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How does Brest State Technical University solve the challenges of the future in order to occupy a leading position in the Belarusian and global educational space? About this and not only in the material of the scientific, methodological and journalistic magazine “Higher School” “Formation of a new model of modern engineering education. Case of Brest State Technical University.”
Rector of the Brest State Technical University Sergei Antonovich Kasperovich notes that Belarusian institutions of higher education must be transformed into powerful scientific centers that produce and bring to the market new scientific and technical products. Such universities should encourage the creation of new enterprises by teachers and students in order to commercialize the results of scientific research, and implement the full cycle of reproduction of new knowledge (from generating ideas to creating prototypes of innovations).
The rector also noted that BrSTU has all the capabilities to implement the “University 4.0” model. University 4.0 is understood as a center for scientific, innovative, cultural development of the region, which acts as a driver for the development of new industries and new production facilities. This is a qualitatively new level of scientific research, advanced science capable of advancing and creating new technologies.
The most important innovative areas of development of BrSTU include the development of computer models of production processes based on digital engineering. For this purpose, the university is creating and developing a multidisciplinary educational cluster of mechanical engineering, artificial intelligence, robotics, and construction. The cluster initiative at BrSTU promotes the introduction of smart manufacturing technologies and their convergence with nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, as well as cognitive, social and human sciences - convergent technologies, artificial intelligence, Internet of things, robotics - at enterprises in the processing industry, agriculture and other business entities with large-scale production , 3D printing, cloud solutions. Funding is important for the further development of BrSTU as a University 4.0. The world economy proves quite convincingly that the solution to the problem of financing the infrastructure deficit of higher education institutions is public-private partnership (PPP). We also need to use the potential of private business to develop HEI infrastructure. To do this, it is necessary to create conditions in the country for the development of public-private partnership mechanisms.
The formation of a new model of modern engineering education involves the transition of BrSTU to a qualitatively new level of scientific research that contributes to the creation of new technologies, as well as the commercialization of the results of research activities. The most important innovative direction for the development of the university is the development of computer models of production processes based on digital engineering and BIM technologies.
Currently, the university has 4 educational, scientific and production associations, 10 research laboratories, an educational and research site “Industrial Technologies of Construction Production”, and an accredited Testing Center in the field of building materials and structures.
The subject of special pride of BrSTU are 2 industry laboratories “Identification systems and industrial robotics” and “Research Center for Innovation in Construction”, created in 2021 with the aim of introducing smart production technologies (BIM design, artificial intelligence, Internet of things, Robotic- integration) at enterprises with large-scale production. The industry laboratory “Identification systems and industrial robotics” was created jointly with JSC Savushkin Product and LLC Industrial Automation Systems.
The laboratory is conducting research and development work
in the area of process automation, taking into account the provision of industrial labeling of food products in accordance with the “Honest Sign” and “Electronic Sign” systems with such enterprises of the Republic of Belarus as JSC “Savushkin Product”, JV “Santa Bremor” LLC , Unitary Enterprise Minsk Cold Storage Plant No. 2, OJSC Molochny Mir, OJSC Belakt. The laboratory is equipped with modern equipment: collaborative and mobile robots, equipment for 3D scanning and printing, computer equipment with software for modeling technological processes. An engineering center operating in close proximity to the enterprises has been created in the laboratory. Now, to create a prototype or make changes to the technological process, they do not need to look for a foreign contractor. All this takes place on the basis of the university’s industrial laboratory.
The laboratory has created unprecedented conditions for students to work on their initiative projects in the field of robotics and digital engineering. There, students also work on projects whose topics are related to the curricula of their respective specialties. One of the most interesting examples is the modernization of an unmanned tractor of Minsk Tractor Plant OJSC, several projects of robotic packaging equipment for ice cream for the Santa Bremor joint venture, an interesting project for modeling modernization and production technologies for the Khimvolokno Plant branch of Grodno Azot OJSC. Senior students are involved in the implementation of practical tasks for enterprises in the real sector of the economy. Most often, enterprises turn to software development or automation projects in one form or another.
