Training systems: Tennessee educational institutions visit Sassuolo

On Wednesday 17 June, a distinguished delegation of senior representatives from leading technical institutes and colleges in the State of Tennessee – home to the main US ceramic tile manufacturing district – visited Confindustria Ceramica as part of a three-day study tour of the Sassuolo industrial district and its education and training systems.

The mission was organised by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development with the aim of strengthening the professional skills required by the US ceramic industry, while also addressing the growing challenges companies face in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel.

During the meeting, the Italian side presented key data on the national ceramic industry, which continues to maintain a world-leading position in terms of export value thanks to sustained investment by companies. Participants were also introduced to the Association’s initiatives aimed at communicating the sector’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

Following a visit to the Documentation Centre of the Italian Ceramic Tile Industry, the training programmes supported by Confindustria Ceramica were presented together with several key local partners. Laura Venuti, Deputy Headteacher of IIS “Alessandro Volta”, illustrated the institute’s best practices and the strong relationship between schools and the local industrial community. Cristina Siligardi, Professor at the “Enzo Ferrari” Department of Engineering at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Unimore) and President of I.Cer.S., outlined the university and advanced training pathways designed to develop highly specialised professionals. Finally, Benedetta Ferrari, Project Coordinator at Centro Ceramico, delivered a presentation on the centre’s research and testing activities for the ceramic industry.