Summer in Italy - Manufacturing Industries

MET 270 - Manufacturing Industries
(Anticipated dates: June 6-19, 2027)
 

DESCRIPTION

Join Prof. Khosro Shirvani in Milan and Bologna this summer! This initiative will provide Farmingdale State College Engineering Technology students with an immersive international experience focused on advanced manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and global manufacturing supply chains. Students will visit universities and small, medium-sized, and multinational manufacturing companies in Milan and Bologna, Italy, gaining firsthand exposure to European approaches to automation, precision manufacturing, engineering, quality, sustainability, and workforce development. As U.S. manufacturing continues to expand in strategic importance, engineers and technologists must understand how manufacturing operates within a global economy. The initiative will strengthen students’ technical and professional skills, broaden their global perspective, and improve their readiness for careers in modern U.S. manufacturing.You'll experience the beauty of northern Italy, while getting your fill of authentic pasta and gelato!

Program fee for tuition, housing, excursions, special meals, and insurance is $3,490. The program fee does not include international airfare from/to the USA, most meals, or personal expenses. 

Eligibility and information:

MET 270 is open to SUNY students majoring in Engineering or Business
GPA Requirement: 2.75
Good disciplinary standing
Application deadline (and $500 deposit) March 16, 2027.  

Scholarships:

Students who receive Pell awards are eligible for the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship (early March 2027 deadline)
Check out other Scholarships. 

Course Objectives:

• Expose students to European manufacturing technologies, processes, and management practices.
• Develop students’ understanding of global manufacturing supply chains and the relationship between domestic and international production.
• Compare U.S. and European approaches to automation, Industry 4.0, quality, sustainability, and workforce development.
• Provide direct interaction with practicing engineers, technicians, managers, and university faculty.
• Demonstrate how small and medium-sized manufacturers contribute to regional and global supply chains alongside multinational corporations.
• Connect classroom concepts to real-world manufacturing environments.
• Strengthen students’ cultural competency, communication skills, and global perspective.
• Increase students’ confidence and preparedness to pursue careers in the rapidly evolving U.S. manufacturing sector.

Dr. Khosro Shirvani is an assistant professor in the Mechanical Engineering Technology at Farmingdale State College (FSC). His research areas include Tribology, Additive Manufacturing of Metals, Renewable Energy, and Engineering Education. Since 2011, He has worked on projects sponsored by The Boeing Company, the National Institute of Standards & Technology, and National Science Foundation. 

Over the past 9 years, he has developed and taught novel hands-on skill-building courses with a focus on design, manufacturing and clean energy technologies. He was also involved in creating a certificate program in Wind Turbine Technology at FSC and authored a paper on developing wind turbine educational programs on the east coast.  (“Developing a Premier Wind Turbine Technology Programs in the East Coast: A Novus Industry and Academia Collaborative Approach” at the 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition). Prior to 2011, He served as an innovation consultant to turbine engineering and manufacturing companies where he provided and oversaw maintenance strategies for a variety of electro-mechanical and manufacturing equipment. Khosro is a member-at-large of the Volunteer Orientation & Leadership Training Academy of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and was a 2018-19 ASME ECLIPSE Member of the Board of Governors.