On May 14, 2024, the “Materials Science Ma(s)ters” conference was held at Afyon Kocatepe University in Turkey, summarizing the progress and results of an international project co-financed by the European Union and carried out by a consortium of four universities: the University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland), the University of Žilina (Slovakia), the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (Ukraine), and Afyon Kocatepe University (Turkey). The Project’s main objective was to develop an innovative, interdisciplinary master’s program dedicated to future materials engineers.
During the conference, Dr. Joanna Maszybrocka, Prof. UŚ, introduced the participants to the vision and assumptions of the Project, emphasizing the need to educate specialists prepared for the new challenges of the 21st century. Prof. Şükrü Talaş from Afyon Kocatepe University discussed the first stage of the work, in which extensive consultations were carried out with employers, graduates, and the academic community to define the competencies and skills necessary for modern materials engineers.
The Project’s culmination was the development of an innovative master’s program. Its detailed assumptions, including the curriculum, exemplary syllabuses, blended-learning courses, and other teaching materials, were presented by Dr. hab. Małgorzata Karolus, Prof. UŚ. The new interdisciplinary program has been adapted to the labour market’s current needs and considers the latest trends in materials science.
Prof. Juraj Belan, Dr. Viera Zatkalíková from the University of Žilina presented a series of training sessions and study visits for academic teachers prepared by the project team to help them effectively implement the new program. Prof. Lidiya Boichyshyn and Dr. Iryna Marchuk from the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv discussed the challenges faced by the project team during the implementation of the Project and the strategy for dealing with them.
All speakers repeatedly emphasized the enormous role of international cooperation in the success of the entire Project. Close cooperation and exchange of experiences between universities allowed the Project’s ambitious goals to be achieved.
During the conference, the creator of the Project’s logo, Mehmet Akif Agdas, was honoured with a statuette and diploma in recognition of his work. The logo became a symbol and hallmark of the Project.
The conference was also attended by Dr. Magdalena Szklarska, Dr. hab. Tomasz Goryczka, prof. UŚ., dr hab. Justyna Maciąg, prof. UJ. and Patrycja Wajda-Mierzwa, M.A.
The “Materials Science Ma(s)ters” conference capped the two-year efforts of the consortium to modernize and adapt the education of materials engineers to the needs of the changing labour market. The results of the Project will be published in October 2024 on the matsci.us.edu.pl website.
