Department of Geoengineering and Raw Materials Extraction

Researchers from the Department of Geoengineering and Raw Materials Extraction (RG4), Safety Engineering (RG3) from the Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation and the College of Studies of the Silesian University of Technology in January / February 2024 were in the Philippines at Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan (XU PH).

The visit was held within the framework of the Erasmus+ Project "Geomatics for Disaster Risk Reduction" (GeoDRR) - "GeoDRR Educational Workshops & Transnational Meeting Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan") and short-term academic internship "Academic Internship at Xavier University".

The Erasmus+ project "Geomatics for Disaster Risk Reduction" has been implemented since 2021. It involves 10 Partners: 6 Asian universities from the Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia, universities from Spain and Greece, and an IT consulting company from Luxembourg. The main coordinator of the Project since January 2022 is Dr. Krzysztof Tomiczek of the GiES Department (RG4).

In addition to PhD Krzysztof Tomiczek, the Silesian University of Technology was represented by DSc Katarzyna Tobór-Osadnik, Prof. at SUT from the SE Department (RG3), PhD Monika Żogała from the GaRME Department (RG4) and Phd Marta Matyjaszek from the College of Studies of SUT (RJO3-KS), and remotely by PhD Krzysztof Słota from the GaRME Department (RG4).

Silesian University of Technology is the Leader of the GeoDRR Project. The aim of the Project is to launch a new 2nd degree specialization "Geomatics for Disaster Risk Reduction" with the necessary laboratory facilities at 6 Asian universities. A course will be created to train specialists in prediction, monitoring and analysis of natural disasters. The new specialty will train highly specialized personnel prepared to predict, monitor and analyze natural disasters, and, in the event of their occurrence, to manage them, with a particular focus on ensuring the safety of the affected people and infrastructure.

During the first week (22.01.-26.01.), within the framework of the Erasmus+ Project "Geomatics for Disaster Risk Reduction" there were full-day workshops / trainings and lectures prepared by European and Asian researchers "GeoDRR Educational Workshops & Transnational Meeting Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan". Researchers from the RG4, RG3 and KS Departments prepared lectures on the problems of geomatics, seismicity, scientific research methodology, hazards, risk and safety management, also GIS (Geographic Information System) and strategies for conducting higher education. Representatives of the Silesian University of Technology, in addition to active participation in the workshop, delivered 6 lectures, including 1 remotely.

During the second week (29.01.-02.02.) during the "Academic Internship at Xavier University" the previously planned scientific, didactic activities and those promoting the Silesian University of Technology and the Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation were carried out.

The stay was followed by intensive activities related to the implementation of the GeoDRR program at 2 Philippine universities, due to critical and delaying, formal procedures.

The Project Coordinator, PhD Krzysztof Tomiczek conducted, among others: bilateral discussions with the Rector of XU and the regional representative of the Ministerial Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines (CHED), separate meetings with Project Managers of 6 Asian universities, discussions with Project Managers from European universities: UniWa (GR) and Alicante (ES).

A brief information report was prepared for the Project Officer on the most crucial activities in the Project.

Due to the heavy schedule of the workshop and the intensity of the activities, there was little time left to get a taste of the life of the Filipino people. The island on which the city of Cagayan de Oro is located is not a tourist destination, and in general, tourists visit this part of the Philippines, which belongs to the Northern Mindanao region, rarely. As a result, it was possible to get a closer look at the daily lives of Filipinos, including those in the suburbs, see natural beaches, take short hikes in the slightly mountainous, rainforest-covered Mapawa Nature Park, or get a look at the triculturalism of Northern Mindanao.

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