The priority of Bialystok University of Technology is to educate practice-oriented engineers. Cooperation with Hydro-Vacuum S.A. – a leader in the pump and pumping systems manufacturing industry in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, with over 160 years of experience – offers students of Bialystok University of Technology a chance to gain unique experience and non-standard professional opportunities.
– The partnership is primarily aimed at enriching the educational offer for students, especially those of Environmental Engineering in higher semesters, through specialist lectures on pumping stations and pumping systems – explains Assoc. Prof. Maria Walery, PhD, Eng from the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences of Bialystok University of Technology. – Another key aspect is providing internships and implementation doctorates, enabling the best students and doctoral candidates to conduct research and development work directly within the company. This initiative is perceived as an excellent example of how a regional technical university should effectively cooperate with the business environment.
Hydro-Vacuum S.A. is a dynamically developing leader in the pump manufacturing industry in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, with many years of experience. The beginnings of the factory in Grudziądz date back to 1862.
– There is a shortage of engineers on the market and the company has already for some time been undertaking activities related to promoting engineering sciences – says Mariusz Simiński, Member of the Management Board and Sales Director of Hydro-Vacuum S.A. – For many years we have cooperated with various universities of technology, because this is a market need. Recently, in order to be able to benefit from funding, both the university and we as entrepreneurs must jointly apply for various types of projects. This is a very nice combination of science with a developing industry.
The company is constantly developing new pump designs, modernising existing ones and customising its products.
– We are one of the few Polish companies that have their own research and development department. There are almost 40 people working there at the factory in Grudziądz – emphasises Simiński. – We take care not only of development, but also of creating a completely new product range. We also obtain external funding and are currently in the process of implementing another stage of creating a new pump series.
The company offers Bialystok University of Technology specialist lectures/workshops/seminars for students of the Environmental Engineering study programme, internships, implementation doctorates, and joint research projects aimed at applying for grants/research projects. Hydro-Vacuum S.A. wants to cooperate with various Faculties of Bialystok University of Technology.
– We are constantly looking for new people to design pumps – admits Simiński. – Hence such promotion and encouragement of young people by us as a factory to participate in the seminars we organise. We can see that there is a shortage of pump engineers on the market. That is why we are undertaking these activities today, so that we can ensure staff for tomorrow to work in design.
On 20 November, Natalia Kaszubowska, Project Team Manager in the research and development department of Hydro-Vacuum S.A. in Grudziądz, delivered a specialist lecture entitled “Pumps and pumping systems” for students of the Environmental Engineering and Thermal Power Engineering study programmes.
– We want to start by proposing topics for Master’s theses – reveals Simiński. – We give our employees the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies, so I think that apart from Master’s or engineering theses, it is possible to gain much greater experience in cooperation with our company.
The company is also preparing, in agreement with universities of technology, topics for implementation doctorates.
– We have three such doctorates – says Simiński. – We also employ two doctors.
The company will invite students of Bialystok University of Technology to convince them of its potential and opportunities for professional development.
– We are planning such cooperation that we will also be able to conduct some of the classes that take place here at the university at our factory, to show how the pump production process works – declares the Member of the Management Board of Hydro-Vacuum S.A. – I think this will be an incentive for people, because the profession related to mechanics and pump design has become quite a niche profession.
Author: Jerzy Doroszkiewicz
