companies establish the Ticino Economy Prize (Premio dell'Economia Ticinese) for the best SUPSI graduates; in 2011 the Prize Talenthesis is established.[11]

Undergraduate programme (Bachelor's degree)

Graduate programme (Master's degree)

Continuing education

SUPSI provides further trainings and qualitifications:[14]

Research

A research service is co-managed by SUPSI and Università della Svizzera italiana.[15]

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 2011. Source: SUPSI in cifre: Rapporto annuale 2011, Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera Italiana, 2011, p. 105.
  2. ↑ 2011-2012. Source: SUPSI in cifre: Rapporto annuale 2011, Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera Italiana, 2011, p. 93 and 98.
  3. ↑ bachelors 2011-2012. Source: SUPSI in cifre: Rapporto annuale 2011, Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera Italiana, 2011, p. 93.
  4. ↑ masters 2011-2012. Source: SUPSI in cifre: Rapporto annuale 2011, Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera Italiana, 2011, p. 93.
  5. ↑ Those courses will stop in 1956, with the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic of Zurich.
  6. ↑ The website of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana http://www.conservatorio.ch.
  7. ↑ The website of the Scuola Teatro Dimitri http://www.teatrodimitri.ch.
  8. ↑ From the initial structure established in 1997, and the creation of a new department of Social Work in 1998, the departments were restructured in 2003 (departments of Environment, Construction and Design, Business and Social Sciences, Innovative Technologies), and they integrate previous inducements research institutes.
  9. ↑ The website of the Institute CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) for Sustainable Innovationhttp://www.icimsi.ch/pages/icimsi_en/iCIMSI.jsp.
  10. ↑ The website of the Institute Dalle Molle for Artificial Intelligence http://www.idsia.ch.
  11. ↑ Premio Talenthesis http://www.supsi.ch/home/bachelor-master/talenthesis.html.
  12. ↑ Developed within a collaboration among Edinburgh College of Art ECA, Istanbul Technical University ITU, Polytechnic Lahti POLY LAHTI, University of Applied Sciences Stuttgart UASS, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana SUPSI http://www.supsi.ch/lcv/formazione/master/interior-design.htm.
  13. ↑ the MAIND Program in Interaction Design merges knowledge coming from the design disciplines in a unique profile able to set new thinking in design, in the technological innovation and in the human needs. http://www.maind.supsi.ch/.
  14. ↑ Website of continuing education (Italian) http://www.supsi.ch/fc/.
  15. ↑ The research service on USI website http://www.usi.ch/en/universita/container_university_services/servizio_ricerca.htm.

See also

External links

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