Handicraft professions, its course in Milan
Theory and practice. The duration is two years with compulsory attendance and twenty places available. Thanks to NRP funds it is free of charge
by Enrico Netti
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3' min read
3' min read
The Its watchmaking technician course has been set up in Milan and thanks to NRP funds it is free of charge. It is a two-year course that ends with the issue of an Its diploma recognised throughout the European Union. This is the evolution of the historic training course for watch repairman, a course promoted and supported by Assorologi and Capac, the Trade and Tourism Polytechnic, under the banner of the Its Academy Innovaprofessioni. The Watchmaking School has been in operation for 40 years and has trained a total of around 700 watchmakers.
"The last selections will take place between 8 and 10 July to select the best 20 students who will attend the course that will start after the summer," explains Gabriele Cartasegna, director of Capac and Its Academy Innovaprofessioni. "All you need is a high school diploma and there are no particular age constraints because we have thought of adults who want to undertake this activity.
There will be two stages in the selections: first an interview to understand the motivations for embarking on this professional path, then the practical test, all focused on manual skills. The lessons will be held by teachers, experts and technicians made available by the four companies, Richemont, Swatch, Rolex and Citizen, which support the project.
Watchmaking is a historical profession and requires uncommon skills, but it seems to have little appeal among potential candidates. "10-15% of the students in past watchmaking technician courses were women, very good at manual dexterity and precision, but perhaps this profession has little appeal," Cartasegna continues. "We greet with satisfaction the conclusion of a process that allows, without interruption, the continuation of the two-year watchmaking course from Capac to Its Academy Innovaprofessioni," adds Simonpaolo Buongiardino, president of Capac and Its Academy Innovaprofessioni, "freeing young people who want to undertake this professional activity from having to bear the costs of tuition fees. This will give further impetus and attractiveness to this highly specialised training'.
The Its watchmaking technician course has a total duration of 1,800 hours over two years with theoretical lessons on repair techniques, applied IT, languages and marketing with mini internships in companies. Among other things, you also learn how to make missing parts of vintage watches from scratch.
