Detailed Information about the Officer Education System

Italy

Army

Education and Training Command and School of Applied Military Studies | Military Academy |

Academic curricula

Military specialisations
Bachelor
(basic education)		 Bachelor in:
-		 - Infantry
- Cavalry
- Artillery
- Engineering Combat Support
- Signal
- Logistics
- Financial
Master
(advanced education)		 Master in:
- Strategic and Military Sciences - Political Organisational (Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery);
- Strategic and Military Sciences - Infrastructural Systems (Engineering Combat Support);
- Strategic and Military Sciences - Communications (Signal);
- Strategic and Military Sciences - Logistics (Logistics);
- Strategic and Military Sciences - Economical Organisations (Financial);
- Mechanical Engineering (with Turin Polytechnics University TPU);
- Electronic Engineering (with TPU);
- Computer Engineering (with TPU);
- Telecommunication Engineering (with TPU);
- Civil Engineering (with TPU);
- Medicine
- Veterinary
Number of cadets first year: 180 Total number of cadets: 1000

Organisation of the basic officers' education:

(blue) = Academic Education ; (green)=Military Training

Year 1 (Master's degree)
A S ONDJ  F MA MJ  J  
            
            
Year 2 (Master's degree)
A S ONDJ  F MA MJ  J  
            
            
Year 3 (Master's degree)
A S ONDJ  F MA MJ  J  
            
            
Year 4 (Master's degree)
A S ONDJ  F MA MJ  J  
            
            
Year 5 (Master's degree)
A S ONDJ  F MA MJ  J  
            
            

Integration in the European Higher Education Area


Academic education:
Credit system Learning outcomes (described and used) Internal quality assurance mechanisms External quality assurance mechanisms Recognition of education taken abroad
Nature Ba Ma Following the European Standards and Guidelines Involving the students National accreditation Involving EQAR agencies
ECTS 120 - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Vocational training:
Credit system Learning outcomes (described and used) Implementation of the Sectorial Qualification Framework Internal quality assurance mechanisms National accreditation Recognition of education taken abroad
Nature Ba Ma Following the European Standards and Guidelines Involving the students
ECTS 60 40 Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Doctoral studies Forefront expertise and research fields of the main institution
Partnerships for the doctoral studies of Army officers are established with civilian institutions in Strategic Sciences. Research is made in the civilian institutions, which collaborate with the Academy in the initial training of the officers.

An exchange culture


Number of cadets sent during the last academic year: 9
Description of mobility experience
Italy in general and the military institutes in particular have a reliable experience and a solid tradition of mobility in both academic and vocational fields. They regularly host military students coming from its international, but also European, counterparts for benefiting from the excellence of the education and training provided. They have notably a strong experience in the full-curricula exchanges, aimed at training in the premises of the Academy officers for foreign armed forces.
Context:
Erasmus charter signed Member of fora Use of the framework arrangement Joint degrees with European military institutions
Yes EMACS - Yes| EUAFA - No| CSNA - No Yes No
Practice:
Academic Vocational Practice of full-curriculum mobility Common modules proposed Offer of "international programmes"
Sends
students		 Hosts students Exchanges staff Exchanges with civilian Sends
students		 Hosts students Exchanges staff
Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes - Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)
- Law of armed conflicts (LOAC)
 No

Learning of, learning in foreign languages
At the Academy during the bachelor education, the military students must learn at least English language. During the period they stay there, students are involved in a strong learning process regarding English standard skills and obtain a graduation through JFLT (SLP level 2222). Meanwhile the young officer, during additional three-year period in Turin, progressively develops his knowledge before attending three hours lessons during the week and during the 4th year an intensive English Learning Course of three months. The goal is to obtain a JFLT certification (SLP level 3333). During their military life the officers will have to pass English certificate exams every 3 years. Furthermore, they must study a second foreign language (French or Arabic) during the master education. The military institutions provide some courses in English language, such as the common modules developed in the framework of the Initiative for the exchange of young officers inspired by Erasmus, and have recognised them in their own education programmes.
Command of the English at the end of basic education and training (CEFRL/STANAG 6001):
- Speak Write Read Listen/Understand
Bachelor curriculum B2 / SLP 2 B2 / SLP 2 B2 / SLP 2 B2 / SLP 2
Master curriculum SLP 3 SLP 3 SLP 3 SLP 3

Before and beyond basic education
The future military officers are recruited among the young nationals who are graduated from secondary education and who have successfully complied with medical, physical and psychological standards as well as a general knowledge of the English language (optional). In addition, the candidates must attend a preliminary training that last for a maximum of 60 days.

In the course of their career, the Italian officers will receive additional education and training at an advanced level in Army and joint institutions, such as the Centre for Higher Defence Studies. These include: the Staff Course, the Joint Staff Course – possibly in foreign institutions –, the Battalion Commander Course, the Regiment Commander Course.