Located atop a seaside cliff, the Sant'Anna Institute is housed in a prominent building offering breathtaking views of the Marina Grande of Sorrento. Your PHYS 152 and lab are taught by esteemed visiting faculty from around the world, vetted by the University of Michigan International Engineering Programs. Other courses are rooted in experiential learning, which means you'll get a unique, hands-on experience no matter what additional courses you choose.
The grounds offer a tranquil garden, and the campus building houses classrooms, a student lounge, a kitchen, and residential rooms on the top two floors. From the Institute, you can reach the city center by foot in just fifteen minutes, and the train station is a quick 20-minute walk. When you're not studying, you can join service learning opportunities, language exchange groups, and volunteer projects - as well as explore the city and relax.
The Sant'Anna Institute, founded in 1998, is a private institute accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education, and is a member of Edu Italia. Courses are accredited by Jacksonville University, which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Practical work experience
Students on this program can participate in a non-credit bearing practical work experience (10 hours/week for 5 weeks). Below you'll find sample placement and project details to give you an idea of the types of placements available!
Sample Placement: Manufacturing & electronic design companyWork at an Italian company specializing in electronic design and manufacturing. Initially focused on consulting for electronic and information system design, it has expanded to handle multidisciplinary projects, including prototyping and production of complex devices and infrastructures. The company operates in various sectors such as medical electronics, industrial automation, automotive, mechanical design, information technology, web solutions, artificial intelligence, and research and development. Its services encompass the entire product development lifecycle, from initial concept through development to prototyping and final production, ensuring quality and traceability through automated testing systems.
Sample projects:
- Brief introduction to programming on embedded devices
- Development of drivers for different chips ( ADC,DAC,EEPROM, Motor Drivers ) for microcontrollers classes STM32 or ESP32
- Development of modules for cloud portals ( HTML,CSS,PHP,MYSQL ) adequate for 4.0 industry requirements.
- Development of firmware for microprocessors ESP32 or STM32 providing connectivity to the device and enabling transmission of statistical, diagnostic data and remote updates.
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Sample Placement: Healthcare facility
Work at a state-of-the-art, multifunctional healthcare facility offering a wide range of rehabilitation and medical services for both children and adults. The center is designed to be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, featuring assistive technologies like the Loges system for the blind and Braille visual-tactile maps. The center provides outpatient services including physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, and neuro-motor rehabilitation, with options for both individual and group treatments. Additionally, it hosts specialized medical clinics in orthopedics, phoniatrics, physiatry, sports medicine, and neuropsychiatry, and also offers home-based treatments
Sample projects:
- Work on the clinic’s project to develop virtual reality game-based therapeutic environments to improve cognitive-behavioral skills in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Research and learn the new system of this taylor made program.
- Study the difficulties of therapists in utilizing the new methodology.
- Testing different methodologies and their measurement of learning improvement.
- Testing the validity, in terms of psychotherapy and speech therapy, of the robot designed to serve as a mediator between autistic children and the external world.
Sample Placement: Tour company
Work at a tour company that prides itself on crafting well-balanced itineraries that combine sightseeing, activities, and leisure time, ensuring trips are both memorable and enjoyable. This company believes in the power of travel to broaden horizons, connect cultures, and create lasting memories.
Sample projects
- Design, optimization, and personal implementation of online site’s performance. Design, and put into practice your own rate structures and strategies, describing, predicting, and optimizing system performance
- Rate analysis. Analyze current rate structures and pricing policies to understand existing practices.
- Competitor Benchmarking: Compare rates with those of key competitors identifying areas for differentiation.
- Market Research: Stay updated on market trends, special events, and demand drivers that influence rate decisions.
- Guest Preferences: Analyze guest feedback and preferences to tailor rates and fees to customer needs.
- Reporting: Create a comprehensive report detailing the entire rate and fee design process and observed outcomes.
Sample Placement: Marine Conservation & EcotourismWork with a dedicated team of marine biologists and environmental educators at a leading marine conservation organization in Italy. This internship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the preservation of marine ecosystems, gain hands-on experience in marine biology, and promote sustainable tourism practices. Interns will engage in a variety of projects designed to align with their skills and interests, as well as the needs of the organization.
Sample Projects:
- Ieranto Bay Conservation Program: Participate in a long-term conservation initiative in Ieranto Bay. Activities include biodiversity monitoring, managing an information point, leading guided tours, organizing beach cleanups, and conducting environmental awareness campaigns.
- UNIMARE Marine Biology Education: Support marine biology courses and educational experiences at UNIMARE, including snorkeling excursions and laboratory activities. Assist in delivering hands-on education to student groups, focusing on ocean habitats and conservation strategies.
- Marine Turtle Nesting Monitoring: Engage in early morning beach monitoring and protect turtle nests, documenting hatchings and assisting in turtle rescues. Contribute to educational content creation for the organization’s website and blog.
- Ecotourism Development: Collaborate on enhancing and promoting the ‘Ecotourism Manual,’ translating content and expanding communication channels. Work on internationalizing ecotourism initiatives and marketing materials.
Sample Placement: E-Commerce & Logistics Data Analysis at an online retail platformWork at an online retail platform which sells a wide range of products across Italy and Europe. The company operates through its own online store as well as major marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, ManoMano, and Eprice. This internship offers the opportunity to gain experience in e-commerce operations, logistics, and data-driven cost optimization.
Sample Projects:
- Import & Export Data Analysis: Develop strategies to simplify importing procedures and reduce shipping costs through data analytics. Analyze transportation costs to optimize supply chain efficiency.
- Volume & Cost Calculation: Calculate product volume in CUFT (cubic foot) and cubic meters to determine optimal shipping methods and costs.
- Cost Allocation for Transportation: Assist in assigning transportation costs to individual products based on volume and shipping parameters, helping to enhance pricing and logistics strategies.
- Software Integration for Cost Analysis: Work alongside the company's development team to implement mathematical calculations and formulas into the company’s software, supporting the purchasing department in cost analysis.
