What’s next after graduation? Bialystok University of Technology invites you to a debate on future skills

The meeting will begin at 12:15 p.m. in Room P0/33 of the Centre for Modern Education at BUT. The discussion will feature business representatives, students, and the academic community, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Katarzyna Halicka, DSc, PhD, Eng, Vice-Rector Education at Bialystok University of Technology.

– We want to reflect together on what employers expect. What matters to them? Because their expectations do not always align with what we – university teachers – consider important, says Prof. Halicka.

The panel will consist of three main thematic rounds. The first will focus on key competencies from the perspective of companies. Speakers will include: Krzysztof Falkowski, PhD, Eng. (MARK-BUD), Bożena Datczuk (TOBO), Krzysztof Garkowski (Kompania Piwowarska), Tomasz Michalik (SMP Poland), Grzegorz Sasinowski (APS S.A.) and Wojciech Winogrodzki, PhD, Eng. (T-Matic Grupa Computer Plus).

The second part of the debate will reflect the student perspective. Panel members will include Krzysztof Słoma from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences and Gabriela Tarasiuk from the Faculty of Engineering Management.

– We want to hear what our students need and whether what we offer in our study programmes meets their expectations, Prof. Halicka adds.

In the final round, participants will work together to develop specific recommendations on how the university and employers can better collaborate to support the development of young people’s competencies.

– The labour market is evolving rapidly. Recently we talked about green skills, now we all feel the breath of artificial intelligence. Yet soft skills – such as teamwork, communication, and adaptability – remain as important as ever, notes Prof. Halicka.

The meeting will also feature live polls and open questions for the audience via the Slido app. This will give all participants – including those not speaking on stage – an opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions.

Bialystok University of Technology is consistently aligning its educational offering with the needs of the labour market.

– This year we have introduced new study programmes: data science, project management, electromobility, agroecobusiness, and transport. We are also modernising existing programmes, such as automation and robotics or environmental engineering, says the Vice-Rector for Education.

The ‘What’s next after graduation?’ debate is open to all BUT students and staff, as well as representatives of companies and institutions that collaborate with the university.

– I warmly invite everyone to join. It will certainly be an interesting event, bringing together people from different backgrounds – science, business, and student communities. I believe we will draw valuable conclusions from this meeting, says Prof. Katarzyna Halicka.

by aj

Panel discussion: ‘What’s next after graduation? The skills employers are looking for’Organised as part of the European University Across project.

17 June 2025 (Tuesday), 12:15–13:45

Room P0/33, Centre for Modern Education, Bialystok University of Technology (16 Zwierzyniecka Street)

In 2024, Bialystok University of Technology joined the prestigious group of European Universities. Together with partners from nine European countries, it co-founded the Across – European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing consortium. The members share a long-term strategy in education and promoting European values. Across aims to boost the mobility of students, academic staff and researchers, as well as support the quality, integration, and competitiveness of European higher education.

The Across European University brings together 10 European universities: 9 full members from Banja Luka, Bialystok, Chemnitz, Craiova, Girona, Nova Gorica, Perpignan, Udine and Ruse, and one associated partner from Lviv. The network includes small and medium-sized universities located in medium-sized cities in cross-border regions.