University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana
Type	Public; Swiss University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Fachhochschule, Haute école specialisée
Established	1997
President	Giovanni Merlini
Rector	Franco Gervasoni, director
Administrative staff	794[1]
Students	3'681 (bachelors and masters) + 5'505 continuing education[2]
Undergraduates	3'164[3]
Postgraduates	517[4]
Location	Manno,Canobbio,Brig,Landquart,Locarno,Lugano eVerscio , Canton Ticino , Switzerland
Language	Italian,English, German
Website	supsi.ch

TheUniversity of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI,Italian:Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana) is apublicvocational university located inTicino,Switzerland. It offers over 30 bachelor's and master's programs, blending theoretical scientific knowledge with practical technological applications in real-world projects. Instruction is mainly inItalian, with some courses delivered inEnglish andGerman.

SUPSI was established on 11 March 1997 byCanton Ticino 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 byCarlo Cattaneo and providing higher education courses in mechanics and architecture.^[5]

In 1997 SUPSI integrates within its new organization:

• STS Electronic Engineering Section (established inManno 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 ofApplied Arts (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 ofGeology andHydrology which becomes the Institute ofEarth Science (IST).

In 1997 SUPSI is divided into four departments: Construction and Territory,Computer Science andElectronic Engineering,Applied Art andBusiness Administration.

In the following years other specialized schools and public and private research institutes were integrated:

• 1998 College ofSocial Work (established by Canton Ticino) becomes a department.
• 1999IDSIA Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research (established in Lugano in 1988); it is jointly run byUniversità della Svizzera italiana and SUPSI thanks to an agreement between the two institutions.
• 2004 Fernfachhochshule Schweiz (FFHS) based inBrig and with training centers inBasel,Bern andZurich.
• 2006 Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana - Scuola Universitaria di Musica (Conservatory of Southern Switzerland/Ticino Music Conservatory)^[6]
• 2006 Accademia Teatro Dimitri (established in 1975 by theSwiss clown Dimitri as a school of movement theatre).^[7]
• 2007 Phsyiotherapie Graubünden (based in Landquart); Bachelor in Physiotherapy affiliated to the Department of Health Sciences.
• 2011 MAInD; Master of Arts in Interaction Design.^[8][9]

As a Swiss University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule,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 andmaster's degree), continuing education,applied research and consulting and support services to businesses and institutions.

The governance of SUPSI is based on:

• SUPSI Council is composed of members nominated by theState 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 theSwiss Confederation 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.

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^[10]

• Institute for Materials and Constructions
• Institute ofEarth Sciences
• Institute for Applied Sustainability to the Built Environment
• Institute ofDesign^[11]
• Laboratory of Applied Microbiology

The departments works in basic training, continuing education, research and services.

• Inno3 Competence Centre
• Tax Law Competence Centre
• Laboratory of methodology andstatistics
• Medical Humanities Centre

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.^[12]
• AI Lab IDSIA Institute Dalle Molle for Artificial Intelligence.^[13]
• Institute for Information Systems and Networking
• Institute for Systems and Applied Electronics
• Institute of Systems and Technologies for Sustainable Production

The department works in education, research and services.

1. Accademia Teatro Dimitri
2. Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana
3. Fernfachhochschule Schweiz

SUPSI is located in southern Switzerland, in cantonsTicino,Valais andGraubünden.

The first SUPSI diplomas are awarded in 2000 in architecture, civil engineering, computer science, electronic engineering, interior design, visual communication,conservation and restoration, 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.^[14]

SUPSI provides further trainings and qualifications:^[17]

• Master of Advanced Studies (MAS)
• Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
• Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS)
• Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)

A research service is co-managed by SUPSI andUniversità della Svizzera italiana.^[18]

• Education in Switzerland
• List of universities in Switzerland
• List of largest universities by enrollment in Switzerland

Wikimedia Commons has media related toSUPSI University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland.

• Official website
• The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland on the official website of Lugano

46°01′24″N8°55′02″E / 46.0233°N 8.9172°E /46.0233; 8.9172

• Universities of Applied Sciences in Switzerland
• Lugano
• Schools in the canton of Ticino
• Educational institutions established in 1997
• 1997 establishments in Switzerland
• SUPSI

• Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles using infobox university
• Pages using infobox university with the image name parameter
• Articles containing Italian-language text
• Commons category link is on Wikidata
• Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia
• Coordinates on Wikidata