Conference PROJECT POLITECHNIKA
The second edition of a series of research projects carried out at the Silesian University of Technology with secondary school pupils as part of the Excellence Initiative - Research University program has ended. The jury selected 61 projects, which were presented in the form of posters on March 1st, 2023, during the “PROJECT POLITECHNIKA” conference.
The interest in the second edition of the Silesian University of Technology program was huge. Pupils from 27 secondary schools from Gliwice, Rybnik, Katowice, Zabrze, Pyskowice, Siemianowice Śląskie, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Mikołów, Mysłowice, Ruda Śląska, Radzionków, Wodzisław Śląski, Tychy, Lędzin, Czerwionka-Leszczyny, and even from Krakow and Wolsztyn took part in the implementation of the projects.
The project teams consisted of 2- 3 pupils from the second or third grades of comprehensive secondary schools or technical vocational schools from the Silesian Voivodeship, and were supervised by academic teachers, often supported by PhD students or students. This year, 42 main and 43 assistant tutors took part in the project, providing substantive supervision over 159 pupils. The program also enabled financing the purchase of necessary materials, equipment, or services.
The first competition for financing projects implemented with secondary school pupils, as part of the Excellence Initiative - Research University program, was announced in January 2024. Applying for projects, their financing and settlement is carried out in accordance with the rules set out in the Regulations on financing projects implemented with secondary school pupils, as part of the Excellence Initiative - Research University program.
On March 1st, 2024, at the Educational and Congress Centre of the Silesian University of Technology, during the POLITECHNIKA PROJECT conference, project teams presented the results of their work in the form of posters. The topics covered all the priority research areas of the university. While implementing research topics in cooperation with the Silesian University of Technology, pupils develop many valuable skills thanks to the use of the project-oriented education method (PBL - Project-Based Learning). Classes allow not only to acquire knowledge and skills in a given area, but also serve to develop pupils’ creativity, act as an inspiration, teach teamwork skills and shape organizational skills.
The Silesian University of Technology, in accordance with the Rector’s order No. 40/2024 of 23rd February 2024, issued Micro certifications to all pupils implementing the projects.
The Micro certificate is a digital document confirming the acquisition of knowledge, skills, qualifications, and professional competences that a learner has acquired with little learning. It is an innovative tool in lifelong learning and professional development in the European Higher Education Area.
At the conference, a team of experts selected 6 teams - competition winners.
Detector - obstacle detector for blind people - III LO in Katowice. Project supervisor: dr Eng. Iwona Chuchnowska. Participants of the project: Błażej Dzwonkowicz, Katarzyna Czop, Maria Supernak
Functional ceramic-metal structural composites for applications in aviation and automotive industry - ZST in Mikołów. Project supervisor: dr hab. Eng. Klaudiusz Gołombek, prof. of Silesian University of Technology Participants of the project: Adrian Brożek, Kacper Kurpas, Kamil Wilczek
Interactive ROBO-Pot - ZSTI in Gliwice. Project supervisor: dr Eng. Mariola Jureczko. Participants of the project: Borys Rogowski, Jakub Frąsiak, Stanisław Januszek
Design and manufacture of a sensory book with interchangeable panels with 3D printing technology - ZST in Mikołów. Project supervisor: dr Eng. Agnieszka J. Nowak. Participants of the project: Krzysztof Statnik, Zacharias Chrzanowski
The impact of lifestyle on the physical fitness of secondary school students - Generation Z - 1st Secondary Comprehensive School in Chorzów. Project supervisor: prof. dr hab. Eng. Robert Michnik. Participants of the project: Iga Szaflik, Filip Rusinowicz
Automated object identification - I LO in Chorzów. Project supervisor: dr Eng. Elizabeth Milewska. Participants of the project: Filip Gołąbek, Patryk Kotłowski, Konrad Książek
Members of the winning teams, if they become students of the Silesian University of Technology, will receive a scholarship of PLN 700 per month for 10 months in the first year of studies.
The Eureka Pro Award:
Secondary use of waste materials in the process of 3D printing using the FDM - ZST method in Mikołów. Project supervisor: dr hab. Eng. Grzegorz Matula, prof. of Silesian University of Technology Participants of the project: Damian Gajda, Jakub Skapczyk, Kamil Herman
– The Silesian University of Technology has what is the most valuable to offer young people who plan to invest well in their future. First of all, we have an excellent staff, with rich experience and passion, real mentors who willingly engage as project group supervisors. We have great students and PhD students with heads full of ideas, acting as support tutors. We have a modern infrastructure, giving the opportunity to implement the wildest ideas. Finally, we have a well-developed and well-verified modern approach to education in a project-oriented form, which is what other universities envy us – said the Vice-Rector for Education Science and Development prof. dr hab. Eng. Marek Pawełczyk, who developed the principles and promoted the modern method of project-oriented education (PBL - Project Based Learning) at the Silesian University of Technology.
The experience gained from its pilot implementation several years ago in the field of Automation and Robotics has been dynamically developed throughout the University, where over 200 PBL projects are currently implemented each year and used by students and employees of all faculties. Based on this experience, he proposed a program for involving secondary school pupils in scientific research by implementing projects in a formula similar to PBL.
During the conference summarizing THE PROJECT, young people could get acquainted with the educational offer of the Silesian University of Technology, which was presented by the Vice-Rector for Education Student and Education Prof. dr hab. Inż. Wojciech Szkliniarz.
– Silesian University of Technology focuses on education in the PBL formula. We spend more than 3 million PLN per year for this purpose. We strive to make most of the practical classes take place in this formula – said prof Wojciech Szkliniarz.
As emphasized by prof. Anna Chrobok, Director of the College of Studies, secondary school pupils implementing projects at the Silesian University of Technology, under the supervision of academic teachers, learn about the latest research trends, conduct research using modern research infrastructure and learn to work in a group. – They build a bond with the university, thanks to which they have a chance to plan their future education at the University of Technology. Students, like young researchers, learn not only how to acquire knowledge, but also how to disseminate it. During the poster session, pupils had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the research presented by their colleagues, conducted interesting and inspiring discussions – added the professor Anna Chrobok
To sum up, in the last two editions of a series of research projects carried out at the Silesian University of Technology, more than 300 pupils from 35 different schools from Gliwice and the region took part. A summary monograph has also been published the first edition, in which all the poster works presented at last year’s conference were presented.
The monograph is also available in the RePolis collection:
The monograph also has a DOI ID: doi:10.34918/87676.
