SUPSI

The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland is a public vocational university located in Ticino, 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 in Italian, with some courses delivered in English and German.

WWW Official Site 𝕏 supsi_ch FB supsi.ch

History

SUPSI was established on 11 March 1997 by Canton 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 by Carlo Cattaneo and providing higher education courses in mechanics and architecture.
In 1997 SUPSI integrates within its new organization:

STS Electronic Engineering Section
SSQEA College for Financial and Administrative Managers
SSAA College of Applied Arts
ICIMSI Institute of Computer Integrated Manufacturing of Southern Switzerland
ICTS the Cantonal Experimental Technical Institution
the Cantonal Office of Geology and Hydrology which becomes the Institute of Earth Science.

In 1997 SUPSI is divided into four departments: Construction and Territory, Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Applied Art and Business Administration.
In the following years other specialized schools and public and private research institutes were integrated:

1998 College of Social Work becomes a department.
1999 IDSIA Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research ; it is jointly run by Università della Svizzera italiana and SUPSI thanks to an agreement between the two institutions.
2004 Fernfachhochshule Schweiz based in Brig and with training centers in Basel, Bern and Zurich.
2006 Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana - Scuola Universitaria di Musica
2006 Accademia Teatro Dimitri.
2007 Phsyiotherapie Graubünden ; Bachelor in Physiotherapy affiliated to the Department of Health Sciences.
2011 MAInD; Master of Arts in Interaction Design.

Organization and administration

As a Swiss University of Applied Sciences, 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, 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 the State 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 the Swiss 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.

Departments and associated schools

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

Department for Environment, Constructions and Design

Institute for Materials and Constructions
Institute of Earth Sciences
Institute for Applied Sustainability to the Built Environment
Institute of Design
Laboratory of Applied Microbiology

Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care

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

Inno3 Competence Centre
Tax Law Competence Centre
Laboratory of methodology and statistics
Medical Humanities Centre

Department of Innovative Technologies

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 for Sustainable Innovation.
AI Lab IDSIA Institute Dalle Molle for Artificial Intelligence.
Institute for Information Systems and Networking
Institute for Systems and Applied Electronics
Institute of Systems and Technologies for Sustainable Production

Department of Teaching and Learning

The department works in education, research and services.

Associated schools

Accademia Teatro Dimitri
Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz

Campus

SUPSI is located in southern Switzerland, in cantons Ticino, Valais and Graubünden.

Location	Centres	Facilities	Note
Mendrisio	Department of Environment Constructions and Design
Manno	Supsi Directorship, Department of Business, Health and Social Care	Day nursery
Locarno	Department of Teaching and Learning	Day nursery
Lugano	Department of Innovative Technologies and Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana	Day nursery
Verscio
Brig	Fernfachhochschule Schweiz
Landquart	Physiotherapie Graubünden	-	-

Academics

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 for the best SUPSI graduates; in 2011 the Prize Talenthesis is established.

Continuing education

SUPSI provides further trainings and qualifications:

Master of Advanced Studies
Executive Master of Business Administration
Diploma of Advanced Studies
Certificate of Advanced Studies

Typology	Field	Title	Location	Centre	Language
Master of Advanced Studies		MAS Tax Law	Manno	Department of Business and Social Sciences
Executive Master of Business Administration		EMBA Executive Master of Business Administration	Manno	Department of Business and Social Sciences
Master of Advanced Studies		MAS Clinica generale	Manno	Department of Business and Social Sciences
Master of Advanced Studies		MAS Cultural Management	Manno	Department of Business and Social Sciences
Master of Advanced Studies		MAS Gestione sanitaria	Manno	Department of Business and Social Sciences
Master of Advanced Studies		MAS Human capital management	Manno	Department of Business and Social Sciences
Master of Advanced Studies		MAS Industrial Engineering and Operations	Lugano
Master of Advanced Studies		MAS IT Management and Governance	Lugano
Master of Advanced Studies		MAS Library and Information Science	Lugano
Master of Advanced Studies		MAS Mobile and Internet Applications	Lugano
Diploma of Advanced Studies		DAS Gestione sanitaria	Manno
Diploma of Advanced Studies		DAS Indirizzo clinico	Manno
Diploma of Advanced Studies		DAS ICT Systems and Security
Master of Advanced Studies	Design	MAS Interaction Design	Mendrisio	Department for Environment Constructions and Design/Laboratory of Visual Culture	English

Research

A research service is co-managed by SUPSI and Università della Svizzera italiana.