Objectives
UMANE as a project was approved in 2010 and is expected to last 4 to 5 years in respect of the contracts signed with US-FIPSE and the EU - DG Educationa and Training, although a much longer duration of the opportunity is foreseen after the end of the contractual period.
The project activities started on 1st September 2010 and the development and improvement phase will last until at least 2014. During this period, the involved Universities will work to develop a stable and enduring consortium delivering a full international dual Bachelor Degree programme in Management Engineering, with a particular focus on global Supply Chain and Operations Management, as well as Food Supply Chains.
The dual Bachelor Degree will be mostly taught in English, although some courses held at EU institutions may be in either Italian or Spanish. A proper language training activity is foreseen at both home and hosting institutions.
The UMANE Dual Degree includes transatlantic students’ exchange (a full academic year) and EU-to-EU mobility (one semester). The intended aim of the project is to improve the level of international expertise and competences of both EU and US students, so to enhance their employment opportunities, competitiveness, cultural exposure, and language skills. The UMANE Dual Degree project plans to mobilize and graduate 48 students during the project contractual period: 24 students from the US and 24 students from the EU. The study-abroad period varies according to the student’s continent of origin: US students will attend a full 12-month study period in the EU; EU students will spend one semester at the EU partner institutions plus a full 12-month study period in the US. Mobility activities will take place during the 3rd and 4th year for EU students’ program of study and during the 3rd year for US students. The mobility scheme is planned in order to have the whole common “international classroom” moving within the EU and to the US.
In addition to the Universities mentioned before, several industries will be involved in the UMANE consortium including Collegio di Parma (as an additional partner) and several companies operating in food manufacturing, logistics and automotive, which will be supporting this project by providing opportunities for students’ internships. Such companies include OCME, CFT, Ce.P.I.M. S.p.A., Argo Tractors S.p.A., Plasmon (company of Heinz group), Corghi S.p.A., Promag S.p.A., Lombardini Motori s.r.l., GEA-Procomac S.p.A., Dallara Automobili S.p.A.
