If those who use Wi-Fi at the university ask where the signal comes from, most will see the letters “KPI-Telecom-Huawei” on the screens of their gadgets. It is no coincidence that the name of the well-known telecommunications company appears on them: in a few years, it provided KPI with server equipment and more than 300 industrial Wi-Fi access points, which allowed the campus and university dormitories to be fully covered with wireless Internet. It also donated other equipment for research and educational purposes. However, the cooperation between Huawei Ukraine and Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, which was not the first of its kind, is still ongoing. The cooperation between Huawei Ukraine and Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, which began on September 14, 2016, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, is not limited to helping the university develop its material base: Polytechnic students also received scholarships from Huawei, the best students of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute visited Huawei headquarters, the company equipped modern laboratories, the Academy of Information and Network Technologies authorized by Huawei was opened at the university, and finally, the dual form of education was launched at the Faculty of Radio Engineering as part of the Huawei Network Technologies certificate program, etc. However, the story of all aspects of this cooperation can be the subject of a separate material, and within this we will focus on another charitable act of donation by Huawei Ukraine LLC: KPI received the latest equipment from the company to strengthen the educational, scientific and technical potential of the university.
So, on November 6, during the visit to Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute of a delegation of Huawei management led by its Executive Vice President for the European Region - President of Public Relations and Communications in Europe Jin Yong, representatives of the company's subsidiary in Ukraine, Huawei Ukraine, handed over new devices for teaching, research and uninterrupted power supply to the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Automation. The donation agreement and the act of equipment transfer were signed by Jin Yong and the rector of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute Anatoliy Melnychenko.
Of course, before signing the official documents, the leadership of the university and the faculty, the recipient of the new equipment, had a conversation with the guests, the main topic of which was to discuss the results of cooperation already achieved and the prospects for its deepening.
“Over the years of fruitful cooperation between Huawei Ukraine and Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, we have achieved significant success, which has become an important start for our students and for the development of energy-efficient and information and communication technologies and digital power system management in Ukraine,” said Anatoliy Melnychenko, Rector of the university, opening the meeting. - “Cooperation with Huawei is an excellent example of how mutually beneficial partnership assistance can contribute to innovative development and the implementation of joint ambitious projects.”
As for the further development of the partnership, the most interesting areas for both parties are, first of all, the implementation of joint innovation projects and research in the field of cybersecurity, antennas and information technology, the introduction of new courses and certificate programs at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, the expansion of dual education programs with the subsequent employment of university graduates in the company's divisions, work in joint energy projects in the field of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, etc.
Vasyl Budko, Head of the Department of Renewable Energy Sources at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Automation, told university media representatives about the new equipment: “We received two lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, a battery monitoring system (BMS) and an electric vehicle charging system. This equipment will be installed in the DIDGITAL POWER LAB smart laboratory, which Huawei Ukraine, together with Atmosphere-Distribution, equipped in February this year at the FEA, and which is currently used in the educational process and in research. By increasing the capacity of our batteries, we can disperse the number of guaranteed power supply points within the faculty and provide workplaces with guaranteed electricity.”
According to him, in the laboratory, as part of a discipline called “Photovoltaics,” undergraduate students study the processes of converting solar energy into electricity with its accumulation in real storage systems. Higher education students have the opportunity to study in real time the processes of energy conversion through the monitoring system - both the conversion of solar energy into electricity and its accumulation and subsequent delivery to the consumer. Thus, the new equipment will increase the number of places for students to work and the number of research options. He reminded that the faculty also received modern double-sided photovoltaic systems from Atmosphere-Energy of Nature, which have better solar energy conversion rates than most existing ones. And by using these new samples of photovoltaic cells and those stations that were installed earlier, students can compare the conversion efficiency and increase in generation when using modern technologies. “Firstly, they practice real modes of operation at photovoltaic power plants, and secondly, they develop design skills based on photovoltaic and storage systems from leading manufacturers,” explained Vasyl Budko.
It should be noted that the demand for specialists in the installation and maintenance of photovoltaic power plants is currently very high in the Ukrainian labor market. This is explained, of course, by the serious damage caused by the enemy to the Ukrainian energy sector and the need to diversify energy sources up to the creation of energy-independent homes and households. That is why the number of companies that develop and install such systems is growing along with the need for specialists. Therefore, the students of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Automation are practicing real modes on real equipment at the laboratory installation in DIDGITAL POWER LAB, which is the equipment that companies are currently installing for their customers. It is worth noting that Huawei Ukraine and Atmosphere are leading companies in this renewable energy segment and contribute to the country's energy security.
It should be added that the equipment received by the university is not only for teaching and research purposes. It can also serve to provide the faculty with power in the event of power outages. “It has already proved itself well in this regard for eight months of operation. We all remember the summer period when a significant part of the generating capacities was taken out of service for scheduled repairs (meaning nuclear power plants), a significant part of thermal power plants suffered significant damage, and it was solar energy that provided the greatest support to the power system. DIDGITAL POWER LAB allowed us to install five points of guaranteed power supply at the faculty, and this allowed us to provide power to the Admissions Committee, the dean's office and a number of departments, so thanks to this equipment we managed to maintain the normal operation of the faculty,” said Vasyl Budko. Finally, he expressed confidence that the additional equipment provided by Huawei Ukraine will allow the faculty to install and equip power points at all its departments due to the increased capacity.
On November 6, Huawei Ukraine delivered cutting-edge equipment to the Digital Power laboratory at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. The memorandum signing marked the handover of smart tools designed to empower students with hands-on experience and nurture groundbreaking innovations. This collaboration represents the second step in partners' shared vision to give students access to modern solutions in the area of renewable energy and digital technologies.
In particular, Huawei Ukraine provided Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute with smart energy storage systems, a charger, and the IdeaHub Pro interactive panel for presentations and video conferencing. This equipment will help Kyiv Polytechnic students conduct innovative research and hone practical skills.
“Cooperation with Kyiv Polytechnic Institute exemplifies how effective partnerships can spark innovation,” said Tony Cao, CEO of Huawei Ukraine. “We are delighted to be able to contribute to the development of young talent in Ukraine.”
