HoloGEM

In 22-24 of March, 2023 the kick-off meeting of the educational international project  „Holographic Integration for Geosciences Education and Mining” (HoloGEM) was held in Wrocław. The project is realized within the funds of European Union of Erasmus+ program. The main goal of the project is introduction of the modern digital tools to teaching curriculum for schools and universities realizing subjects highly related to geosciences and mining. It will give the opportunity to increase the attractiveness of mining and change its adverse image which is currently being promoted in media. The amount of the project is 250 000 EUR and its time of realization is 36 months. The project leader is AGH University of Science and Technology.

After signing the partnership agreements and transferring the money to the project partners it was possible to organize the kick-off meeting which main purpose was to determine the schedule of actions for the approaching months. The meeting was divided into two working days and one day dedicated to sightseeing Wrocław city.

The persons taking part in the meeting were:

from AGH: Prof. Dr. Tomasz Niedoba – project coordinator; Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Surowiak; Dr.  Zbigniew Kuczera;  Msc. Michał Dworzak;

• from Dumlupinar University in Kütahya, Türkiye: Prof. Oktay Şahbaz; Prof. Cengiz Karagüzel;
• from Universidad do Porto, Portugal: Prof. João Santos Baptista; Dr. Adeeb Sidani;
• from Madencilik Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi, Türkiye: Principal Ali Uslu; Ramazan Bozbey;
• from ZST Rybnik: Principal Piotr Tokarz;
• from ZS MCKK Lubin: Principal Lucyna Kubis

The representative of Agrupamento de Escolas de Valongo, Isabel Castro from Portugal could not attend the meeting personally.

In first day of the meeting, 22^nd of March, the excursion to laboratories and headquarters of MCKK in Lubin took place. The guests were welcomed by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Bogusław Szyszka. After short presentation and informal meeting there was opportunity to visit the very well equipped training laboratories of MCKK. Especially, the pneumatics and hydraulics laboratories took attention, as well the simulators of mining devices as longwall shearers or drilling machines.  These simulators give impression of real mining conditions and are perfectly suitable for various special traineeships. Apart from it, MCKK disposes with artificial excavation site as well real machine devices on which disciples perform training maneuvers and operations.

HoloGEM kick-off meeting

Next, guests were moved from MCKK laboratories to MCKK school headquarters which is located in other part of the city of Lubin. There, they were informed about current curriculums and sort of specializations conducted by the school. The meeting ended with the diner in restaurant “Pod Muzami”, after which all returned to Wrocław.

The evening the project team went for supper to the restarant “Spiż”on Wrocław’s market square where there was an opportunity to better know each other and conduct informal discussions.

Thursday, 23^rd of March was a day of typical debate which was held in one of the HP Park Plaza’s rooms. During it each of the participants presented their work places as well briefly showed their experience in realization of scientific-educational projects. Next, the representatives of the schools presented actual teaching curriculum concerning widely understood geosciences with particular attention put on mining. Their expectations, needs and the instructions from WUG (State Mining Authority) will be the basis to realize certain project’s parts. Another point of the meeting was to determine the schedule of actions for the approaching months. As a result of brainstorm it was decided that during next three months the research will be conducted basing on questionnaires, interviews with specified group of respondents as well Delphi method, which will determine the expectations of teachers and students (disciples) for the realized program contents. This and the evaluation of current state-of-art will give the necessary info to create a new curriculum within which an e-learning platform will be created containing various sorts of tools being useful to conduct classes with students for certain subjects. As an effect, among others, e-book, online materials, digital tools as well physical parts will be elaborated which will simplify the work and increase attractiveness of the subjects related to mining. The meeting ended late in the evening.

Networking

After fruitful debate the evening was spent in restaurant „Bernard” on Wrocław’s market square.  

On Friday, 24^th of March a short resume of the meeting was done in the morning and then was time to visit the attractions offered by the city of Wrocław. There was an opportunity to climb the tower of the Saint Elisabeth church as well to see famous panoramic picture of Panorama Racławicka.

HoloGEM next meeting

It was initially decided that the next working meeting within the “HoloGEM” project will be held in October, in Türkiye, most probably in the city of Eskişehir.

The detailed information about the project “HoloGEM” may be found in the bookmark “Projects” on the website of the AGH’s Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resources Management.