What technical knowledge and skills will future mechanical engineering graduates need? And how can the Faculty work with industry to enhance teaching and ensure that it meets the needs of professional practice as closely as possible? These were the key questions addressed by around 60 representatives of companies, academics and students from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Brno University of Technology (BUT) at the first-ever FSI Industry MeetUp, held on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. The Faculty will use the outcomes of the joint discussions to support the development of new study programmes.
FSI Industry MeetUp was established as a new platform for open dialogue between the Faculty, its industry partners and students. The aim of the event was not only to introduce companies to the Faculty's current activities, but above all to engage all participants in a discussion about the future of engineering education and offer them an opportunity to directly influence its development.
The industry partners involved included representatives of ŽĎAS, Honeywell Aerospace, Garrett Motion, TOSHULIN, SMC Industrial Automation, Frentech Aerospace, Chropyňská strojírna, IDEA StatiCa and Hanon Systems Autopal Services.
“I greatly appreciate the time that company representatives chose to devote to us. Our first meeting resulted in a highly inspiring discussion covering a wide range of requirements that today's engineering industry places on mechanical engineering graduates. Both sides frequently experienced ‘aha’ moments as they realised what we could achieve together,” said Jiří Hlinka, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
One Question, Many Right Answers
The central part of the event consisted of interactive group work, bringing together representatives of industrial companies, academic staff and students.
“Together, we identified the professional activities that future mechanical engineers should be able to perform, discussed the competencies required to carry them out, and explored specific ways to enrich teaching at FSI with new approaches and practical experience,” explained Radek Kalousek, Vice-Dean for Master's Studies.
Jana Hoderová, Vice-Dean for Bachelor's Studies, and Lubomír Klimeš, Vice-Dean for Doctoral Studies, also took part in the discussions.
University strojLAB: A Space for Creative Experimentation
Part of the programme also introduced participants to strojLAB, the Faculty's makerspace.
“Today's engineers need more than theoretical knowledge. They must be able to put their ideas into practice, experiment, seek solutions and learn from their own mistakes. This is precisely the kind of environment that strojLAB offers students. Here, they can work with modern technologies, develop both technical and creative skills, and gain experience that is difficult to provide through conventional teaching. Our goal is for FSI graduates not only to understand technologies, but also to be able to apply them meaningfully in practice,” said David Škaroupka.
Companies can also contribute by setting challenges for students to solve, for example during hackathons.
Attention was also given to examples of cooperation between companies and the university in education based on maker principles, brought together under the Faculty's strojLAB brand.
The discussion focused on opportunities to incorporate industry-defined assignments, experts from professional practice and hands-on experience into workshops designed to develop both technical skills in digital design and prototyping and transversal competencies, such as teamwork, problem-solving and the application of the design thinking process.
The tested educational formats and accompanying materials developed as part of the international DiSTT project are available on the SkillNest.app platform and can be used by other FabLabs or companies.
A Shared Goal: New Study Programmes
The outcomes of the meeting will serve a purpose beyond providing inspiration. The materials developed by participants during the two-hour session will be used by an FSI working group that is currently preparing the accreditation of new study programmes.
The experience of companies, the perspectives of academics and the needs of students themselves can thus directly contribute to shaping the future of education at the Faculty.
The first FSI Industry MeetUp also demonstrated the potential for systematic cooperation between the university and industry in advancing engineering education. The Faculty intends to continue this dialogue through further activities focused on teaching innovation and strengthening the links between academia and professional practice.