Modernization of Laboratories for Dual Model of Studies - Master in Mechanical Engineering

Master mechanical engineers with Production-information technology or Mechanical design, construction and
development Master degree diploma are among the occupations that are in short supply on the labor market. At the
moment, there are no unemployed Master engineers at the National Employment Service. Annually, around 25-30
students finished studies with diploma of Production-information technology or Mechanical design, construction and
development, while the demand is double. The current demand is for about 50 master engineers annually according to the
HR of companies from local and regional industry. Considering the development of new technologies and the Industry 4.0
concept, the gap between the new engineers and the demand on the labor market is growing. Companies are coming
directly to the VTI and want cooperation by sending students for internships and/or offer scholarships. In last few years,
scholarship offer is higher than potential scholarship holders. There are almost no students who do not know where will
work when enrolling for a master’s degree. Very often, retraining of graduates and master’s engineers is carried out for
deficient professions, which especially include Master of Production-information technology and Master of Mechanical
Design; specialists in programming CNC machines, specialists in additive technologies, maintenance engineer, product
development engineers, welding engineers and similar, who are the main backbone of this project.
One of the goals of the project is to fill that gap by affirming dual studies, where students will get practical knowledge while
working in companies and be able to get involved in work immediately. CT programs offer possibility for students to solve
problems from the industry. Students will be trained to work in specific conditions, and everything is coordinated between
the teachers of VTI and mentors from companies who should jointly define seminar, student research and master theses.
During the implementation of the project, almost all enrolled students would gain practical knowledge and continue to
work in companies. Also, companies would refer students to master’s studies with a chosen topic which student would
specialize.
In this way, the problem of employment would be solved, and the transfer and development of new technologies would be
accelerated. By enrolling in the master’s studies, students would choose a company (or theirs) and the entire educational
process would be directed towards companies and their needs.