BUT strengthens links with secondary schools. Collaborate on the development of STEM education

Brno University of Technology has been long striving to increase interest in technical education among high school students. It actively collaborates with secondary schools and regularly organizes meetings where representatives of both high schools and the university share their experiences and educational needs.

Supporting STEM education was the main topic of the meeting between representatives of secondary schools and BUT. | Author: Václav Koníček

This year’s forum of secondary school and BUT representatives, held in June at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, focused on chips and semiconductor technologies. These are not only strategic areas for the university but also for Czech industry, which currently offers a wide range of career opportunities for graduates in technical fields.

The meeting was opened by the university’s Rector Ladislav Janíček and FEEC Dean Vladimír Aubrecht. Both emphasized the importance of education in STEM fields and mutual cooperation between high schools and the university. This was followed by a presentation on the Czech Semiconductor Center, which was established in the spring, and an introduction to the partnership program for schools. This program is designed for high schools that want to actively and closely cooperate with BUT, connecting their students and teachers with university experts.

The forum focused on chips and semiconductor technologies. | Author: Václav Koníček

Thanks to the new partnership program, BUT has signed a memorandum of cooperation with six secondary schools, aiming to jointly develop education in technical fields. Discussions are currently underway with three more schools. “We are glad that schools are interested in cooperating with us. Education levels should not be isolated from each other but rather interconnected. That is exactly what we aim to achieve with this step,” explained program coordinator Kateřina Hrozná.

BUT is now cooperating with six secondary schools. | Author: Václav Koníček

Another key point of the program was the introduction of a concept for a study program for STEM teachers. This idea emerged from suggestions raised at last year’s meeting and reflects the shortage of well-qualified technical educators. “Our goal is to educate teachers who are not only strong in physics, informatics, or mathematics but who can also inspire students to pursue technical disciplines. I was pleasantly surprised by the great interest shown by top educators and experts from BUT to actively participate in developing the program. Thanks to our close connection with industrial practice, Brno provides a unique environment for creating modern and high-quality teacher education,” said Vítězslav Máša, Vice-Rector for Lifelong Learning and Quality at BUT.

Another topic was the new study program for STEM teachers. | Author: Václav Koníček

The importance of the study program and the fact that teachers play a crucial role in high school students' decisions about further studies was confirmed by Miroslav Marek, Principal of Gymnázium Křenová. “When you have a great and passionate teacher, they’re basically an influencer and have the power to shape students' decisions. Many of our graduates go on to study at BUT, and I believe it’s because of the quality of teaching staff we have,” he explained.

At the same time as the meeting between high school and BUT representatives, a workshop was held for teachers of physics and technical subjects on how to teach about semiconductors. At the end of the program, participants toured the laboratories at the Department of Microelectronics at FEEC and the interactive science lab Elektrikárium.