Learning Outcomes

The Programme Outcomes are described here separately for both Bachelor and Master Degree programmes with reference to the following eight learning areas:

  • Knowledge and understanding;
  • Engineering Analysis;
  • Engineering Design;
  • Investigations;
  • Engineering Practice;
  • Transversal Skills

and consistent, in turn, with the EUR ACE learning outcomes, established in the EUR-ACE Framework Standards for the Accreditation of Engineering Programs approved on 5 November 2008.

The learning outcomes are established separately for the Bachelor’s (BD) and Master’s Degree courses (MD) and are valid for all BD and MD in engineering offered by Italian universities. They must be considered as the ‘minimum threshold’ to be met in order to ensure the quality of the SP in engineering.

The learning outcomes for EUR-ACE accreditation do not imply or intend to place limitations on the design of a SP with regard to the achievement of learning outcomes. For example, a learning outcome could be pursued in the context of several courses, just as two or more learning outcomes could be met within a single course or a single training activity such as a project. Similarly, it is possible that some SP are designed in such a way that the learning outcomes of the Transversal Skills area are pursued entirely within teaching or other training activities designed to satisfy other learning outcomes, while in other SP the results associated with the Transversal Skills area could be pursued in teaching or other training activities specifically designed for this purpose.he learning process should enable Bachelor Degree graduates to demonstrate:

“Knowledge and understanding”

Graduates must demonstrate knowledge and understanding, at different levels, of mathematics, sciences and engineering disciplines underlying their specialization and of the broader engineering context.

Solid knowledge and understanding of the disciplines underlying their engineering specialization are essential in order to meet other learning outcomes.

Graduates must demonstrate:

  • • knowledge and understanding of the mathematics and sciences underlying their engineering specialization;
  • • knowledge and understanding of the engineering disciplines underlying their specialization, including some knowledge on its latest developments;
  • • awareness of the broader multidisciplinary context of engineering.

Master’s graduates must demonstrate:

  • • advanced knowledge and understanding of the mathematics and sciences underlying their engineering specialization;
  • • advanced knowledge and understanding of the engineering disciplines underlying their specialization, including a critical awareness of its latest developments;
  • • a critical awareness of the broader multidisciplinary context of engineering.
  • of the mathematics and other basic sciences underlying their engineering specialisation, at a level necessary to achieve the other programme outcomes;
  • knowledge and understanding of engineering disciplines underlying their specialisation, at a level necessary to achieve the other programme outcomes, including some awareness at their forefront;
  • awareness of the wider multidisciplinary context of engineering.

Engineering Analysis

Graduates must be able to analyze and solve engineering problems consistent with their level of knowledge and understanding and to recognize the importance of social, health and safety, environmental and industrial / commercial constraints.

The analysis may involve the identification of the problem, its formulation, the examination of possible methods of solution, the choice of the most appropriate method and its correct application.

Graduates must be able to use different methods, including analytical methods, computational modeling and experimental methods.Engineering Design

Graduates must demonstrate:

  • • the ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems using well-established and appropriate analytical, modeling and experimental methods;
  • • the ability to analyze engineering products, processes and systems.

Master’s graduates must demonstrate:

  • • the ability to identify, formulate and solve problems that are unfamiliar, not fully defined or that present conflicting information;
  • • the ability to identify, formulate and solve problems in new and emerging areas of their specialization;
  • • the ability to conceptualize engineering products, processes and systems;
  • • the ability to apply innovative methods in solving problems.

Engineering Design

Graduates must be able to carry out engineering projects appropriate to their level of knowledge and understanding.

Projects can involve products (artifacts, devices, etc.), processes or systems and specifications can go beyond technical ones and require awareness of the social, health and safety, environmental and industrial / commercial implications.

Graduates must demonstrate:

  • • the ability to develop and implement projects that meet defined and specified requirements, applying appropriate design methodologies.

Master’s graduates must demonstratee:

  • • the ability to design solutions to unfamiliar problems, which may involve other disciplines, and to operate in the presence of complex situations, technical uncertainties and incomplete information;
  • • the ability to use one’s creativity to develop new and original ideas and methods.

Investigations

Graduates must be able to use appropriate methods to conduct surveys and research on technical subjects appropriate to their level of knowledge and understanding.

Investigations may also involve conducting experiments and interpreting data.

Graduates must demonstrate:

  • • the ability to carry out surveys and bibliographic searches and to consult and use databases and other sources of information;
  • • the ability to consult and apply technical and safety standards;
  • • the ability to operate in the laboratory and conduct experiments, interpret data and draw conclusions.

Master’s graduates must demonstrate:

  • • the ability to identify, locate and obtain the required data;
  • • the ability to design and conduct analytical investigations, through modeling and experimental, critically evaluate data and draw conclusions;
  • • the ability to investigate the application of new and emerging technologies in their specialization.

Engineering Practice

Graduates must develop practical skills to solve problems, design and manufacture engineering products, processes and systems, conduct investigations.

These skills may relate to the knowledge, use and limits of: materials; equipment and tools; technologies; analytical, modeling and experimental techniques and methods.

Graduates must also be able to recognize the broader, non-technical implications of engineering practice.

Graduates must demonstrate:

  • • the ability to combine theory and practice to solve engineering problems;
  • • the ability to choose and use appropriate materials, equipment and tools, technologies;
  • • knowledge and understanding of applicable techniques and methods and their limitations and the ability to choose appropriate techniques and methods;
  • • awareness of the social, health and safety, and legal aspects and responsibilities of engineering practice, and the impact of engineering solutions in the social and environmental context;
  • • commitment in respect of professional ethics, in the exercise of responsibilities and in compliance with the rules of engineering practice;
  • • awareness of the economic, organizational and managerial aspects (such as project management, risk and change management) of business contexts.

Master’s graduates must demonstrate the same practical skills as graduates, but at the higher levels required of master’s graduates, and in addition:

  • • the ability to integrate knowledge from different fields and to manage complexity.

Transversal Skills

The skills necessary for practicing the profession of engineer, applicable in even wider contexts, must be developed during the training course of the degree program.

Graduates must be able to:

  • • operate effectively individually and as members of a group;
  • • use different methods to communicate effectively with the engineering community and, more generally, with society;
  • • recognize the need for independent learning throughout the life span and have the ability to pursue it

Master’s graduates must possess the same transversal skills required of a graduate, but at the higher levels required of master’s graduates, and must be able to:

• operate effectively as a leader of a group that can be composed of people competent in different disciplines at different levels; • work and communicate effectively in national and international contexts.