– Five thousand high school students showed up at this wonderful event. It’s an amazing opportunity to meet each other, talk about the future and introduce them to our rich educational offer, said Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Development of the University of Gdansk, dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, prof. UG. – With this event, we also wanted to deepen and establish cooperation with offshore entities and exhibitors. We presented our comprehensive research potential and emphasized that the University of Gdansk is a suitable partner for cooperation in research and development projects.

Thousands of high school students were able to get to know the potential of the University of Gdansk to train new staff for the offshore wind energy sector during the EDU Offshore Wind educational fair on March 14 and 15 this year. The University’s booth was also open to representatives of offshore sector entities with which our University is already conducting joint projects, as well as those who would like to establish cooperation with the University of Gdansk.

The EDU OFFSHORE WIND fair is an opportunity for students and high school students to meet leaders in the offshore sector from Poland and abroad. The event includes panel discussions, workshops and discussions.

At the University of Gdansk’s booth, participants could see a number of attractions, including: a model wind turbine and solar power plant, miniature solar-powered cars, or an exhibition of fauna, flora and a miniature sand dune.

The booth of the University of Gdansk was the largest university exhibition at the fair and at the same time the most visited. The creation of such an attractive exhibition would not have been possible had it not been for the involvement of employees and scientists from the Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Law and Administration and the Faculty of Economics.

During one of the panels on the main stage, prof. Sylwia Mrozowska presented the comprehensive potential of the University of Gdansk to participate in the development of the offshore sector.

– We, having 11 faculties, at each of them have students who are able to support the development of the Offshore Wind Energy sector. Therefore, I am convinced that without the University of Gdansk, without our graduates, it will be difficult to develop the offshore sector while maintaining local content. Our comprehensive potential includes – 21 scientific disciplines, 11 faculties, 21 thousand students, 1,800 employees – said the Vice-Rector.

– The development of the Offshore Wind Energy sector is a challenge and an opportunity for our university, which involves various research and teaching projects. We have thought through what is happening at the university in the area of wind energy and are translating it into new educational programs. We want to be part of the discussion on the future of energy in Poland –  said Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education Quality dr hab. Arnold Kłonczyński, prof. UG.

The University of Gdansk currently has more than a dozen courses directly and indirectly related to Offshore Wind Energy. Starting from the upcoming academic year (2023/24), more will join them, among others: Applied Physical Oceanography (master’s degree) at the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography and Offshore Sectors (master’s degree) at the Faculty of Economics. The second edition of the Education for Sustainable Development: offshore wind energy (post-graduate studies) course is also being launched, under the charge of the Marine Research Center, which was established this academic year.

This is the largest educational fair related to Offshore Wind Energy. It is an opportunity to meet with offshore sector leaders from Poland and abroad.

The first edition of this event was held on March 14 and 15, 2023. During the fair, thousands of high school students were able to get to know what the University of Gdansk offers in terms of staff training for the OWE sector. The booth displayed, among other things, a model wind turbine and solar power plant, solar-powered cars, and a display of fauna, flora and a miniature dune. The stand of the University of Gdansk was the largest university exposition at the fair and also the most visited.

The fair was also an excellent opportunity to talk with representatives of offshore entities with which our university is already conducting joint projects, as well as with those who would like to establish cooperation. Exchange of experience and presentation of the comprehensive potential of our university as a suitable partner for cooperation in R&D projects in the OWE sector were the main topics of discussion.

See you at the next edition of the fair!