Intercultural student workshops at Damen Engineering Gdańsk | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at the Gdańsk University of Technology

At the same time as the 8th edition of the TargOiOwisko job fair was underway at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding, at the Damen Engineering Gdańsk office our students from the Ship Technology Students' Circle 'Korab' were taking part in a workshop, which was also attended by Norwegian students from the SIGMA Association. 

The students were welcomed by Katarzyna Romantowska-Jaskólska, Managing Director, after which - as an introduction to their further work - she gave them a welcome presentation on the history and organisation of the company and the wide range of projects it handles.

Moving on to the practical part, Łukasz Bierndgarski, Project Manager Engineering, discussed the principles of his original game, which allows participants to experience some of the real challenges of integrated planning and project work. After presenting the assumptions and providing data, the participants of the game were able to step into their roles - to work intensively for the next 2 hours to achieve the set goal.

It was a great experience to observe with what commitment the students from Poland, Norway and the Netherlands jointly take on the role of employees to plan the building of a ship. The task was not easy, as it required the participants to be very imaginative (they took on the roles of employees in teams such as Supply Chain, Engineering, Project Management, Shipyard), analyse data, communicate effectively within the team, share tasks, plan and organise. The fact that the workshop was held in English provided an additional challenge for the participants.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the event, we kindly requested comments from Professor Wojciech Litwin, Head of the Institute of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at Gdańsk University of Technology, and students from UoT:

“It is widely believed today that engineers must be able to work creatively in international, often multidisciplinary teams. Therefore, in my opinion, workshops for students from Norway and Poland organised by DAMEN are extremely useful. I am glad that leading companies related to the shipbuilding industry support the education process”.

The meeting was also discussed with Mateusz Bartuś- Leader of KORAB Naval Technology Students' Association, Gdańsk University of Technology:

How do you evaluate the event prepared by DEGd?

- In my opinion, the training prepared by DAMEN was of a high standard, with a clear focus on the integration of various elements. Each component was meticulously considered, including the division into groups, which was enhanced through the use of an engaging activity (drawing candies). The materials provided (tables, printouts, and presentations) were of a high quality, showcasing attention to detail and aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, the workshop leaders demonstrated a commendable level of preparation, providing comprehensive explanations on a granular level.

Which part you found most valuable or interesting?

- During this training, I was assigned the role of project leader, which I actually play in the student club. It was an enlightening experience to observe another project from the leader's perspective, as the responsibilities and tasks were essentially the same as those I undertake on a daily basis. However, it would have been beneficial to dedicate more attention to other aspects of this function. In such "laboratory" conditions, I was able to practise contact and information exchange with other participants, which I would otherwise rarely have the opportunity to do. Thanks to the comments of DAMEN employees and observations of other groups, I was able to identify several strengths and areas for improvement, including my ability to work in a team and my potential for further development.

What topics/issues covered during our workshops do you find most useful during your further studies/future work?

- The most crucial topic addressed during these workshops was the necessity for effective communication within the team and the harmonisation of the dates and interests of various "company departments" – subgroups of participants. Each individual has their own personal objectives, and it is therefore essential to combine these elements into a unified and harmonious whole. This actual problem forced us to re-examine production limitations and decide which elements could be accelerated and which could be done without haste. This exercise provides a useful illustration of the challenges inherent in reconciling the diverse interests of a team, which is a crucial aspect of any project. Having the opportunity to gain an insider perspective on the process allows us to reflect on the exercise and identify key considerations. The simplified design model provides a useful framework for this reflection.The insights gained from this exercise will be invaluable as we continue to refine our ideas for the student club. It is also very good to hear comments on our work from company employees - they paid attention to other elements of work than lecturers. Such an opportunity to alter one's perspective has a positive impact on the possibility of development, certain adaptation to work in industry, and departure from a certain type of academic thinking. This is not to suggest that this type of thinking is inherently flawed; however, it is not always straightforward to translate theory into practice. Therefore, by adopting a different perspective during one's studies, it is possible to draw slightly different conclusions than at the beginning of one's studies. The following observations are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of others.