‘As rector of Lodz University of Technology, I do believe that partnerships between academia and industry are instrumental in the development of our students and the academic community as such. More than anything, they offer our students the opportunity for valuable practical experience’, commented prof. Krzysztof Jóźwik.
He went on to add that the agreement applies to a number of fields of study, and also extends to Lodz University of Technology's participation in collaborative projects relevant of the needs of the company. ‘By participating in work experience and internship programs, students will be given the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge acquired in lectures to real-world problems and projects. This should help them better understand the subject material, as well as develop skills that are imperative in today's job market’, the rector said.
Kellanova, which you may know for its Pringles crisps, calls on students from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical, Electronic, Computer and Control Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Faculty of Organization and Management, and Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering. Andrzej Szymanowski, Senior HR Manager and Member of the Board of Directors of UMA Investments Sp. o. o., which has 9 TUL graduates among its top management, is confident in the excellent quality of education provided at TUL.
The company has invested about 1.9 billion złoty in Poland, in the Pringles production plant in Kutno. It produces roughly 2 million cans of Pringles crisps per day, which are shipped to virtually all continents. Another result of these investments is the awarded grants, some of which will be used to aid education and development. Viewed from this vantage point, the prospect of partnering with Lodz University of Technology to work on attractive projects related to the company's development is equally significant. The plant in Kutno, which now employs 750 workers, operates the latest, most advanced technologies, which require to be handled by the best, well-educated skilled professionals.
As highlighted by Andrzej Szymanowski member of the Board of Directors and Senior HR Manager ‘Collaboration with companies such as Uma Investments Ltd. gives students the opportunity to get an insider's understanding of the industry. Through study tours and team-building activities, students can experience what it is like to work at the company on a day-to-day basis. This may offer them inspiration and motivation for their further development. This moment is pivotal for our company, as we are seeking to join Siemens' Global Lighthouse network, plants at the forefront of leveraging the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution. It is Uma Investments Sp. z o. o. intention to forge long-term cooperation with the university, developing collaborative, innovative projects in the future. Conceptual thinking, validation of diverse ideas, harnessing the creativity of young adults - that is where our company is keen to invest.’
TUL Rector, prof. Krzysztof Jóźwik, has a strong conviction that these kinds of partnerships are crucial for innovation. 'Collaborative research projects enable us to fuse academic knowledge and practical experience of the company to design new solutions that may be beneficial to both science as well as the industry,' explained the rector.