For some, Italy is synonymous with exquisite food, wine, and shoes, but at URI, Italy’s engineering accomplishments are what come to mind. From the Roman aqueducts to the Venice canals and an array of high-performance cars, Italian engineered items are among the best in the world. That’s why URI’s world-renowned International Engineering Program has just added an Italian option in partnership with the University of Calabria.

“Italy is one of the most highly industrialized countries in the world, where engineers work to design some of the world’s best cars, motorcycles, bicycles, small appliances, and electronics. And the University of Calabria has one of the oldest and most prestigious engineering programs in Italy, with especially strong civil and mechanical engineering programs and a new program in architectural engineering. It is the ideal partner for URI in Italy,” said Michelangelo La Luna, associate professor of Italian and director of the Italian International Engineering Program.

URI’s 26-year-old International Engineering Program, the first of its kind in the United States and a national model, is a five-year program in which students earn a B.A. in a language and a B.S. in engineering, and spend one full year abroad, studying at a partner institution in Germany, France, Spain, China, and now, Italy, and working at leading engineering firms overseas. It’s also a program with close to a 100 percent job placement rate within six months after graduation.

“The program [in Italy] will provide our students with even greater opportunities to prepare for global engineering careers in Italian-owned companies with global operations, such as Ferrari, Fiat/Chrysler, GTECH, and Barilla,” said International Engineering Program Director Sigrid Berka. The first URI students to participate in the new program will likely travel to Calabria in the 2014-2015 academic year.