Bialystok University of Technology will receive PLN 20 million for the PB 5.0 project to support the education of personnel for the modern economy
13-06-2024
In the competition announced by the National Centre for Research and Development, universities could apply for funding if their projects included a comprehensive support programme implemented in selected fields of study, enabling the adaptation of students’ qualifications or competencies to the needs of the economy and the labour market, as well as the development of qualifications or competencies of the staff involved in the educational process in the funded fields of study.
A total of 211 projects were reviewed and evaluated in the competition, of which 47 applications received positive evaluations and were recommended for funding, while 164 applications received negative evaluations. In total, the NCBR will allocate PLN 462,736,901.14 to universities. On the ranking list of projects selected for funding from the FERS funds, the project of Bialystok University of Technology ranked third in terms of the grant awarded.
Bialystok University of Technology received funding of PLN 20,291,732.94 to implement the project “PB 5.0 – Adjusting the Educational Offer of Bialystok University of Technology to the Needs of the Modern Economy and the Green and Digital Transformation.” Its goals will be achieved through 8 substantive tasks, which include, among others, the launch of two new fields of study and the modernisation of six existing study programmes in collaboration with entrepreneurs.
– This is a targeted grant for the modernisation of study programmes in fields already offered by the university and the creation of two new, interesting fields of study, in line with the latest trends and staffing needs dictated by economic development, including the energy and digital transformation in our country. All to adjust the competencies of students and the qualifications of academic staff to the changing labour market conditions, – explains Assoc. Prof. Mirosław Świercz, DSc, PhD, Eng, Vice-Rector for Development at Bialystok University of Technology.
– It is worth emphasising that this has been the university’s approach for 75 years, as the main goal of education at Bialystok University of Technology has been and is to prepare engineering personnel for the needs of the economy. However, we have never before received such a significant financial boost to make a substantial improvement in the quality of both the educational infrastructure and the teaching methods themselves – adds Assoc. Prof. Mirosław Świercz, DSc, PhD, Eng, Vice-Rector for Development at Bialystok University of Technology.
The project of Bialystok University of Technology involves several aspects:
– The first relates to the purchase of modern educational apparatus, allowing students to practically verify acquired knowledge. It also includes activities to improve the competencies of the teaching staff and the implementation of various innovative teaching methods for students, including tutoring. The “Good Engineer Factory” programme will continue, in which students participate in various trainings and courses to enhance their competencies and undertake industrial internships. – announces Assoc. Prof. Mirosław Świercz, DSc, PhD, Eng.
– The funding will help modernise all three main elements of the educational process: who we educate, who educates, and what we educate on. If students are better educated at each of these stages, more modernly and appropriately to the issues they will face in their professional work, our goals will be achieved, – says the Vice-Rector for Development at Bialystok University of Technology.
Bialystok University of Technology plans to launch two new fields of study:
- Electromobility (bachelor’s degree) at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
- Transport (bachelor’s degree) – an inter-faculty programme carried out by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the Faculty of Engineering Management, and the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences.
– These are fields consistent with the development strategy of Bialystok University of Technology and also take into account the current needs of the market. Both sectors, electromobility and transport, are currently experiencing dynamic growth. This is a trend not only nationally but also globally. Graduates of these fields will be specialists needed by entrepreneurs, including those in our region, – says Daniel Puch, head of the Development and International Programmes Office at Bialystok University of Technology, which will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of the tasks in the PB 5.0 project.
The project also includes the modernisation of the curricula of seven existing fields of study:
- Eco-power engineering (bachelor’s degree) at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
- Electrical engineering (bachelor’s degree) dual studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
- Agricultural and food engineering (bachelor’s and master’s degrees) at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences,
- Mechatronics (bachelor’s degree) at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
- Computer science (bachelor’s and master’s degrees) at the Faculty of Computer Science.
The scope of activities within these tasks was developed in cooperation with employers, based on research on the needs of entrepreneurs and the opinions of the Business Councils operating at the faculties.
The academic staff involved in the educational process in these fields will also be supported. 127 lecturers will gain knowledge, qualifications, and competencies considering renewable energy sources, the Green Deal, and universal design.
As a result, 180 new subjects will be created and 48 will undergo significant modifications. New, attractive multimedia teaching materials adapted to new pilot teaching methods in exercises, projects, laboratories, and seminars will be developed. 94 new teaching positions will be created, and 54 existing ones will be modernised.
The university’s “Good Engineer Factory” programme will continue. In its fifth edition, it plans to implement additional educational elements to enhance students’ competencies (obtaining professional qualifications, industrial internships, study visits).
The PB 5.0 project will also introduce the STUDY@PB Programme. This is a novelty. The university aims to investigate and take actions to reduce the phenomenon of premature dropout by students. One way to achieve this may be a tutoring programme, which aims, among other things, to foster scientific development and strengthen students’ belief in their own abilities and potential.
The TEACHSKILLS 5.0 Programme will also be launched. Here, academic staff at Bialystok University of Technology can count on training and development of substantive competencies related to didactic or scientific-didactic activities.
The implementation of the project “PB 5.0 – Adjusting the Educational Offer of Bialystok University of Technology to the Needs of the Modern Economy and the Green and Digital Transformation” will continue until September 2029.
– Interestingly, the PB 5.0 project assumes continuous improvement of the university in terms of achieving the project’s goals. Since we are introducing new programme content, we will continuously monitor it together with the Quality of Education Department of Bialystok University of Technology and the Faculty Business Councils. Together, we will check whether the educational programmes meet the expectations of students and the economy. The project is long-term, and at each stage, we assume the possibility of updating to achieve the highest effectiveness of our actions, – emphasizes Daniel Puch.