Faculty of Automatic Control, Electronics and Computer Science

We regret to inform that Dr Zbigniew Bortliczek, a retired employee of the Silesian University of Technology, passed away on 10 March 2024 at the age of 86.

He passed away a valued and much-loved academic teacher, a meritorious scientist, a man of great knowledge, vast experience, teaching talent and tact. An educator of many generations of students, many of whom are staff of the present Faculty. A long-time employee of the former Institute of Automation.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

Dr Zbigniew Bortliczek, Eng. was born on 20.05.1937 in Czechowice-Dziedzice, where he spent his childhood. He graduated from the Mechanical Technical School in Cieszyn and in 1955 began studying at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Silesian University of Technology, graduating in 1961. After several years of work outside the university, he took up a job as a senior assistant in the Department of Automatic Instrument Construction at the newly established Faculty of Automatic Control.

Zbigniew Bortliczek dealt with issues of automation and robotics as well as electrical engineering. He was particularly interested in the issues of construction and design of electromechanical automation components.

Under the supervision of associate professor Henryk Kowalowski, he prepared a dissertation on the topic: "Dynamic properties of two-phase induction machines with canned rotor" and defended it in 1970. Dr Zbigniew Bortliczek was the first doctoral student to be promoted at the Department. After defending his doctoral thesis, he was appointed assistant professor at the Institute of Automatic Control.

From 1972 to 1984, Dr Zbigniew Bortliczek was head of the Department of Electromechanical and Magnetic Elements of Automation, and from 1976 to 1977 he was Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Automatic Control and Computer Science.

His scientific output includes one patent, more than 20 publications and two scripts. The scripts from Electromechanical and Magnetic Elements of Automation for blackboard exercises and laboratory exercises are still eagerly used today by young teacher and students.

Among his many awards and distinctions, the Golden Cross of Merit (1987) and the Medal of the National Education Commission (2000) should be mentioned.

Dr Zbigniew Bortliczek was an excellent teacher. Having no pedagogical training, he was a master at preparing and conducting lectures and blackboard exercises in "Electromechanical and Magnetic Elements of Automation", "Electrotechnology" and "System Dynamics". He has developed hundreds of original exercise tasks corresponding to the curriculum of the subjects taught to students of automation and robotics and electronics. Although they were not published as books, lecturers and students still use these materials today. His classes were always perfectly prepared.  Many lecturers could envy him the care and cleanliness of the written text, diagrams and drawings on the blackboard. He was kind and understanding towards students, but at the same time a demanding teacher. Dr Zbigniew Bortliczek enjoyed the respect of both colleagues and students. Students appreciated his outstanding teaching work. He was a multiple winner of the Golden Chalk - the highest award given by students at the time.

He was a great fan of literature, especially fiction. He had a very extensive library of books. He retired in 2007 after several decades of service to the University.