Restructuring Agricultural/Biosystems Engineering studies and employability in Italy

In Italy there is a society of Agricultural Engineering (Italian Association of AgriculturalEngineering - AIIA), to which agronomists and engineers involved in agricultural, forestry andfood processing sectors belong, but only recently a few Agricultural Engineering degrees wereintroduced. However, they are inadequately educated as Agricultural Engineers, because of thelimited amount of Engineering learning outcomes.The “recognition” process of Agricultural Engineering study programs proposed by USAEE-TNwill make the Agricultural Engineer profession much more known than before and the relateddegree more appreciated by industries, companies, private and public sectors and, therefore, thegraduate employment easier throughout the international labour market.The reform of Agricultural Engineering study programs is in effect since 2003, but the sample ofthe related graduates is too small to be significant.Italian Universities have undertaken several activities, in order to disseminate the USAEEoutputs to their staff, other Universities, professional bodies and policy makers. The reactionreceived was of a great interest to the future development of joint degree study programs,involving Italian Engineering and Agriculture University Faculties.