2022
Italy
Italian TSO Terna developed a Master’s programme with three Italian universities on electricity system digitalisation, promoting education and employment opportunities in the region of the company’s Tyrrhenian Link project.
Highlights
01
The co-design approach allows to combine academic standards and alignment with industrial needs.
02
The initiative aims to contribute to local education and employability.
03
In the most recent edition, female participation has seen a 27% increase.
Main Information
Through the Tyrrhenian Lab (T‑Lab) Master’s Programme, Terna illustrates how electricity infrastructure development can deliver long-term benefits to local communities through targeted investment in education. Launched in 2022 in the context of the Tyrrhenian Link project, one of Italy’s most strategic electricity interconnections, the Programme aims to establish a centre of excellence for training that supports the energy transition and the digitalisation of the electricity system.
The T‑Lab degree is a one-year second-level university programme delivered annually from November to October. It is structured in ten theoretical-practical modules providing advanced training in digital technologies for power grids, automation and control systems, data analysis, and energy market models. Teaching activities are complemented by laboratory work and a final project based on real operational challenges.
A key feature of the initiative is its co-design approach. The Programme, developed by Terna and the Universities of Cagliari, Palermo and Salerno, ensures high academic standards while aligning training content with industrial needs and local development priorities. Emphasis is placed on innovation and employability, particularly within the territories hosting the new infrastructure. By embedding the programme in the affected territories, the initiative strengthens local skills and institutional capacity. Across the first three editions, ~160 participants were subsequently hired by Terna in local offices, supporting qualified and stable employment, particularly in Southern Italy. Interest has increased steadily, with up to ~400 applications and a 27% increase in female participation recorded in the most recent edition.
The programme also includes a monitoring and evaluation system. At the end of each module, participants asses teaching quality and learning outcomes, while lecturers assess engagement and learning responsiveness. This feedback process supports ongoing improvements in teaching quality and programme design.
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