Electronics for the automotive industry

Electronics for the automotive industry. A breeding ground for new staff. A profit for the region

A group of forty students from the Rzeszów University of Technology gained competences and qualifications crucial for the automotive industry within a short term.

Project title

Electronics for the automotive industry.

Name of Beneficiary/Beneficiaries

Rzeszów University of Technology

Name of programme

KNOWLEDGE EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME

Competition

A competition for projects supporting staff development for the automotive industry

Project value

PLN 2,214,170.44

Funding value

PLN 2,147,745.32

Project delivery period

1 January 2018 – 31 October 2019

Meet our team

Doctor engineer Dominik Strzałka, professor at the Rzeszów University of Technology — Dominik Strzałka, PhD Eng., Prof. of Rzeszów University of Technology, Head of the Department of Complex Systems, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rzeszów University of Technology

View the results of our work

A group of students are working at the engineering workbench — A group of forty students from the Rzeszów University of Technology gained competences and qualifications crucial for the automotive industry within a short term.

PICTURE taken from the bird's eye view. It presents extensive car parks and industrial halls — Polish companies operating in the Podkarpackie Region supply components to Europe’s largest car manufacturers.

A man at work in a workshop, industrial hall — The students had an opportunity to learn from experienced instructors.

The man is working at the computer, the visualization is displayed on the screen — There were four training pathways offered in the project

What problem is addressed by the project?

The Podkarpackie Region is known, inter alia, for high automotive technology. The Voivodeship has a few smart specialisations, and automotive is one of them. Polish companies operating here supply components to Europe’s largest car manufacturers. In doing so, they need highly qualified staff. In general, almost all graduates from the Rzeszów University of Technology majoring in electronics, automation and robotics, electrical engineering or computer engineering, are immediately “sucked” by various industries, and there are still new jobs waiting for them. However, in the initial period of employment, it proves necessary to prepare a series of specialised induction courses for young engineers. This entails devoting much time, as well as significant financial and organisational outlays in enterprises, while at the same time postponing quick promotion prospects of the graduates. With the “Electronics for the automotive industry” project, implemented by the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, this process could be shortened and improved.
The Podkarpackie Region proves to be a true automotive powerhouse when it comes to producing car equipment and advanced components, delivering products to major automotive companies across Europe. Many companies have been operating in the Region for years, dealing with the manufacture of car components and equipment, including tyres, windscreens, metal components, filters, aluminium wheel rims, pistons for petrol engines, bundled electrical cables and automotive batteries. As part of our project, we cooperated with BURY Sp. z o.o., a company based in Mielec which has successfully operated in the field of electronics for the automotive industry for nearly 30 years.
The project in question offered four training pathways in four different fields, including three-month internships for forty students of electronics and telecommunications at our university. So, we are talking about large scale here. Students also developed their professional skills by taking part in certified courses and workshops, project-based activities, activities conducted jointly with employers, and study visits. These activities were prepared in cooperation with representatives of BURY Mielec.
As part of the programme, we prepared our students not only by placing emphasis on purely engineering skills, but also by giving them the opportunity to improve their language, communication, interpersonal and management qualifications. You can say that we have provided the automotive industry with well-prepared and more mature specialists compared to traditional graduate-employment pathways. After completing internships with BURY, directly participating in research & development work on the company’s premises, and in joint university-business training courses, our young engineers have made a smooth transition to their professional careers. We consider this to be a great investment that will drive the development of our region and the automotive industry.

Who uses the project results?

A group of forty students of electronics and telecommunications from the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rzeszów University of Technology, gained competences and qualifications crucial for the automotive industry within a short term. Employment of twenty-one graduates from the studies covered by project funding with Bury Mielec was one of the significant project outcomes – that company benefited most from the project. Other eight graduates were employed in other enterprises, including Aptiv Kraków (one person), LG Wrocław (one person), Talking Things (two people), Geo-Eko Rzeszów (two people) and Axtone Kańczuga (two people). Two people decided to set up their own businesses. We consider this to be a great success of the project and yet another evidence that the Rzeszów University of Technology supplies highly qualified staff to the industry.
Along with benefits for the students and entrepreneurs, the project had some favourable impact on the region. The Podkarpacie Voivodeship has four smart specialisations, and automotive is one of them. Combined, automotive companies in our region contribute to GDP more than the local aviation businesses. While we materially supported our region, this is also an opportunity for higher education institutions to come up with new programmes and forms of education to suit the needs of local businesses.

What was the greatest challenge during project implementation?

The organisation of the internship programme proved a major challenge in the project. As part of this grant (and taking into account the additional support under the “From theory to practice – internship at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rzeszów University of Technology” grant), thirty-nine students participated in internship at BURY Mielec between July and September 2018. We are deeply grateful for that opportunity. Other challenges included organising a series of over 20 various external courses, and an extremely labour-intensive preparation of numerous tenders in compliance with public procurement law.

Our advice for other applicants

With NCBR’s support under the EU Knowledge Education Development Operational Programme, this programme could be launched successfully. It proved extremely challenging to implement the programme due to the conditions and restrictions it involved. I would advise those applying in the future to bear in mind that it takes quite a long time to complete the project, especially in the public procurement field. It will undoubtedly take a good deal of patience and perseverance. Project leaders must be ready to work unusual hours. However, if the project is well-thought-of and prepared jointly with at least one representative of the industry, it is practically bound to succeed. We would also like to encourage representatives of business circles to contact us as this is the best proof that similar grants are worth to be prepared jointly, and applications for funds are worth a try.