Silesian University of Technology at the International Congress on Education Quality
On October 18th, the International Congress on Education Quality organized by the Academic Consortium Katowice - City of Science, began. The Congress is an opportunity for the academic community to gain and develop experience in the process of improving teaching. The event, in which the Silesian University of Technology also participates, brings together people interested in the quality of education, enabling the exchange of knowledge and experiences in this area.
Representatives of the Silesian University of Technology have been actively participating in the International Congress on Education Quality from the first day.
Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education prof. dr hab. Eng. Wojciech Szkliniarz pointed out that the assessment of the quality of the education process requires the simultaneous consideration of many perspectives, which include both internal factors, such as the expectations of students and academic teachers, but also external factors related to the financing of university activities, provisions of the law on higher education, and relations with the socio-economic environment or the impact of technological development on the learning process itself. The indicated threads inspire discussion and exchange of experiences and good practices between representatives of the academic community, both from a national and international perspective.
During the Congress, academic teachers, students, people organizing academic teaching, as well as people responsible for improving and monitoring the quality of education meet. The Conference includes events such as: exhibitions, workshops, discussion panels, concerts, lectures and debates, which will take place at all Silesian partner universities.
The first day of the Congress was a day dedicated mainly to internal events organized at individual universities as part of meetings of academic communities. On this day, the Congress began at the Faculty of Materials Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology with a lecture by dr Eng. Paweł Wawrzała entitled "Design Thinking in higher education: necessity or fashion?", addressed to all members of the Education Council and the Council of the Education Quality Assurance System. Then, members of both Councils took part in ceremonial extraordinary meetings.
- The main topic of discussion was the process of improving the quality of education by strengthening the competences of academic teachers, using modern forms of education or improving study programs and pro-quality activities - emphasized prof. dr Eng. Anna Chrobok, director of the College of Studies of the Silesian University of Technology.
At the meeting of the Education Council, d. hab. Eng. Jarosław Brodny, prof. SUT presented the results obtained as part of the University Teaching Excellence project entitled: “Multidimensional improvement of the educational process at the Silesian University of Technology", in which he expressed his belief that the topics covered, the research conducted, the results obtained and the conclusions formulated on their basis, as well as the prepared proposals for new procedures should significantly improve the teaching process at the Silesian University of Technology. Its improvement is becoming one of the most important priorities of the development strategy of the Silesian University of Technology.
Then, the achievements of our students operating in the Student Activity Centre and selected Student Scientific Clubs were presented.
– Presenting the successes of our students is the best showcase of the educational process, it shows the quality and at the same time the motivation for students' self-development – said dr Eng. Tomasz Rusek, Rector's representative for the Education Quality Management System.
On October 19th, the Congress will be officially inaugurated at the University of Silesia. In the discussion panel entitled "How artificial intelligence is changing university education” took part Paweł Kasprowski, prof. SUT.
The academic community will also have the opportunity to meet with experts from the Polish Accreditation Committee.
The exchange of good practices will allow to strengthen the competences of people who care about improving the quality of education at universities in our region.
The third day of the Congress on October 20th will be held under the slogan "Education for Peace". Presenting the possibilities of applying for international accreditations and the resulting benefits will be an important topic. There will also be an opportunity to present the results of activities carried out within the framework of cooperation between international consortiums. For example, projects implemented under the Erasmus+, NAWA and EEA programs as well as projects financed by the Visegrad Funds will be presented.
The detailed program of these events is available at www.iceq.pl
