The Silesian University of Technology will cooperate with Koleje Śląskie (transl. the Silesian Railways)

The agreement, which was signed between the Silesian University of Technology and Koleje Śląskie on the 7th of July, will allow cooperation in the field of - among others - student education, the organisation of internships and apprenticeships, and the implementation of research and development work.

The signatories were the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, Prof. Arkadiusz Mężyk, and the members of the Koleje Śląskie Board: chairman Patryk Świrski and vice-chairman for finance Wojciech Pyka. 

In the opinion of Rector Professor Arkadiusz Mężyk, the benefits of cooperation will be mutual. The Rector emphasised that not only students of rail transport, but also students of most studies conducted at our University - from management to such specialised fields as automatics, electronics or computer science - could apply for internships or apprenticeships.

‘So, on the one hand, it is the possibility of cooperation in terms of the education of students, in the realisation of master's theses, doctoral theses, the realisation of commissioned work. It is also cooperation in promoting the Silesian University of Technology, as well as the possibility of acquiring joint research and development projects and improving solutions used by Koleje Śląskie. There are a lot of subjects resulting from the direct exploitation of rolling stock and this is a huge field for researchers at the Silesian University of Technology,’ said the rector.

‘Koleje Śląskie (transl. The Silesian Railways) is an innovative company and is always looking for ways to increase its competitive advantage, also in terms of implementing prototypes or working on its patents’ said Patryk Świrski, President of Koleje Śląskie (transl. The Silesian Railways). ‘To achieve this, cooperation with the scientific community is necessary, among other things, to ensure the development of common solutions which will ultimately translate into improvements in the services provided. For example, by optimising timetables based on artificial intelligence calculations. We are also waiting for outstanding graduates of the Silesian University of Technology who, when they join us, will enable - in due course - a smooth generational change and the transfer of invaluable knowledge of practitioners’ he added.

The collaboration covers the following topics:

- agreeing research and development themes

- mutual presenting and promoting achievements

- cooperation on the employment of graduates

- exchange of experience in the field of knowledge management with particular focus on competence development issues

- establishment of a team of specialists for strategic technical and organisational solutions

- cooperation on improving educational programmes.