18.05.2023
Škoda Auto University hosted representatives of foreign universities participating in the Erasmus+ Sustainable Transportation project from March 27th to March 31st, 2023. SAU hosted representatives from the Finnish Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, the German Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg and the Belgian Thomas More University of Mechelen-Antwerp.
The intensive week began with a tour of the Na Karmeli Educational Centre, the seat of the Škoda Auto University in Mladá Boleslav. During the tour, the guests were able to visit both parts of the building, modern and historical. The week-long meeting was held in the modern part, namely in the Innocube area. The meeting started with a presentation of the universities, study programmes and opportunities, and an introduction of the countries involved in the project.
The morning programme continued with an invited lecture on Introduction to Sustainability, held by Libor Boček from Škoda Auto a.s.
After the lecture, there were presentations by students on the results of the pre-assessment and E-learning presentations by lecturers, followed by students presenting their ideas for fun and effective E-learning. The first day of the meeting ended with a social evening where traditional German, Belgian, Finnish and Czech products were tasted.
The second day focused on invited lectures given by experts from Škoda Auto a.s. Jiří Machuta spoke about the modern industrial production of components in the Czech Republic. Helena Kolajtová presented the topic of green logistics, and Pavla Kozderková talked about sustainable procurement. In the afternoon, the programme included an excursion to Škoda Auto a.s., where participants were able to visit an aluminium foundry, an electric motor production line, quality control laboratories, and a dispatch centre.
The third day was dedicated to individual work in groups and interactive learning games in the Production and Logistics Laboratories of the Škoda Auto University in the newly built H-Park.
The excursion to Škoda Auto a.s. continued on the fourth day; the participants visited a press shop, a welding shop, and the Škoda Auto MUSEUM depository. Afterwards, the programme continued with a presentation of Enyaq cars and the student project Afriq in the atrium of the headquarters of the Škoda Auto University Na Karmeli.
The afternoon programme featured an invited lecture delivered by Jarno Arkko from Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. He spoke about the design, study materials, and learning activities.
Traditionally, the last day was dedicated to the student presentations of the results of the intensive week.
From the beginning of the project, the students were divided into six international teams of four and covered pre-defined topics. Each team produced a study of approximately 50 pages and prepared the abovementioned presentation.
The students focused on the following topics:
Sustainable vehicle design and development
- Group 1: Sustainable vehicle design
progressive materials in car body design,
Group 2: Product quality planning in the context of sustainability aspects,
Sustainable automotive supply chain management
- Group 3: Technological and process
innovation in sustainable automotive supply chain management,
Group 4: Green Logistics and Manufacturing in Automotive Industry
Sustainability performance management in automotive supply chains
- Group 5: Sustainability Process
Performance management for the design and SCM process (internal
instruments),
Group 6: Sustainable Supplier Management.
The Erasmus+ Sustainable Transportation course provides knowledge and skills in sustainable vehicle design and development, sustainable automotive supply chain management and sustainability performance management in automotive supply chains. The methods applied within the course focus on seminar-style teaching, company excursions, invited lectures, case studies, best practices, and educational games. All these activities rely on international teamwork, providing the students involved in the project with numerous benefits, including the opportunity to travel to a foreign university. Thus, they gain valuable experience and knowledge while working in an international team and sustainable transport - the project's focus.
More information about the project can be found HERE.
