The University of Macerata is launching, for the 2025/2026 academic year, the first edition of the First-Level Master’s Degree in “Marketing, Communication and Journalism in the Nautical Sector – MCGN”, an advanced training program that combines academic excellence with first-hand knowledge of the nautical industry and its production chain.
The one-year program, amounting to a total of 1,500 hours (equivalent to 60 university credits – CFU), aims to train professionals capable of working in nautical marketing, corporate communication and specialized journalism. Participants will acquire strategic and technical skills essential for engaging with companies, institutions, media and professionals in a sector that represents one of the finest examples of Italian excellence worldwide.
The Master will admit a maximum of 40 students and will be activated once 25 enrollments are confirmed. Classes will start in April 2026 and conclude in April 2027, following a blended learning format with both in-person lessons and online activities through a dedicated e-learning platform.
The Master was conceived by Fabio Petrone, Director of PressMare, in collaboration with Maurizio Minossi, President of the Marche Yachting and Cruising Association. They proposed the initiative to John Francis McCourt, Rector of the University of Macerata, with the goal of creating an academic pathway dedicated to developing new professional profiles in nautical marketing and communication.
The project was developed by a team led by Professor Elena Cedrola, Chair of International Marketing and Director of the Department of Economics and Law at the University of Macerata, with the support of Roberta Sabatini, Image and Communication Manager at Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard; Tünde Harkácsi, Marketing & Communication Manager at Videoworks; Virginia De Carlo, Marketing Director at Palumbo Superyachts; and Fabio Petrone himself.
Born from the synergy between academia and the nautical industry, the Master offers an innovative educational path designed to meet the real communication and promotional needs of companies throughout the Italian nautical supply chain.
The launch comes at a time of significant growth for the national boating industry. Italy, the world leader in superyacht production, currently holds more than 50% of the global market share for delivered yachts — a figure expected to grow further over the next five years according to major international sources.
The MCGN Master integrates skills in strategic marketing, corporate communication, sectoral journalism and public relations, applying them directly to real contexts such as shipbuilding, accessories, refit, port management and nautical tourism services. The study plan includes modules on marketing and communication principles, analysis of the nautical industry and maritime law, technology and yacht design, brand communication and corporate identity, media mix and digital communication, sector events, co-marketing and co-branding, as well as technical English and managerial soft skills.
The program consists of 239 hours of coursework — 80 in-person and 159 online — plus 250 hours of internship or project work at shipyards, companies in the supply chain, media outlets or nautical organizations, including international placements.
Designed to foster direct contact with the professional world, the Master includes meetings with shipyard managers, specialized journalists and communication executives from leading nautical companies and associations, ensuring participants acquire skills that are immediately applicable in the job market.
Career opportunities include positions in marketing and communication departments of shipyards and related companies, editorial offices of trade magazines and media, press offices and PR agencies, as well as roles within trade associations, tourism and port authorities, yacht clubs and charter companies.
The Master is open to graduates with a first-level degree interested in pursuing a career in nautical marketing and communication, with professional prospects both in Italy and abroad.
Classes will be held on a biweekly schedule, alternating between in-person and online sessions, with one intensive on-campus weekend approximately every six weeks. The University of Macerata’s e-learning platform allows students to follow lessons live or on demand, with access to all materials 24/7. Attendance is mandatory for at least 75% of the total hours. Internships may also be carried out remotely or in hybrid mode, depending on the host company’s needs.
Information and enrollment
Full details and the official call for applications are available on the University of Macerata’s website (www.unimc.it), in the section dedicated to postgraduate programs.
