University of Gastronomic Sciences
Encyclopedia
University of Gastronomic Sciences is an international academic institution in Northern Italy
. The campus is located in Bra, a city in the north-west region of Piedmont
. It was founded in 2004 by Carlo Petrini
, the founder of the Slow Food Movement, as the first university specifically devoted to study the inextricable links between food and cultures.
in the suburbs of Bra, Italy. http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=pollenzo,+italy&ie=UTF8&z=11&ll=44.686718,7.895737&spn=0.356857,0.854874&om=1&iwloc=addr
The university is housed in the Agenzia di Pollenzo and the Cascina Albertina, two renovated 19th-century farm structures. The Agenzia, which today has the appearance of a small castle, in fact comprises four separate entities: the University, the Michelin-starred restaurant Guido, the Banca del Vino (wine bank), and the Albergo dell'Agenzia, an upscale hotel and meeting facility. The University's administrative buildings and teaching spaces are spread between the two buildings, both of which have been retrofitted to modern standards. Students are housed approximately 10 kilometers from Pollenzo, in the town of Bra, Italy.
academic credits), two one-year master's program (Italian Gastronomy and Tourism, Food Culture and Communications, 60 credits each), and a two-year master (MA in Promotion and Management of the Turistic and Gastronomic Heritage, 120 credits). With the exception of the two-year program, students study an integrated mix of humanities (history of food, food aesthetics), food bioscience and technology (including nutritional sciences, molecular principles of taste, agroecology, organic agriculture, and ethnobiology), food anthropology and sociology, communications, and economics. In addition to coursework, students are required to attend field-study excursions throughout Europe and the world. During this process of hands-on learning, students meet with local farmers, food producers, and professors, who explain in depth a particular product, tradition, or production area. The students also stay and visit the areas, observing local/traditional practices and tasting a wide range of regional food and drink. It is this experience that assists in the synthesis of the students' classroom learning, and is one of the unique differentiators of the UNISG curriculum.
While some course are taught in English, students are encouraged to have a strong working knowledge of both Italian and English.
and Salone Del Gusto events in Turin
, Italy. All students are encouraged to contribute and actively participate in numerous workshops and seminars on topics of interest. Ongoing participation in sevreral food conferences and events, such as the bi-annual Slow Fish in Genova in spring, are also part of the students' extracurricular activities.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The campus is located in Bra, a city in the north-west region of Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
. It was founded in 2004 by Carlo Petrini
Carlo Petrini
Carlo Petrini , born in the province of Cuneo in the commune of Bra in Italy, is the founder of the International Slow Food Movement...
, the founder of the Slow Food Movement, as the first university specifically devoted to study the inextricable links between food and cultures.
History
The University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG) is a unique institution. From its inception in 2004, UNISG has been an innovative school by international standards.Organization and Structure
The University of Gastronomic Sciences is directed by an Excutive Board and a Faculty Council.Location
The University of Gastronomic Sciences is located in PollenzoPollentia
thumb|250px|Church of San Vittore at Pollenzo.Pollentia was an ancient city the left bank of the Tanaro, known today as Pollenzo, a frazione of Bra in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, northern Italy....
in the suburbs of Bra, Italy. http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=pollenzo,+italy&ie=UTF8&z=11&ll=44.686718,7.895737&spn=0.356857,0.854874&om=1&iwloc=addr
The university is housed in the Agenzia di Pollenzo and the Cascina Albertina, two renovated 19th-century farm structures. The Agenzia, which today has the appearance of a small castle, in fact comprises four separate entities: the University, the Michelin-starred restaurant Guido, the Banca del Vino (wine bank), and the Albergo dell'Agenzia, an upscale hotel and meeting facility. The University's administrative buildings and teaching spaces are spread between the two buildings, both of which have been retrofitted to modern standards. Students are housed approximately 10 kilometers from Pollenzo, in the town of Bra, Italy.
Housing
All students in the University are provided housing throughout the small town of Bra, Italy. Housing is located in converted apartment buildings throughout the town.Academics
The University of Gastronomic Sciences offers a three-year undergraduate program (BSc in Gastronomic Sciences, 180 Europeanacademic credits), two one-year master's program (Italian Gastronomy and Tourism, Food Culture and Communications, 60 credits each), and a two-year master (MA in Promotion and Management of the Turistic and Gastronomic Heritage, 120 credits). With the exception of the two-year program, students study an integrated mix of humanities (history of food, food aesthetics), food bioscience and technology (including nutritional sciences, molecular principles of taste, agroecology, organic agriculture, and ethnobiology), food anthropology and sociology, communications, and economics. In addition to coursework, students are required to attend field-study excursions throughout Europe and the world. During this process of hands-on learning, students meet with local farmers, food producers, and professors, who explain in depth a particular product, tradition, or production area. The students also stay and visit the areas, observing local/traditional practices and tasting a wide range of regional food and drink. It is this experience that assists in the synthesis of the students' classroom learning, and is one of the unique differentiators of the UNISG curriculum.
While some course are taught in English, students are encouraged to have a strong working knowledge of both Italian and English.
Extracurricular Activities
UNISG students attend in October the biennial Terra MadreTerra Madre
Terra Madre is a network of food communities, each committed to producing quality food in a responsible, sustainable way. Terra Madre also refers to a major bi-annual conference held in Torino, Italy intended to foster discussion and introduce innovative concepts in the field of food, gastronomy,...
and Salone Del Gusto events in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Italy. All students are encouraged to contribute and actively participate in numerous workshops and seminars on topics of interest. Ongoing participation in sevreral food conferences and events, such as the bi-annual Slow Fish in Genova in spring, are also part of the students' extracurricular activities.