University of Gastronomic Sciences

Infobox_University
name = University of Gastronomic Sciences



established = 2004
free_label = Dean
free = Alberto Capatti
type = Private
city = Bra
state = Piedmont
country = Italy
postgrad = 180
website = [http://www.unisg.it www.unisg.it]

University of Gastronomic Science is an academic institution that has two campuses in Northern Italy. The main campus is home to the three year undergraduate program and is located in Bra, a city in the north-west region of Piemonte. The other campus is in Colorno, a small town outside of Parma in the Emilia-Romagna region and hosts the Italian and English language masters programs. It was founded in 2004 by Carlo Petrini, the founder of the Slow Food Movement, as the first university devoted to the principles of the slow food movement, and it remains affiliated with the Slow Food movement. The main objective of the school is to bridge the gap between agricultural science and gastronomy.

History

The University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG) is a unique institution. From its inception in 2004, UNISG has been an innovative school by traditional European standards.

Organization and Structure

The University of Gastronomic Sciences is controlled by a Board of Directors - the Association of Friends of the University of Gastronomic Sciences.

Location

The University of Gastronomic Sciences is located in Pollenzo in the suburbs of Bra, Italy. [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=pollenzo,+italy&ie=UTF8&z=11&ll=44.686718,7.895737&spn=0.356857,0.854874&om=1&iwloc=addr]

The university is housed in the [http://www.agenziadipollenzo.com Agenzia di Pollenzo] and the Cascina Albertina, two renovated 19th-century farm structures. The Agenzia, which today has the appearance of a small castle, in fact comprises four separate entities: the University, the Michelin-starred restaurant Guido, the Banca del Vino (wine bank), and the Albergo dell'Agenzia, an upscale hotel and meeting facility. The University's administrative buildings and teaching spaces are spread between the two buildings, both of which have been retrofitted to modern standards. Students are housed approximately 10 kilometers from Pollenzo, in the town of Bra, Italy.

Housing

All students in the University are provided housing throughout the small town of Bra, Italy. Housing is located in converted apartment buildings throuhgout the town.

Academics

The University of Gastronomic Sciences offers a three-year undergraduate program, two one-year master's program, and a two-year specialized master. With the exception of the two-year program, students study an integrated mix of humanities, food science and technology, and economics, communications, and marketing. In addition to coursework, students are required to attend "stages" (field-study excursions) throughout Europe and the world. During this process of hands-on learning, students meet with local farmers, food producers, and professors, who explain in depth a particular product, tradition, or production area. The students also stay and visit the areas, observing local practices and tasting a wide range of regional food and drink. It is this experience that assists in the synthesis of the students' classroom learning, and is one of the unique differentiators of the UNISG curriculum.

While some course are taught in English, students are encouraged to have a strong working knowledge of both Italian and English.

Extracurricular Activities

Between October 26th and 30th, 2006, UNISG students attended the Terra Madre and Salone Del Gusto events in Turin, Italy. All students received free admission and were encouraged to attend numerous workshops and seminars on topics of interest. Ongoing participation in food conferences and events, such as Slow Fish in Genova in May, continues to be a part of the students' extracurricular activities.

Faculty

Notable faculty members at the University include Massimo Montanari, Alberto Capatti, and Carlo Petrini.