Collaboration Between Students of Bialystok University of Technology and University of Colorado

The three-day ‘kick-off meeting’ began on 23 September. The guests were welcomed at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences by Katarzyna Kalinowska-Wichrowska, PhD, Eng, Vice-Dean for Development and Cooperation at the Faculty.
The American students met with a group of students from Bialystok University of Technology to discuss project details and the next stages. They also visited playgrounds in Białystok and Supraśl, took part in study visits to local companies, and learned about student research groups at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences (SKN Green Space), the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (Cerber Motorsport), and the Faculty of Engineering Management (Logistics Research Group “LogiSQUAD”).

– This is a fantastic opportunity for landscape architecture students to develop their skills. Students from Bialystok University of Technology will collaborate with students from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado. Together, they will create a playground to be built in one of the parks in Colorado Springs, primarily for children with various disabilities. This collaboration is especially interesting from both educational and scientific perspectives. We have the chance to see how American students are introduced to the market. We hope to adopt similar solutions at our university, – said Dorota Gawryluk, PhD, Eng, Arch., an academic at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences at Bialystok University of Technology.

Bialystok University of Technology has been developing cooperation with the American university in Colorado Springs for several years. Prof. Peter J. Gorder, Head of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado, actively seeks opportunities worldwide to form interdisciplinary student teams capable of solving various problems presented by industries or investors.

– For many years, I have been working with students from the University of Colorado on the CAPSTONE programme, which aims to seamlessly transition students from engineering students to practising engineers. We achieve this by solving real-world problems posed by external clients. We work as a team, with members responsible for all aspects of the project. A few years ago, I enriched this programme with an international collaboration option. This is a result of the globalisation of the economy and the increasing importance of international corporations. More and more engineers work in interdisciplinary, international teams with members spread across the globe. I wanted to provide our students with the opportunity to collaborate in such conditions, which is why we came to Bialystok University of Technology, – said Prof. Peter J. Gorder from the University of Colorado.

Over the next few months, students from Bialystok University of Technology and the University of Colorado will jointly design a playground for children with various disabilities.

– Designing a playground is a challenge for the designer. It requires safe land development, placement of equipment, and filling the space with greenery. This is why it is an exciting platform for collaboration between mechanical engineering students and landscape architecture students, – added Dorota Gawryluk, PhD, Eng, Arch.

The playground designed by the international and interdisciplinary team of students will be built in one of the parks in Colorado Springs.

Also read:

Visit of Prof. Peter J. Gorder from the University of Colorado
Bialystok University of Technology establishes cooperation with universities in the USA

by mr