Ducati prepares the specialists of the future with the DESI project

Ducati – Ducati continues to collaborate and support the world of schools for the training of future technicians and specialists. Since September, the DESI (Dual Education System Italy) project has moved from the experimental phase of DESI I (2014-2016) to the institutional one, becoming an integral part of the last two-year school period of the “Belluzzi Fioravanti” Professional Institute of Bologna, as a path of "enhanced" school-work alternation, within the framework of the provisions of the so-called "Good School" reform (L. 107/2015).

The experimental phase of DESI I ended with great success, on the one hand becoming a reference model in Italy for the experiences of school-work alternation and application of the dual system, on the other in its primary aim: to increase the employment of technical profiles in the Motor Valley. In addition to the specific and practical training received by the participants, at the end of the course six of the students from this first phase were hired by Ducati with apprenticeship contracts. In this second phase, the 26 students of DESI II have started their training path: all enrolled in the 4th year, for the next two years the students will alternate one month in the classroom with one month of training in the company, for a total total of 1.000 hours in company Training Centers. The "Good School" reform provides for a minimum of 400 hours, a large part of which is dedicated to so-called "situation learning" within the production departments, strictly alongside expert personnel but without production purposes.

The kids from the "Belluzzi Fioravanti" institute who chose to carry out the DESI II in Ducati have already spent the entire month of November in Borgo Panigale. Their day took place between theoretical and practical lessons and group exercises, to acquire the skills needed to become mechatronic technicians and CNC operators (numerically controlled machines). Divided into two groups, the first have already undertaken the learning path in the so-called "learning stations", positioned near the assembly lines and where they have begun to observe and replicate increasingly complex operations; the group of CNC operators, however, began to learn to draw and design in CAD and to create the first workshop parts/tools.

Combining school education with practical training in the company, the DESI II program also aims to safeguard technical skills in the Motor Valley area to offer solid professional growth prospects to younger people. Last April 26, the Regional Education Office, the Emilia Romagna Region, Ducati and Automobili Lamborghini signed the protocol which renews for another three years (two biennial study courses) the dual training course promoted since 2014 by the two Italian companies of the Group Audi. On the same date, the agreement was also signed with the Representatives and Trade Unions that support the initiative.