EXPERIMENTAL SUMMER SCHOOL - LESSONS FROM CEEPUS SUMMER SCHOOL IN GLIWICE, POLAND: INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH IN SHAPING SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC SPACE

On September 18-27, 2017, six international, interdisciplinary CEEPUS Summer Schools took place in Gliwice, all focusing on one joint project: “Interdisciplinary Approach in Shaping Sustainable Public Space”.

One of the fundamental objectives of summer schools, organized in one place and time, was interdisciplinary integration and the development of teamwork in groups consisting of people specialized in different fields of study. Participants from each of the schools had the task to plan and shape public space of the University’s campus, each approaching the problem according to one’s specialization, also taking into account the needs of other schools.

Participants of each of the schools had their own directional classes, but also participated in common lectures and workshops, which gave them the opportunity to broaden their understanding of the project, as well as the necessity of an interdisciplinary and team approach to this type of projects.

Another important goal of summer schools was the international integration and developing teamwork skills, while communicating solely in English.

The schools had a rich program consisting of lectures, tours and workshops, the aim of which was to broaden the knowledge in the fields of: management of critical infrastructure, safety engineering, ergonomics, use of innovative building materials and techniques in creation of urban space, urban-architectural design, control of mechatronic systems and broadly understood engineering design.

Silesian University of Technology was first to propose such an interdisciplinary, novelty form, which gained the recognition of the national Office for CEEPUS Program, PhD students and lecturers. Organizers of the schools hope, that the cooperation established during the event will provide various interesting collaboration opportunities for our institution and befriended young scientists, who will become ambassadors of the Silesian University of Technology in their home countries.

Participants of this year’s schools included over 50 PhD students and academic teachers from Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Belarus, Poland, Macedonia Kosovo, as well as lecturers from Spain and Sweden.

All six schools were led by six tutors who represent different specializations. Tutors’ experience have been described in the article: starting from the problematics of interdisciplinary cooperation up to common work on school programme for such a group. Authors anticipate that such approach can be innovative and promising . Authors believe, that conclusions from the experimental summer school will be useful for similar upcoming events.