First Master's Degree course in marine engineering on the Adriatic Coast promoted by Ferretti Group

Forlì Campus Bologna University © Bologna University

With a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Ferretti, Emilia Romagna Regional Administration, Bologna University, Cassa dei Risparmi Foundation and Forlì Municipality, which establishes a virtuous network of public and private partners, the new Master's Degree Course in Marine Engineering, based in Forlì, gets under way in academic 2024-25.

The course is keenly awaited because the Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Abruzzo and Puglia areas are reporting significant industrial and employment growth in the yacht building industry. Hence the constant need for professionals with high level technical and specialist expertise.

Ferretti Group, which has five production sites on the Adriatic coast, is one of the main backers of this teaching and research initiative, which represents an act of commitment and of giving back to the community by promoting the boatbuilding know-how that is one of the strengths of this geographical area. To achieve these goals, Ferretti Group has partnered with the scientific and educational excellence of the University of Bologna, which is as recognised internationally as it is rooted in the local areas it serves.

The degree course is the first step in the creation of a centre of excellence in Forlì, one with the standing to attract researchers from Italy and internationally and to provide support for the creation and incubation of yachting industry startups driven by highly innovative technologies, increasing the attractiveness of these areas and fostering the development of the Blue Economy.

The work of the Industrial Engineering Department, as well as involving teaching provided by internationally recognised experts, will focus on increasingly advanced research, including hydrodynamics and methods to reduce hydrodynamic and aerodynamic drag (performed at the international CICLoPE facility in Predappio).

"This new Degree Course will generate energy and produce qualified resources who we enthusiastically welcome. Located here in Emlia-Romagna and on the Adriatic coast are some major shipyards that make a great contribution to the Italian yacht industry's world leadership in pleasure vessels up to 60 metres," said Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi. "Transferring knowledge and sharing experience through a university-level project has the dual function of creating jobs and providing our industry with well-educated professionals who can rise to future challenges in the yacht industry."

University Rector Prof. Giovanni Molari said: "The course will train post-graduates to work in the design and production of pleasure vessels and the relative components, in all stages of product development. The new course will be organised at the Forlì site, ensuring access to numerous laboratories and to the potential offered by aerospace and mechanical training opportunities, and our hope is that it will continue to exploit significant synergy in various areas of marine interest such as fluid dynamics (the Forlì Campus' CICLoPE is a very important international research facility), propulsion and composite materials. With this innovative educational project, the University confirms its focus on training that increasingly takes account of the needs of the local area and industry."