The mutual influences between technology and society: a contribution from the mechanical engineering diploma Universitario of the University of Rome la Sapienza

The aim of this work is to present some recent developments of the mutual actions which are exchanged between University, technology, and society. After an historical review, some new influence sources are pointed out and analyzed, taken from the direct experience of the organization of a three year diploma course of mechanical engineering at the Italian University level. In particular, the capacities, which the enterprises require from the new graduates, are firstly investigated; then, some useful activities and educational methods are detected; interchanging activities with some local and national enterprises are also presented. The renewal of the role the University is called to play in society is finally analyzed, suggesting some activities which allow interactive exchanges between the University itself and many important components of the society