On 5 December 2023, a conference was held at the University of Zielona Góra to disseminate the results of the project “AMTech — Development of an aviation aerospace mechatronics technician curriculum”, which was carried out by Elektryk Vocational and Continuing Education Centre (CKZiU Elektryk) in Nowa Sól and other partners under the ERASMUS+ program.

First, the project’s subject matter was discussed by teachers involved in its implementation. Ms Katarzyna Gargasiewicz, Ms Katarzyna Pych-Siekierka, and Mr Tomasz Kowalski outlined each phase of the work undertaken in connection with the project, namely an analysis of the aviation industry with a specific focus on drone-related opportunities, an analysis of the labour market in terms of the new qualification, as well as essential and optional knowledge and skills for the role of aviation aerospace mechatronics technician specialising in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Findings of the above analyses were then discussed, and international project partners were briefly introduced.

Next came a presentation of how the STEM approach can be used in teaching the main areas of interest addressed by the AMTech project. This included cross-subject learning and using state-of-the-art practical teaching aids in vocational education for technicians.

Grzegorz Königsberg, Headteacher at CKZiU Elektryk, told the attending University staff, headteachers, representatives of Nowa Sól District Administrator’s Office and of the Fire Service, University students, and Year 3 and 4 students of Technological Secondary School of Mechatronics about the idea behind the developed aviation aerospace mechatronics technician curriculum, its objectives and content.

Mr Königsberg emphasised that this innovative curriculum would provide an opportunity to gain new professional qualifications that responded to an identified demand in the labour market and would close a certain qualifications gap.

Those presentations were complemented by a talk given by Dr. Jarosław Gniazdowski, PhD (Eng), Vice Head of the Lubuskie Region Aero Club, researcher at the University of Zielona Góra, and main technical consultant for the AMTeach project, in which he discussed the possibilities of using drones in various branches of the economy.

Another important contributor was Dr Marcin Chciuk, PhD (Eng), Assistant Professor at the University of Zielona Góra.

Because the University, and specifically the Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, has been closely involved in the AMTech project, Dr. Chciuk presented and discussed a new university course, namely Aviation Engineering with specialisms in Aircraft Mechanics and Unmanned Aircraft Operation. The University is also planning to start a new course — Pilot Studies.

Professor Justyna Patalas-Maliszewska, PhD (Eng), Head of the Institute, told the secondary school students that in the future they would be able to use the University’s cutting-edge laboratories and its teaching resources to hopefully become the University’s students one day. 

The conference finished with a tour of state-of-the-art labs for future aircraft mechanics, and a presentation by the Fire Service of their uses of drones. 

The event was extensively covered by the media. This included several interviews on Radio Zielona Góra, social media platforms, and websites of both the University and CKZiU Elektryk.