The Polytechnic University of Milan (Italian: Politecnico di Milano, abbreviated as Polimi) is the largest public technical university in the country, with about 40,000 enrolled students. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and higher education courses in engineering, architecture and design. Established in 1863 by Francesco Brioschi, the Politecnico di Milano is the oldest university in Milan; inspired by German and Swiss polytechnics, Brioschi founded the school in the hope of bettering Italy's scientific and technological progress. By the 20th century, the school had gained international recognition thanks to its influential faculty and a strong emphasis on largely modernist principles. The university is made up of two central campuses in Milan, the Bovisa and Leonardo, wh...