As part of the K-FORCE project UNIZA (P10) organised a training visit for academic staff from the Western Balkan countries. This visit took place at the Faculty of Security Engineering, University of Zilina, Slovak Republic from April 23 – May 04, 2018. The primary focus was on gaining new and improving teaching and research skills at the MSc level.
The following staff from WBC higher education institutions were involved:
- Jovana Bondžić from the University of Novi Sad, Serbia
- Ali Osman Topal from the Epoka University, Albania
- Abaz Velić from the University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bojana Grujic from the University of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Branko Savić from the School of Higher Technical Professional Education, Serbia
- Perseta Grabova from the University of Tirana, Albania
During the the folowing activities were undertaken:
- Introductory lecture by UNIZA
- Lectures for UNIZA students
- Guided project work
- Student scientific competition panel member
- Final evaluation.
The visit began on on 23.04. by a kick-off meeting on which all attendees met with the UNIZA staff primarily involved in the training (Vladimir Mozer, Miroslava Vandlickova and Linda Makovicka Osvaldova) and were given information and instructions on the schedule of the upcoming two weeks. In addition information about getting around Zilina, places of interest and other useful details were given to the trainees. In the afternoon an introductory class on fire modelling was delivered during which the trainees downloaded the necessary simulation software and a short walkthrough was given. During the class each of the attendees created a simple model as per the instructors guidance.
Subsequently, the training was as per the schedule above. The activities involved practical laboratory experiments in which samples of wood (untreated and fire retardant treated) were tested in fire conditions and results collected and analysed by the trainees (24.04.). Each trainee was a member of a student scientific competition during which they judged the scientific work of the students from the Faculty of security engineering and other institutions (25.04). On Thursday (26.04.) the trainees received a day-long focused training session on fire modelling using a zone computer model CFAST. This lesson involved creation of a more complex model case based on which the trainees were given assignments for their project work in this subject. The first week ended by a session of lectures delivered by the trainees (each trainee had to select a topic relevant to their subject and disaster risk management / fire safety engineering) to the students of the crisis management MSc. programme.
The second week of training started with focused self-study and work on the fire model assignments which were consulted on an ad-hoc basis with the course lecturer – Vladimir Mozer (30.4. and 1.5). The morning sessions of 2.5. and 3.5. involved visits to the Fire service college and Rescue brigades. During these visits the trainees met with the management and representatives of these institutions and were given a comprehensive tour of the training and teaching facilities as well as the equipment and gear used in a wide range of natural and man-made disasters. The afternoon sessions on these two days were dedicated to the review of the fire modelling assignments and feedback from the lecturer.
The training visit ended on the Friday 04.05. in a final evaluation session where the trainees and the lecturers discussed the visit and if the objectives have been achieved. Following that each of the trainees filled in an anonymous training evaluation form which have been collected and sent to the project coordinator. Also letters confirming the attendance were distributed to the attendees.
During the visit an informal social event was held on 24.04. during which the centre of Zilina was shown to the trainees followed by a networking dinner.
Overall the visit was received positively by both the trainees as well as the UNIZA staff involved, which was also confirmed by the positive feedback received through the evaluation forms.
Perseta Grabova from University of Tirana, attended individual trening at University of Zilina in the period 16 - 24 April 2019.
