“Future Skills: Research and Develop” – Conference | Gdańsk University of Technology

The conference brought together perspectives from higher education, the labour market, public administration and practitioners specialising in competence development. The topics discussed were particularly relevant to the Young Researchers Office due to its involvement in the “Universities of the Future” project. Gdańsk University of Technology is one of 12 partner universities implementing the project together with the National Centre for Research and Development. The project is based on the development of the Personalised Education Model, in which students work on their own projects with support from academic and business mentors, as well as through micro-courses and workshops.

The conference programme opened with presentations by Martyna Kozłowska Żukowska from the National Centre for Research and Development and Dr Joanna Średnicka from Pracownia Gier Szkoleniowych, followed by a visual thinking workshop led by Edyta Madej. In the following sessions, participants also heard from Tobiasz Naryniecki from Competence Game, Paweł Trojanowski from the Voivodeship Labour Office in Warsaw, Siedlce Branch, Dr Iwona Burka from Trigger Mind and Marek Staniszewski from Heuristica.

The programme also included presentations by students participating in the “Universities of the Future” project. Among the projects presented was a solution focusing on railway track vibrations and safety at level crossings. The solution is currently undergoing the patenting process. A student from the University of Warsaw also presented The Juicy Skills, an app designed to develop soft skills through action.

The conference had a strong practical focus. It was accompanied by an Experience Corner stand, where participants could explore games and tools supporting the development of future skills. The solutions presented included “Matrix”, which develops skills in analysing information, identifying dependencies, planning and collaborative decision-making; “Do kwadratu”, focusing on planning, communication and teamwork; and “Ukryta wskazówka”, supporting creativity and openness to new ideas.

Participants were also able to try the “Po omacku” exercise, demonstrating the importance of precise communication and effective teamwork.

The event was practical, creative and intensive. It was certainly one of those conferences that leaves participants not only with pages of notes, but also with new ideas to put into practice.