The first STEM laboratory of the «STEMLab Synergy» project was opened at the Faculty of Mathematics and Digital Technologies of UzhNU

The event was attended by Acting Rector of UzhNU Professor Volodymyr Smolanka, Director of the Department of Education and Science, Youth and Sports of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Mariana Marusenets, Head of the Board of the NGO «Association of Project Managers «YADRO» Yevhenii Luksha, Acting Vice-Rector for Research and Pedagogical Work Professor Ihor Korol and Acting Dean of the Faculty Professor Mykola Maliar. The lion's share of the audience consisted of lecturers and students, as well as directors, teachers and pupils of Uzhhorod schools, for whom this space was primarily created.

Volodymyr Smolanka opened the ceremonial part, and in particular he also emphasised the coincidence of two celebrations: «Today is a holiday not only because we are marking 60 years of the Faculty of Mathematics, but also because we are opening an entirely new space with new ideas. Great credit for its creation belongs to our colleagues, who together with Romanian partners worked on improving the educational and practical components for pupils of schools, gymnasiums and lyceums. And it is important that this concerns not only equipment and premises. Specialists will also be trained to work with new opportunities and will be able to pass this knowledge on to teachers, colleagues and students».

Yevhenii Luksha explained why such a space is needed precisely now. According to him, Zakarpattia industry is actively developing, and it lacks engineering personnel. Thus, the project from the outset aimed to equip the university and to interest schoolchildren. «We designed it so that it would encourage school graduates to enrol in STEM specialties. Anyone interested can come here, try themselves and decide whether to enrol at the university», — said the head of the board of «YADRO».

Ihor Korol, who works directly on the creation of the STEM space at the university, drew attention to the fact that the very name of the project reflects its essence. «This project is the result of the synergy of European, Romanian and Ukrainian experience, as well as the cooperation of the university, public organisations, education management bodies and schools. This laboratory gives pupils the opportunity to work with advanced technologies, in particular neural networks, and already today opens up prospects for them. This is precisely why we are creating it — so that young people see opportunities, learn new things and are ready for the future», — noted the vice-rector.

However, the project is not limited to equipment: trainers have already been prepared who have taught school teachers to work in STEM laboratories. Thanks to this, schoolchildren will be able to come to UzhNU laboratories for classes in informatics, chemistry, biology and physics.

This idea was continued by Acting Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Digital Technologies Professor Mykola Maliar. He recalled that the Faculty of Mathematics separated from the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics in 1966, and admitted that the opening of the laboratory was deliberately planned so as to combine two celebrations. «I want to thank the people who conceived this project and brought it to life. We invite school directors and pupils to actively join the project and come here. We will be glad to see you, we will help, teach and show», — the dean addressed the guests.

What exactly awaits pupils in the new laboratory was described in detail by Senior Lecturer of the Department of Systems Analysis and Optimisation Theory Mariia Lomaha. According to her, six 3D printers, two servers and a 3D scanner have been installed here. On this basis, clubs in 3D modelling and robotics will operate, where pupils will go through the entire path from idea to finished product. Particular attention in the programme will be paid to artificial intelligence.

These words were immediately confirmed in practice. Students of the faculty demonstrated a robotic arm printed on a 3D printer that recognises images from a camera. And postgraduate student Yurii Tovt showed how laboratory servers can be used for scientific research. He spoke about his own work with neural networks for image processing, which he conducts in cooperation with Manhattan University in New York.

However, the opening of the laboratory at the Faculty of Mathematics and Digital Technologies is only the first step. In the near future, STEM laboratories will also start operating at the Faculties of Chemistry, Biology and Physics. Ihor Korol also shared that the total cost of equipment for four equipped premises exceeds 130 thousand euros, part of which was contributed by the university itself. The project will last until November 2026, but the team expects that the created laboratories and trained teachers will work much longer. Their goal is for science, technology, engineering and mathematics to become for thousands of Zakarpattia schoolchildren not just school subjects, but a pursuit they want to engage in in the future.

The material was prepared thanks to the university's participation in the implementation of the cross-border project «STEMLab Synergy: Forming Future Skills in Ukrainian and Romanian Schools», which is being implemented within the framework of the Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania–Ukraine Programme 2021–2027, with the financial support of the European Union.

Valeriia Melnyk,
Information and Publishing Centre.