Learning Objectives

Energy issues have taken fundamental importance for sustainable development of humanity and must therefore play a significant role in the technical and engineering culture. Sources of renewable energy and innovative technologies with minimal environmental impact, whose development requires adequate availability of prepared technicians, have recently been added alongside conventional energy resources. In the Laurea Magistrale, equivalent of the Master of Science, it is necessary to complete and increase the technical knowledge acquired during the B.Sc. (with a solid background in basic and industrial engineering subjects and, in particular, in applied thermodynamics, thermal machinery and energy systems) with further and more detailed general notions and, above all, with an approach focused on the more complex and advanced applications and on research and development. It will therefore be necessary to address specific issues (some examples are: abatement of combustion pollutants and mitigation of greenhouse effects, advanced thermodynamic cycles for energy conversion, the most sophisticated design methodologies in climate and environmental control, solution of complex design problems regarding heat and mass transfer devices and thermal machines) for which are necessary both a more rigorous methodological analysis of sciences based on thermodynamics and an ample opening towards related inter-disciplinary issues, such as chemical engineering, management and economic methodologies and more. Thus, the aim of the Master of Science in Energy Engineering is to prepare technicians who are able to use the main technologies concerning energy generation and utilization, and who can actively follow technological advances and operate effectively in a competitive industrial environment, characterized by significant environmental, regulatory and safety issues.

Job opportunities

The Master of Science in Energy Engineering-graduated student is a technician with a high level of education able to address all issues, even the most innovative, for the design and operation of plants for the production, distribution and use of energy, as well as of civil and industrial HVAC systems, and of their components. He/she is also able to carry out the role of energy manager in companies and bodies in which such role is required. Graduates can take the Professional Exam to qualify for enrolment in Section A of the Professional Order of Industrial Engineers. There are many opportunities in the job market for energy engineers: production, distribution and correct use of energy are essential fields, albeit largely problematic, of our time. The energy industry is undergoing great changes (the liberalization of markets, increased competition, decentralization, increased awareness of environmental impact issues, and the reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases) that require an increasing number of skilled technicians. There are many companies working in the energy field with a high concentration in Lombardy and Milan areas (from the large-scale boards involved in the production, transport and distribution of power, to the many companies, even small to medium-sized ones, that operate in the fields of industrial and civil plants, air-conditioning systems and system components).

The professional opportunities for a Master of Science graduated engineer are:

• in the energy management field, in industry and in companies and public boards that supply energy; in reference to this, Italian legislation (law 10/91) has made it obligatoryfor companies with significant energy consumption to have a “technician who is responsible for the conservation and efficient use of energy” (an energymanager);
• in public institutions or international organizations where a specialized technician is needed in order to define strategies, energy scenarios and technological plans.
• in activities surrounding design, testing, use and maintenance of energy plants, for example heating and air-conditioning systems, food preservation systems, small and medium-sized plants that produce, distribute and use energy;
• in the design and planning of heating and cooling systems in buildings and in their construction phase; in industries producing and marketing equipment and components such as boilers, air- conditioning units, refrigerators, engines, heat exchangers, gas or steam powered compressors and turbines;
• in energy companies operating in the fields of thermal power, hydro-electric power, engines, oil and natural gas fields, or in the production or distribution sectors.

Master of Science graduates have access to research and development activities as well as those related to feasibility study and design of more specialist and demanding applications (large-scale plant, innovative processes, development of technologically advanced machinery and components). The more extensive and flexible preparation provided by the Master of Science programme will also open up employment possibilities in other sectors linked to the energy industry.

How to apply?

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