The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland ( it, Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana, italic=no, SUPSI) is one of the
Universities of Applied Sciences
A ''Fachhochschule'' (; plural ''Fachhochschulen''), abbreviated FH, is a university of applied sciences (UAS), in other words a German tertiary education institution that provides professional education in many applied sciences and applied arts ...
of the
Swiss Confederation
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
.
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 mainly based in Southern Switzerland. Instruction is mainly in
Swiss Italian
The Italian language in Switzerland or Swiss Italian ( it, italiano svizzero) is the variety of the Italian language taught in the Italian-speaking area of Switzerland. Italian is spoken natively by about 700,000 people in the canton of Ticino ...
, with some courses delivered in English and German.
History
SUPSI was established on 11 March 1997 by
Canton Ticino
Ticino (), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino,, informally ''Canton Ticino'' ; lmo, Canton Tesin ; german: Kanton Tessin ; french: Canton du Tessin ; rm, Chantun dal Tessin . ...
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.
In 1997 SUPSI integrates within its new organization:
* STS Electronic Engineering Section (established in
Manno
Manno is a municipality in the district of Lugano in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
History
Manno is first mentioned in 1184.
In 1298, the Bishop of Como owned estates in the village. In 1335, the village divided into two sections, Man ...
in 1993)
* SSQEA College for Financial and Administrative Managers (established by Canton Ticino in 1987 as a third cycle following the commercial schools)
* SSAA College of
Applied Arts
The applied arts are all the arts that apply design and decoration to everyday and essentially practical objects in order to make them aesthetically pleasing."Applied art" in ''The Oxford Dictionary of Art''. Online edition. Oxford Univers ...
(established by Canton Ticino in Lugano in 1985 as a third cycle of the CSIA Educational Centre for Artistic Industry)
* ICIMSI Institute of Computer Integrated Manufacturing of Southern Switzerland (established in Manno in 1992 as a private-public initiative to develop applied research in support of industry)
* ICTS the Cantonal Experimental Technical Institution
* the Cantonal Office of
Geology
Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ear ...
and
Hydrology
Hydrology () is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and management of water on Earth and other planets, including the water cycle, water resources, and environmental watershed sustainability. A practitioner of hydrology is calle ...
which becomes the Institute of
Earth Science
Earth science or geoscience includes all fields of natural science related to the planet Earth. This is a branch of science dealing with the physical, chemical, and biological complex constitutions and synergistic linkages of Earth's four spheres ...
(IST).
In 1997 SUPSI is divided into four departments: Construction and Territory,
Computer Science
Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...
and
Electronic Engineering
Electronics engineering is a sub-discipline of electrical engineering which emerged in the early 20th century and is distinguished by the additional use of active components such as semiconductor devices to amplify and control electric current ...
,
Applied Art
The applied arts are all the arts that apply design and decoration to everyday and essentially practical objects in order to make them aesthetically pleasing."Applied art" in ''The Oxford Dictionary of Art''. Online edition. Oxford Univers ...
and
Business Administration
Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...
.
In the following years other specialized schools and public and private research institutes were integrated:
* 1998 College of
Social Work
Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...
(established by Canton Ticino) becomes a department.
* 1999
IDSIA
The Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research ( it, Istituto Dalle Molle di Studi sull'Intelligenza Artificiale, italic=no, IDSIA) is a research institution based in Lugano, in Canton Ticino in southern Switzerland. It was found ...
Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research (established in Lugano in 1988); it is jointly run by
Università della Svizzera italiana and SUPSI thanks to an agreement between the two institutions.
* 2004 Fernfachhochshule Schweiz (FFHS) based in
Brig
A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: two masts which are both square rig, square-rigged. Brigs originated in the second half of the 18th century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until the ...
and with training centers in
Basel
, french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese
, neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (BS ...
,
Bern
german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese
, neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen
, website ...
and
Zurich.
* 2006 Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana - Scuola Universitaria di Musica (Conservatory of Southern Switzerland/Ticino Music Conservatory)
* 2006 Accademia Teatro Dimitri (established in 1975 by the
Swiss clown Dimitri as a school of movement theatre).
* 2007 Phsyiotherapie Graubünden (based in Landquart); Bachelor in Physiotherapy affiliated to the Department of Health Sciences.
* 2011 MAInD; Master of Arts in Interaction Design.
Organization and administration
As a Swiss University of Applied Sciences (''
Fachhochschule
A ''Fachhochschule'' (; plural ''Fachhochschulen''), abbreviated FH, is a university of applied sciences (UAS), in other words a German tertiary education institution that provides professional education in many applied sciences and applied arts ...
'', ''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
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
and
master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. ), continuing education,
applied research
Applied science is the use of the scientific method and knowledge obtained via conclusions from the method to attain practical goals. It includes a broad range of disciplines such as engineering and medicine. Applied science is often contrasted ...
and consulting and support services to businesses and institutions.
The governance of SUPSI is based on:
* SUPSI Council is composed of members nominated by the
State Council of Canton Ticino and it has a mandate of strategic direction and control.
* SUPSI Board
* University administration includes the director, the head of shared services and the directors and deans of the departments and the associated schools.
* Departments and associated schools
* Consultative commissions. Each department and associated school has a Consultative Commission appointed by the SUPSI Board.
From a financial point of view, SUPSI is supported by Ticino cantonal contributions, contributions from the
Swiss Confederation
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
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
Department for Environment, Constructions and Design
* Institute for Materials and Constructions
* Institute of
Earth Sciences
Earth science or geoscience includes all fields of natural science related to the planet Earth. This is a branch of science dealing with the physical, chemical, and biological complex constitutions and synergistic linkages of Earth's four sphere ...
* Institute for Applied Sustainability to the Built Environment
* Laboratory of
Visual Culture
Visual culture is the aspect of culture expressed in visual images. Many academic fields study this subject, including cultural studies, art history, critical theory, philosophy, media studies, Deaf Studies, and anthropology.
The field of ...
* Laboratory of Applied Microbiology
Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care
The departments works in basic training, continuing education, research and services.
* Inno3 Competence Centre
*
Tax Law
Tax law or revenue law is an area of legal study in which public or sanctioned authorities, such as federal, state and municipal governments (as in the case of the US) use a body of rules and procedures (laws) to assess and collect taxes in a ...
Competence Centre
* Laboratory of methodology and
statistics
Statistics (from German language, German: ''wikt:Statistik#German, Statistik'', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that concerns the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of ...
* Medical Humanities Centre
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:
* Institute CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) for Sustainable Innovation.
* AI Lab IDSIA Institute Dalle Molle for Artificial Intelligence.
* Institute for Information Systems and Networking
* Institute for Systems and Applied Electronics
* Institute of Systems and Technologies for Sustainable Production
Department of Teaching and Learning
The department works in education, research and services.
Associated schools
# Accademia Teatro Dimitri
# Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana
# Fernfachhochschule Schweiz
Campus
SUPSI is located in southern Switzerland, in cantons
Ticino
Ticino (), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino,, informally ''Canton Ticino'' ; lmo, Canton Tesin ; german: Kanton Tessin ; french: Canton du Tessin ; rm, Chantun dal Tessin . ...
,
Valais
Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...
and
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
The conservation and restoration of cultural property focuses on protection and care of cultural property (tangible cultural heritage), including artworks, architecture, archaeology, and museum collections. Conservation activities include prev ...
, 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.
Undergraduate programme (Bachelor's degree)
Graduate programme (Master's degree)
Continuing education
SUPSI provides further trainings and qualifications:
* Master of Advanced Studies (MAS)
* Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
* Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS)
* Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)
Research
A research service is co-managed by SUPSI and
Università della Svizzera italiana.
[The research service on USI website http://www.usi.ch/en/universita/container_university_services/servizio_ricerca.htm.]
Notes and references
See also
*
Education in Switzerland
The education system in Switzerland is very diverse, because the constitution of Switzerland delegates the authority for the school system mainly to the cantons. The Swiss constitution sets the foundations, namely that primary school is obligat ...
*
List of universities in Switzerland
This list of universities in Switzerland lists all public and private higher education institutions accredited and coordinated according the ''Federal Act on Funding and Coordination of the Swiss Higher Education Sector'' (short: Federal Higher ...
*
List of largest universities by enrollment in Switzerland
This is a list of Swiss universities and other higher education institutions according to the size of their student population recognized by the Federal Higher Education Act, HEdA.
Universities and higher education institutions by size
Notes ...
External links
*
The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland on the official website of Lugano
{{coord, 46.0233, N, 8.9172, E, source:wikidata, display=title
Universities of Applied Sciences in Switzerland
Lugano
Schools in the canton of Ticino
Educational institutions established in 1997
1997 establishments in Switzerland
SUPSI