The Summer School proposes an advanced international programme at the University of Pisa on how design and engineering can jointly guide sustainable innovation in manufacturing. It brings together Master’s students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers to investigate products, production processes and value chains through three connected fields: fashion, furniture and food manufacturing.
Building on the relationship between design engineering and high-end Made in Italy manufacturing, the programme combines circular design, materials selection, digital product development and the human-centred approach of Industry 5.0. Artificial intelligence and digital manufacturing are explored as tools for developing and comparing design alternatives. Their contribution is assessed against explicit environmental and technical criteria, with attention to data quality, feasibility and the limits of automated outputs. The three fields share a common methodology while retaining their specific challenges. Fashion addresses material flows, durability and textile recovery; furniture examines repair, disassembly and manufacturing choices; food connects processing and packaging with agricultural inputs, resource use and waste prevention. Made in Italy provides a contextual reference for discussing how quality, craftsmanship and cultural identity can be maintained as production systems change.
Days 1–3 combine masterclasses and field visits addressing fashion, furniture and food manufacturing. An opening lecture establishes the shared design engineering framework. Guided observation and dialogue with company staff provide evidence for days 4–5, dedicated to design studios, workshops and stakeholder discussions of possible sustainable futures for Made in Italy. Teams develop design concepts, preliminary sustainability assessments and implementation pathways.
Participants wishing to earn the 5 ECTS credits must agree on a Project Work topic with the Summer School coordinators and submit a final report by 24 July 2027.
The Summer School will be activated with at least 10 students. The maximum number of participants is set to 50 students.
The Summer School is a blended program.There will be an online part (the dates will be announced in the coming days) before the on campus one.The on campus part will be held in Pisa, at Scuola di Ingegneria, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 1.
The Summer School aims to equip participants with advanced competences for translating sustainability objectives into design and engineering decisions across the product life cycle. Participants will learn to frame manufacturing challenges, select evaluation criteria, develop circular product and process concepts, and assess environmental performance alongside technical feasibility, costs and human needs.
The programme also supports the formulation of research questions for Master’s theses, doctoral projects and postdoctoral work. A shared method tested across fashion, furniture and food supports comparison between sectors. Participants also construct plausible future scenarios and discuss their design proposals with stakeholders, examining assumptions, competing priorities and pathways for sustainable innovation.
We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.
We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.
Applicants must be enrolled in a Master’s programme in a relevant discipline, or hold a Master’s degree or an equivalent qualification giving access to doctoral study.PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers must document their current status.Applicants submit a CV, proof of qualification or enrolment, and a motivation statement of up to 400 words describing their interests and preferred project field.A portfolio, and/or thesis abstract or research summary is optional and may be used to demonstrate relevant experience.English proficiency at B2 level or equivalent is required. Evidence may consist of a language certificate, documented study or work in English.
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The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
This programme is taught in different countries. Which country are you interested in?
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