From May 25–27, a delegation from Khmelnytskyi National University (KhNU), led by Rector Serhii Matiukh, participated in the international scientific conference "Mechanical Engineering for Future Development MT2025." The conference was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland.
The event gathered representatives from over 30 academic institutions, research institutes, and industrial partners from Poland, Germany, Turkey, Albania, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, Ethiopia, and other countries. Leading experts in mechanical engineering, materials science, automation, nanotechnology, educational management, and engineering education took part in the conference.
The grand opening of the conference on May 26 commenced with a speech by Professor Marcin Adamyak, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Silesian University of Technology.
Greetings were extended by invited guests, including Serhii Matiukh, Rector of Khmelnytskyi National University. In his address, he congratulated colleagues on this significant anniversary, emphasized the importance of long-term Ukrainian-Polish academic cooperation, and expressed gratitude for the invitation to participate in an event that unites scientists and practitioners around shared values of engineering education development, as well as for the assistance of the Polish people to Ukraine in its fight against the Russian aggressor.
Following the opening, a presentation dedicated to the 80-year history of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering—one of Poland's leading scientific and educational centres—was delivered.
During the festivities, Serhii Matiukh, Rector of Khmelnytskyi National University, and Oleh Polishchuk, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Transport, and Architecture at KhNU, were honoured with commemorative medals and diplomas, presented by Professor Marcin Adamyak, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
This recognition signifies the long-standing cooperation between our educational institutions and high appreciation for the contribution of Khmelnytskyi National University's scholars to the development of science and the academic community.
The program continued with two panel discussions, moderated by leading Polish scientists and educators. The first discussion, titled "Science in an Era of Global Instability: Challenges, Responsibility, Directions of Development," explored strategic challenges for the scientific sphere amid political and economic turbulence. Participants included heads of key scientific committees of the Polish Academy of Sciences and representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
The second discussion focused on the transformation of educational systems and was titled "How to Educate to Keep Pace with the World. Education in Times of Change." It examined innovative approaches to training engineering personnel, the implementation of modern digital technologies in the educational process, and the adaptation of university education to labour market needs.
The plenary session was of particular interest, where departments of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering presented the results of their research and teaching activities. Areas covered included developments in biomedical materials, automated production systems, computational mechanics, welding engineering, casting technologies, and more.
Participants familiarised themselves with the latest equipment in departments and laboratories and visited demonstration sites, including the Nanotechnology and Materials Science Laboratory and the Materials Research Laboratory.
After the technical sessions, a student recreation area, created in front of the faculty's main building, was opened, showcasing a successful combination of scientific tradition and care for the student environment.
On the second day, May 27, a plenary session titled “Career Paths Through the Eyes of Industrial Partners” was held. Representatives from companies such as Boeing Poland, FUCHS Oil Corporation, PREVAC, IPG Photonics, KIRCHHOFF Polska, and others shared their experiences in engaging young engineers in innovative activities. Presentations covered topics such as engineering support, structural analysis, laser processing technologies, prototyping, and career prospects in the international engineering environment.
Sessions for PhD students also took place, where research results in additive manufacturing, phase transformations, FDM printing, material modelling, MEMS sensors, and sintering technologies were presented. Scientific developments were showcased by young researchers from Poland, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Spain, and Germany.
A special component was the poster session, which displayed posters on topics including materials engineering, mechanical engineering, hybrid welding, alloy modification for bio-implants, "Industry 4.0" infrastructure, modern piezoelectric systems, and more.
During the conference, the Khmelnytskyi National University delegation met with Professor Marcin Adamyak, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Silesian University of Technology, and Professor Mirosław Bonek, Deputy Dean and Honorary Doctor of Khmelnytskyi National University. This meeting outlined prospects for further cooperation, specifically: participation in joint scientific projects; exchange of students and lecturers within Erasmus+ programs; conducting joint seminars and summer schools; and development of double degree educational programs.
The participation of the Khmelnytskyi National University delegation in the "Mechanical Engineering for Future Development MT2025" conference was a crucial step in strengthening international scientific cooperation and integrating Ukrainian technical education into the European academic space. The contacts established, experience exchanged, and opportunities for future projects open new horizons for the development of educational programs, scientific research, and the involvement of students in international initiatives.
