Silesian University of Technology at the Silesian Congress of Education
600 participants, many experts and talks about the future and the most important challenges of Polish education - on May 27th, the Silesian Congress of Education was held at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów. Representatives of the Silesian University of Technology took part in the event.
Silesian Congress of Education is one of the most important educational events in the region and in the country. It is addressed, among others, to school directors, teachers, local government officials, and representatives of the academic community. This year’s edition was held under the slogan “Where is tomorrow?,” which became the starting point for talks about modern education, social responsibility and changes that are shaping the school of the future today. The official opening of the event was attended by, among others, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education, Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Anna Chrobok.
- We met here with representatives of the most important institutions that are responsible for education. We answer the question of what education will look like in the future. The Silesian University of Technology has given a strong voice on this issue. Together with the University of Economics in Katowice, we were the organizers of the module “Competences of the future – Design Education in the AI World” – explains Vice-Rector Anna Chrobok. - We have a strong position in the region and cooperate in various forms with over a hundred secondary schools. We organize workshops and free tutoring for secondary school graduates, but above all we invite pupils to participate together with our scientists in projects implemented in laboratories of the Silesian University of Technology.
The event began with a master lecture entitled “The more you know, the more you can learn – an insoluble problem of AI in the process of lifelong learning” by a populariser of science and technology Dr Maciej Kawecki. The Congress was also attended by, among others, Secretary of State in the Ministry of National Education Henryk Kiepura, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy Monika Sikora, Silesian Governor Marek Wójcik and Silesian Education Curator Aleksandra Dyla.
- In the last six months, nine meetings with teachers took place as part of the “Compass of Tomorrow” program. They were attended by ministers, hundreds of teachers, but also parents who were interested in changes in the school – said the Silesian Education Curator Aleksandra Dyla. - I have been working in education for 30 years now and I do not remember the situation that happened recently when the Board of Education received letters of praise for schools and teachers. We used to receive letters with complaints. This shows that education is reawakening.
- Teachers are a huge and extremely important professional group. It is difficult to compare it to any other in the region. That is why events such as the Silesian Congress of Education are so valuable – they enable the exchange of experiences and mutual inspiration. They also help the leading authorities to better understand the challenges facing schools and the directions of changes in the educational offer – said Marek Wójcik, the Governor of Silesia.
The Silesian University of Technology marked its active participation at the Silesian Stadium. There was the stand and the mobile promotional laboratory Xperium SUT. In addition, the Director of the Centre for Modern Education, Anna Waligóra presented the lecture “Modern education at the Silesian University of Technology” and together with the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering for Student Affairs and Education Dr Eng. Rafał Setlak she took part in the panel discussion “What competences AI will not replace and how modern school should shape them”.
- We could not be missing here because we are creating the education of tomorrow. We discussed in the panel how to implement artificial intelligence to make it safe, predictable, and not get out of control. The guests of the panel were both directors of secondary schools, but also representatives of the University. We also talked about how to educate students in a modern way so that they are ready for the changing needs of the labour market – explains the Director of the Centre for Modern Education Dr Anna Waligóra.
The organizers of the event were the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship and the Regional Centre for Teacher Development and Pedagogical Information “WOM” in Katowice in cooperation with the Education Board in Katowice, the City of Katowice, and the University of Silesia.
