Sacmi a key promoter of design and prototyping skills

To train professionals specialised in industrial and artistic ceramic while giving new impetus to that "know-how" culture which made this areas so wealthy - an area currently being put to the test by the severity of the economic crisis. Those goals have now led to the establishment of the Tonito Emiliani Higher Technical Training Institute, with Sacmi playing the role of active partner together with other leading local companies.

The course in question will last two years. Twenty-five places are available to both Italians and foreigners in possession of a high school diploma. Over 30% of the total number of course hours will be set aside for in-company work experience "with the extraordinary opportunity" states Giovanni Savorani, President of Gigacer and board member of Confindustria Ceramica, "to gain experience at Sacmi's pilot plants".

These outstanding vocational courses, a valid alternative to traditional university qualifications, are sponsored by the Region of Emilia-Romagna; such Technical Training Institutes, in fact, are based on the establishment of direct relations with the world of work and specific professions. Hence the decision to name this new Faenza-based institute after Tonito Emiliani, long-standing Headmaster of the Ballardini Institute and a pioneer of that ceramic excellence for which Faenza is famed, not to mention esteemed author of ceramic technology textbooks.

This is the first time in Italy that a free higher education course for the ceramic sector has been made available. The town's vice-mayor, Massimo Isola, believes it could, indeed, provide "a welcome boost to the ceramic system". The Tonito Emiliani Higher Training Institute will become operative as from the academic year 2013-2014. Students wishing to attend the course must apply by 7^th October 2013: the relative forms can be downloaded at www.fitstic.it.