Business and Education Forum at the Silesian University of Technology

On May 12th, 2026, the Business and Education Forum was held at the Student Creativity Centre of the Silesian University of Technology. The event brought together representatives of universities, public administration, and enterprises, becoming a space for discussion about the challenges of the modern labour market and the directions of development of modern education.

The focal point of the forum was the discussion panel “Science – Business – Education,” during which participants debated the need to adapt study programs to dynamically changing employers’ expectations and on strengthening cooperation between academia and industry.

The panellists included experts representing the public sector, science, and key enterprises. The following spoke in the debate: Anna Kwaśniewska (Director of the Education Department of the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship), Olga Nowak (Member of the Management Board of DB Cargo Polska S.A.), Zdzisław Mrówka (Director, Intel), Piotr Wojtas (owner, CNP-EMAG), Edyta Dziedzic-Mania (Małro Projekt), Dr Eng. Andreas Glenz (President of the Management Board of PREVAC) and representatives of TAURON Dystrybucja S.A. – Dorota Piórkowska and Agnieszka Indyka. The academic perspective was presented by Dr Eng. Tomasz Grychowski and Prof. Beata Orlińska, director of the College of Studies at the Silesian University of Technology). The panel was chaired by Iwona Flanczewska-Rogalska, a press officer of the Silesian University of Technology.

During the discussion, the growing importance of practical, design and dual education was emphasized, which allows students to gain professional experience already at the stage of studies, and even earlier, in primary and secondary schools, where the shaping of interests of young people begins. The panellists pointed out that engineering interests can be built in young children, which results in greater knowledge and translates into the willingness to undertake technical studies in the future.

The talks also concerned the competences of the future, the need to develop interdisciplinary skills and build lasting relations between universities and companies operating in the region. The participants agreed that close cooperation between the world of science and business is crucial for the effective preparation of graduates to the challenges of modern economy.

The Forum also created an opportunity to exchange experiences and present good practices in the field of cooperation between enterprises and universities.

Edyta Dziedzic-Mania from Małro Projekt had no doubt that inviting students to internships allows a young person to realistically prepare for future work, familiarizes them with challenges, indicates possible paths of development in a given profession.

Zbigniew Mrówka added that the company, which cooperates with the university, financing laboratories, patronizing fields of study and profiling subjects so that they teach what is needed for specific positions in specific companies, facilitates the process of acquiring human resources.

- In 2023, we joined the process of educating experts in the field of electronics and computer science, and it works great. The graduate who comes to us has basic knowledge, and possible

deficiencies is able to quickly make up for, but we do not have to teach or profile them from scratch.

The event highlighted the role of the Silesian University of Technology as a university actively responding to the needs of the socio-economic environment and supporting the development of competences corresponding to the requirements of the labour market. This involves not only educating students but also graduates and people already present on the labour market who need to educate or change their industry.

- Lifelong learning is no longer a forecast, but a real need. We see from various reports that certain professions will disappear or are already disappearing, new ones will be created, and in those that remain, new experience will be required. Therefore, increasing one’s competences will be necessary. As the Silesian University of Technology, we want to join in this process – announced Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Anna Chrobok, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education at the Silesian University of Technology

Changes in the labour market are caused by technological progress, digitization, and automation of many industrial processes, but also by demographic situation or climate change. In response to these challenges, first initiatives are created to build new competences or complement old ones.

An initiative at the Silesian University of Technology, which is to support people of all ages in improving their qualifications, is to launch the so-called micro-trainings.

- As part of the activities supported by the Poland's Recovery and Resilience Plan, Silesian University of Technology introduces a new standard of education in the form of 14 specialized micro-workshops. This initiative goes beyond the theoretical framework, offering practical support in the process of intensive industrial transformation of the region. The workshops are open – they are addressed not only to the academic community, but to all those interested in improving their competences, including employees of Silesian enterprises. The program covers key issues for the modern economy, such as digital transformation, green technologies, energy efficiency, innovation management, and leadership competences – explained Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Beata Orlińska, director of the College of Studies at the Silesian University of Technology.

Classes, held in May and June 2026, will be conducted in a variety of forms: from classic lectures and laboratories to inspiring study visits, with each course covering a total of 15 teaching hours. Each course will end with a special micro certificate, developed in close cooperation with regional business.

The Business and Education Forum and the organization of trainings are held with the support of the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship as part of the project entitled: "Building a system of coordination and monitoring of regional activities for vocational training, higher education and lifelong learning, including adult learning", implemented as part of the investment A3.1.1 of the Poland's Recovery and Resilience Plan.

- Young people, especially from the so-called Alpha generation, will change professions many times in their lives. We cannot now determine the pace of these changes, but lifelong learning will be one of the most important foundations for the development and transformation of the region, not only economic but also demographic in the Silesian Voivodeship. That is why we want to work with the Silesian University of Technology in a special way and be involved in

promoting education at all ages – said Anna Kwaśniewska, Director of the Education Department, Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship.

The online recruitment process is just beginning.

The partner of the Education Day of the Silesian University of Technology was the Katowice Special Economic Zone.