Professional competencies

AIMS

The Master’s programme aims to provide professional scientific-technical competencies that start from the knowledge acquired at graduate level, enriching it consistently and filling the inevitable gaps.

The course will train qualified candidates in the fundamental aspects of a space mission, and teach them the competencies necessary to be able to enter the job market in a competitive way, both nationally and internationally.

Each year, the space economy generates approximately 350 billion dollars globally: this value is expected to triple in 20 years (www.morganstanley.com/Themes/global-space-economy). In ltaly, around 250 companies are active in the sector employing 6300 people (+ 3% of those employed since 2014) and in 2017 produced a turnover of 1.9 billion euros.

This programme will provide participants with expertise in three main areas needed to succeed in today’s competitive space economy:

  1. the scientific background for which space missions represent essential investigative tools (e.g. astrophysics, geophysics, atmosphere physics, oceanography, planetology and astrobiology);
  2. the fundamentals of designing, developing and executing a space mission throughout its lifecycle with a focus on its scientific objectives and various subsystem requirements and functionalities;
  3. the analysis of data obtained from satellites and their main scientific and industrial applications, both at national and international levels (e.g. the exploration of space and the solar system, meteorology, oceanographic and geophysical studies, land monitoring, and the optimization of agriculture).

At the conclusion of the coursework, students will participate in internships that will provide them with practical learning opportunities with leading companies and public research bodies in the space sector. Professional opportunities in the space sector require the ability to competently interact at various levels: research, technology, information technology, and industry.

The knowledge gained from this Master’s programme will enable graduates to be experts and consultants who will be able to take on the following functions:

  • Principal lnvestigator of a space mission
  • Project Manager of a space mission
  • Project Scientist of a space mission
  • System Engineer of a space mission
  • Payload Manager of a space mission
  • lnstrument Scientist of a space mission
  • Technological manager of an instrument Head of the ground segment
  • Expert in astrophysical, planetological, meteorological data, geophysical, oceanographic data analysis
  • Expert in high level statistical techniques, management and treatment of Big Data
  • lmage analysis expert
  • Spectroscopic data analysis expert
  • Satellite data analysis expert for land monitoring applications, agriculture, research of minerali or oil fields.

AII these functions are particularly sought after in the labor market at the national and international level, both in the public system (universities, institutes and research bodies and space agencies) and in private companies (aerospace industries, SMEs operating in the space sector).

EXPECTED RESULTS

SPICES is a unique and innovative master to acquire the multidisciplinary skills required in the space sector.

In particular, at the end of the programme, the participant will have acquired knowledge and skills in two main areas:

  • design, development and execution of a space mission throughout its lifecycle with a focus on its mission/scientific objectives and various subsystem requirements and functionalities
  • multidisciplinary training of the various aspects and their applications both in the scientific and technological fields.