FEA students Kostiantyn Volkov and Dmytro Yakymchuk, who are pursuing degrees in the G4 “Energy Production” speciality, took part in an international interdisciplinary energy project the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) SERENADE programme.
Participation in such projects enables students to apply their professional knowledge while working on interdisciplinary assignments, collaborate with members of international teams, develop professional communication skills in English, and present the results of their work in an international academic environment.
The students presented the results of their collaborative work at a recent session dedicated to implementing a comprehensive sustainable development strategy. The session was held as part of the international MERIT-Ukraine Green Office and Sustainable project.
In an interview with a correspondent from the Kyiv Polytechnic, Yuliia Peretiatko, Associate Professor at the Department of Theoretical Electrical Engineering of the Faculty of Electric Power Engineering and Automatics (FEA), who helped involve the students in the project, emphasised the importance of such initiatives for the professional development of future energy specialists. According to her, participation in the COIL project opens up opportunities for students to engage in international academic cooperation, work on relevant professional assignments, and exchange experience with representatives of other educational environments. This learning format helps broaden their professional outlook and develop digital competencies and 21st-century skills essential for working in the modern energy sector. Of particular importance is the involvement of students in international educational initiatives aimed at improving the quality of professional training and strengthening the resilience of Ukraine’s higher education system amid the full-scale war. “International educational projects, practical work, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional communication are essential components of modern training for electrical power engineers at the Faculty of Electric Power Engineering and Automatics of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute,” Yuliia Peretiatko emphasises.
We asked the project’s participants, Kostiantyn Volkov and Dmytro Yakymchuk, how the work had been organised. We also asked them about the assignments set by the organisers of the interdisciplinary project and the methods they used to complete them.
The project focused on modelling the energy system of the city of Padua in northern Italy. Using specialised software, including EUReCA and GIS, the students worked in teams of five. Kostiantyn coordinated communication among students from different countries and time zones, while Dmytro was responsible for preparing the relevant documentation and editing team members’ presentations. Their English language skills proved particularly useful. The students explained that, as part of the technical analysis of the Padua region, they worked alongside colleagues from different countries to develop proposals for optimising the local energy consumption system. They found the project an engaging and valuable experience.
What sparked their interest in studying their chosen speciality? Kostiantyn and Dmytro gave almost identical answers. Both believe that the future of the energy sector lies in renewable energy sources. Although studying at FEA is far from easy, they understand that, despite the difficult times and wartime conditions, power outages, and the constant threat of bombing, it is essential for them to acquire a solid theoretical foundation and practical skills to secure successful employment and build their future careers.
Kostiantyn and Dmytro say that if a similar COIL project were organised again, even with more challenging assignments, they would be delighted to take part.