Technical skills and industrial culture: process control seminar at the University of Cagliari

In recent weeks, a seminar on process control was held at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of the University of Cagliari, as part of the activities of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering. The seminar was aimed at students in Professor Roberto Baratti’s Chemical Process Development Theory course. The lecture was enriched by presentations by Saras managers, who offered a practical understanding of the functioning of a large integrated industrial site and its role in the national and European energy system.

The seminar, aimed at first-year students in the Chemical Engineering for Process Innovation and Sustainability degree program, provided an overview of the strategic role of a large industrial plant in the national and European energy context.

The meeting explored the company’s positioning in the industrial and economic-social context, the structure of the refinery’s production processes, and the logic governing the daily operations of a complex plant. The final part of the seminar focused on the more technical aspects of advanced process control, with a focus on technologies and methodologies that optimize efficiency, safety, and performance.

The second part of the seminar introduced students to the operational reality of an integrated industrial site, through concrete examples, case studies, and insights into automation, control systems, and process management in modern manufacturing environments.

In closing, Professor Baratti emphasized the value of direct interaction between academia and industry: an essential step in guiding the educational path, developing application skills, and offering students case studies relevant to the real-world challenges of the workplace.