MASTER IN INDUSTRY OF THE FUTURE AND SMART MANUFACTURING

Key Facts

Subject

Smart factory 4.0, 4.5 & Smart Manufacturing

Programme start

January 2025

Duration

12 months

Delivery

In presence, Online or Hybrid

Application Deadline

November 30, 2024

Max number of participants

40

Tuition fee

€2.500 (free for the participants ranked 1-20 in the admission ranking)

Available merit-based scholarships

16 (up to €10.500 per student)

Classroom language

English/Italian

Location

University of Calabria, Partner Companies

Classroom

360 hours (including International Professors)

Company Internship

500 hours

MIF Master Office

Office: +39 0984 494891
Tel: +39 320 425 8070

Email: mif-office@msc-les.org

Overview

In the era of the 4th and 5th industrial revolution, being able to interpret the industrial landscape in light of modern enabling technologies translates into a significant competitive advantage. That’s why today, those who choose a professional development path that expands their theoretical and practical skills and enables them to tackle the complex and diverse problems of factories of the future, know that the job market is ready to welcome them.
To do this, a lot of companies are starting to appoint a Digital Factory Manager, Innovation Manager, Digital Transformation Consultant, or Digital Twin Specialists, to coordinate the different functions and drive the digital transformation. Our Master in Industry of the Future and Smart Manufacturing (MIF) will give you the skills needed to manage Industry 4.0/5.0 transformation, bringing together the process, the product and the technological view. You will be trained to design, develop and use enabling technologies in your company and in supply chains, with a focus on Internet of Things, Data Analytics, Digital Twins and Simulation, Extended Reality, Collaborative Robotics and Advanced Solutions for Operator 5.0.
You will have the unique opportunity to learn directly from national and international experts, including managers and progessionals from leading companies who are actively involved in the master (including manufacturers, technology suppliers, advisors and consultants, system integrators, education experts). Some of the companies involved are: Cosberg, Accenture, CAL-TEK. You’ll have a flexible curriculum and a practice-based approach, including real case studies and experiences in partner companies. With this Master, you’ll be able to expand your knowledge, enhance your leadership skills, take advantage of networking opportunities and be ready to play a pivotal role in your organisation.

Lecturers
The following specialists from the University of Calabria and other Italian and international universities, as well as researchers from prestigious research institutions and experts working in public entities and companies, teach in the MIF Program:

Our partners

Educational aim

Target group

The master is designed for graduates and professionals who want to familiarize themselves with the technologies related to the sphere of Industry 4.0/5.0, tackle its challenges, and position themselves in the job market by leveraging emerging skills. The master is aimed at recent graduates and professionals from both public and private institutions, companies, and organizations who possess a strong background in diverse contexts and a quantitative mindset, and wish to enhance their professional profile with a new level of expertise.

Professional profile

The master aims to train future specialists in the fields of Industry 5.0, including Digital Factory Manager, Innovation Manager, Digital Transformation Consultant, Digital Operations Specialist, Simulation and Digital Twin Specialist. Thanks to their versatile and cross-disciplinary education, high-level technical and specialized skills, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving aptitude, graduates can easily integrate into multidisciplinary teams of varying complexity. They will be capable of collaborating with experts in specific application areas, managers, and decision-makers, as well as leading organizations in the transition towards Industry 5.0.

Job opportunities

Despite a reduction in positions in assembly, logistics, and production sectors due to automation, there is an increasing demand for highly qualified professionals in the field of ICT, as well as in the design and optimization of production and industrial processes. It is estimated that in the next five years 1 mln professionals will need advanced training that encompasses not only basic digital skills but also the ability to manage innovative and complex solutions in industry. These positions offer excellent earning potential and growth opportunities in companies, research institutions, business consulting firms, and IT companies operating in various sectors.

Why choose the MIF?

International exposure

Professors from international universities and experts, including managers and progessionals, from leading global companies will be lecturing in the master

Networking with companies

Students have a privileged connection with partner companies, learning from their experiences and interacting with the Corporate Advisory Board, composed by business professionals from global companies.

Focus on interdisciplinary skills

Students will learn technology-related concepts and develop a palette of technical, social and managerial skills to thrive in the digital and smart transformation age of industrial firms.

Practice-based learning

Students will work first hand with companies as part of the stage period on a project, thus implementing in practice concepts and learning by doing.

Merit-based financial aid

32 scholarships will be assigned in two rounds during the programme depending on academic excellence. The master is free for those ranked 1-16 in the admission ranking.

Future proof education

Thanks to a research-oriented curriculum, the master is aligned with the latest Industry 5.0 paradigm and with the European Year of Skills for the Factory of the Future.

Programme structure

The study plan of the master’s program includes 1500 hours of educational activities (structured as follows) which allow the acquisition of 60 educational credits (ECTS).
0
Frontal teaching
0
Stage
0
Final project
0
Individual study

Calendar

The master will begin in March 2024 and will conclude by December 2024. Attendance by enrolled students is mandatory. To obtain the degree, a minimum attendance of 80% of the total duration of the master's program is required. Attendance below 80% will not allow for the attainment of the degree or the acquisition of scholarships.

Curriculum overview

The MIF Program is structured into three main parts: frontal classes with on campus teaching, internship and final project.
On campus teaching activities are organised into 7 core modules (see below a summary). Beside learning basic concepts, real case studies will be discussed in class. Focus groups and leadership talks with managers, experts and professionals will give a perspective on business challenges and topics. Finally, company visits will be organised.
After the conclusion of teaching activities, all the students will spend an internship period in one of the partner companies during which they will work first hand with experts and learn by doing.
During the internship, the final project will be assigned to each student that will be based on practical and real challenges.

Module summary
This module introduces the essentials of Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing. Learn about the opportunities and challenges that Industry 4.0 presents for manufacturers. Discover the key technologies that underpin Industry 4.0. Understand what the future of Industry 4.0 looks like and the implications for companies.
Part 1 – Introduction to the Master.
Part 2 – Innovation Management and Circular Economy.
Part 3 – Open innovation and smart manufacturing.
Part 4 – Environmental, Social and Governance in the 4.0 Era.
This module introduces Industrial IoT and data integration as critical elements of Smart Industries. Learn about key data analytics tools and techniques for innovative businesses. Discover the layers of Industrial IoT architecture and the considerations for systems connectivity and interoperability. Learn about the benefits of IoT gateways with edge computing capabilities.
Part 1 – IoT, Industrial IoT, tools and platforms for the development of IIoT systems and applications.
Part 2 – Servitization and Digital Twins.
This module introduces the concepts of simulation technologies and Digital Twins and their role in digital manufacturing. Discover the requirements to develop and implement Digital Twins and their industrial applications. Explore the role of Building Information Modeling and Digital Twins in Production Planning & Control.
Part 1 – Simulation – Theory.
Part 2 – Simulation in Industry.
Part 3 – Simulation in Logistics.
This module provides an overview of Artificial Intelligence technologies and their application in manufacturing as a core component of Industry 4.0. Understand the different classifications of AI technologies and their role in cognitive manufacturing. Learn about fundamental machine learning and deep learning techniques. Explore real-world applications of AI in smart manufacturing.
Part 1 – Data Science and AI.
Part 2 – Predictive Maintenance, AI, Cognitive Digital Twins, Maintenance and Production Planning.
The module aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of XR technologies, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), and their practical implications in various industrial sectors. Students will delve into the fundamental principles and underlying technologies of XR, such as computer vision, 3D modeling, and spatial mapping. Throughout the module, students will engage in practical sessions and workshops to gain hands-on experience with XR tools, software, and development platforms. They will have the opportunity to create immersive VR environments, develop AR applications for industrial use cases, and explore the potential of MR for enhancing human-machine interactions.
Part 1 – Virtual Reality.
Part 2 – Extended Reality applications in Industry 4.0.
The module aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the evolving role of operators in Industry 4.0 and beyond, to explore strategies for integrating human workers and advanced technologies in a collaborative and efficient manner, to develop skills in designing and managing human-centered manufacturing systems that enhance productivity, safety, and job satisfaction. This module delves into the concept of Operator 5.0, which represents a paradigm shift in the role of human operators in the context of smart factories. It recognizes the significance of human skills, creativity, and adaptability in complementing and collaborating with automated systems. Throughout the module, students will engage in case studies, simulations, and practical exercises to apply human-centered design principles and methodologies. They will explore the potential of emerging technologies, such as wearable devices, collaborative robots, and intelligent workstations, in supporting operator effectiveness and well-being.
Part 1 – Operator 4.0/5.0
Part 2 – Cognitive Operator.
This module introduces the concept of collaborative robotics and their role in flexible and autonomous smart manufacturing. Learn about the structure, benefits and challenges of collaborative robotics. Understand the industrial applications of perception technologies and smart robots. Explore a case study of the development of a collaborative robot solution in manufacturing and the business benefits achieved.
Part 1 – Human-Robot Collaboration.
Part 2 – Robotics.

Admissions

More information about applications for the 2024-25 intake will be announced soon!

Requirements

Those who, by the application deadline, hold a master degree (or equivalent) in the fields of engineering and computer science are eligible to apply for admission to the master’s program. In particular, the following degrees are considered valid:

  • Master’s degree obtained in accordance with Ministerial Decree 270/04
  • Specialist degree obtained in accordance with Ministerial Decree 509/99
  • Degree obtained under the previous regulations before Ministerial Decree 509/99
  • Foreign degree recognized as suitable by the MIF Scientific Council solely for the purpose of enrollment in the course.

Additionally, proficiency in the English language is required.

Application procedure

Step 0. Preliminary screening (optional)

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Let us know you are interested! Fill the form now to stay in touch with us and updated on the latest news.

Step 1. Submit your application

Apply on the unical.it website and upload the necessary documents, including your CV, university transcripts/mark sheets, copy of your passport or ID, one-page letter of motivation, English proficiency certificate.

Step 2. Interview

Our admissions team will let you know if you have been selected for the next part of the selection process: the interview. Each candidate will be interviewed by a jury panel including the Board of Directors. An online interview can be offered to candidates if required.

Step 3. Decision notification and confirmation

The final ranking of the applicants and approval of the scholarship will be given by the first week of November. We will send you an e-mail with our final decision on your application, and if the result is positive, you will also receive scholarship information. After you receive our email and the admission contract, we kindly ask you to confirm your participation in the programme.

Other useful information

If you are an EU candidate, we recommend that you check the lodging opportunities in Rende, Italy, as soon as possible. Please consider that the average rent for a room in Rende is €200/month and you will have very convenient fee for lunch at university facilities. If you are a non-EU candidate, besides what is mentioned above, we recommend that you contact us a priori to give us enough time for a Statement of Comparability of your degree and to apply for your student visa. Please note that we’ve designed this programme for recent graduates with ideally no more than 3 years of work experience.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Our MIF programme costs €2.500 and the fee can be paid in a single installment upon completion of the enrollment process or in three installments (details will be provided in the application notice).

Tuition fee waiver

Are you a student ranked between the 1st and 20th position in the admission ranking? If so, you are exempt from paying the tuition fee. The other students (21-40) are required to pay the enrollment fee to participate in the MIF program.

Merit-based financial aid programme

You might find our MIF programme more accessible with help from our Finanaical Aid Programme. We provide 16 merit-based scholarships, which will allow a single student to get up to €10.500!
The scholarships will be assigned based on merit and academic excellence in two phases, as described below.

Phase 1: Educational scholarships

The educational scholarships will be awarded to the most deserving students. A merit-based ranking will be formulated based on the weighted average grade achieved by each candidate in the final assessments of the training modules outlined in the curriculum. In the event of a tie, preference will be given to the younger students.
Minimum eligibility requirement: 1) students must attend at least 80% of frontal class hours; 2) candidates must have acquired at least 80% of the required credits.

Phase 2: Project scolarships

The final project scholarships will be awarded to the most deserving students who will obtain their degree by 2025. A merit-based ranking will be formulated based on the grade achieved in the final project. In the event of a tie in the final project evaluation, preference will be given to the younger students.

Minimum eligibility requirement: students must attend at least 80% of stage hours.

Additional opportunities

During the announcement period, the possibility of additional scholarships or specific contributions aimed at employment placement through high-level apprenticeship and research contracts will be evaluated with companies operating nationwide.

Venue

Frontal teaching

Most of the frontal class activities will be carried out at the Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering (DIMEG) of the University of Calabria. The Department’s facilities are located on several levels within the last Cubes of the north-west side of the UNICAL bridge.

Ponte Pietro Bucci, Building 45C, Third Floor, University of Calabria
87036, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy

Meet with us

Master presentation

Meet our Board of Directors and find out the benefits of enrolling in the Master in Industry of the Future and Smart Manufacturing.

About the speakers:
  • Prof Dr. Francesco Longo (MIF General Director) presents the educational project and objectives of the program, including the financial opportunities for students.
  • Dr. Antonio Padovano (MIF Program Director) presents the programme structure and modules.
  • Dr. Vittorio Solina (MIF Technical Director) presents the hands-on practice and laboratories, including the equipment that will be used in the programme.

Meet the lecturers

Info sessions

Our recruitment team is available for a 30-minute one-to-one info session to guide you through the contents, contributions available and the selection process of our programme. To book your info-session please send an email to mif-office@msc-les.org. One of our representatives will get in contact with you to set up the meeting.

Contacts

MIF Master Office

Tel: +39 320 425 8070 / +39 0984 494891

Email: mif-office@msc-les.org