• Visual Introduction
• Thematic Focus and Development of the Centre
• Scientific and Technological Quality

Visual Introduction

Among the stars of Europe

Koszalin belongs to a group of cities that undertakes many initiatives to promote European idea and to build United Europe. Great acknowledgement of this actions are honourable awards of European Council: Diploma (1998), Honourable Flag of European Council (1999), Honourable Plaque of Europe ceremonially handed in April of 2001. This last prize pleases all city inhabitants, especially taking to account that it is the first in Poland and awarded two years before the date specified in rigorous EU procedures. This proves that Koszalin is an European city well discerned and appreciated outside. Honourable Plaque of Europe acknowledge that the city is well managed and very active outside region and country being successful on this field.

The region

The Central Pomerania is an environ mentally pleasant region of Northwest part of Poland. Vast forests, mysterious swamps and moorland, numerous rivers, post-glacial lakes, sand dunes and most of all the sea with the cleanest beaches along the Polish part of the Baltic coast create an ecological area protected by the law because of it's unique natural significance. There are 21 nature reservations and 7 zones of protected landscape (23% of the region's territory). They create good conditions for the development of numerous animal species. We can meet deers, wild hogs, badgers, black swans (rare in other parts of Poland and Europe), cormorants, grey herons, and black storks. Apart from vast number of fauna species extremely rich and unique flora is also the visiting card of the whole region.

The Central Pomerania is the part of Poland where the agriculture was dominated by large state run farms giving after World War II an employment to majority of the rural population. After the year 1989 most of those farms had been liquidated and many people lost their jobs.
Since the mid-1960's in Koszalin a significant growth in industry were noticed. Electronics, electro technical production and food processing became the most prosperous industries, and about 25 percent of the employable population worked for industrial companies. But in the 1980's the industrial activity regressed considerably.

The City

Koszalin was awarded it's municipal rights in 1266 and now has 112,000 inhabitants (average age does not exceed 35) and extends over 83 square kilometers. The city is placed at the international route Berlin-Szczecin -Gdansk - Kaliningrad linking Germany with Lithuania, Belarus and Russia. Koszalin is twinned with Bourges in France, Seinajoki in Finland, Lidia in Belarus, Gladsaxe in Denmark, Roermond in Holland, Nemunster and Neubrandenburg in Germany. The city is located only six kilometers (in a straight line) from the sea.

The Technical University of Koszalin (TUK)

The Technical University of Koszalin (Politechnika Koszalinska) is the only technical University in the region of Central Pomerania in Poland. It provides academic and technical education and is a leader in research in the disciplines generally connected with the region's areas of development. TUK is quite a young University which develops dynamically and is now a well-established institution. Our University possesses rights to confer doctor degree and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering even the habilitation degree. All those interested in studying at the TUK can select from among over a dozen-or-so study branches and scores of very attractive MSc-degree level study line/specializations with about a hundred diploma profiles available on four faculties.

Development

The TUK has modern buildings and facilities, including the most up-to-date laboratories, combine with progressive attitudes to education and research to ensure an excellent working and learning environment for staff and students. When in 1968 the first group of 180 students began their studies the TUK had only one building. Since than more and more have been building. In the 2000 the twentieth one was put to use. Not only new and modern facilities make all members of the University to feel comfortable at the Institution, it is reflection of the atmosphere of co-operation which exists between professors, tutorial staff and students. The best confirmation of the TUK attractiveness is the fact that during the last nine years the number of students has increased more than ten times. Students have very good studying conditions. Over 25% of students obtain stipends for their results in learning thanks to which many of them can afford to study. Most of the University's students live in Students' Hostels in which computer networks have been introduced. This enables them to take advantage of a wide range of resources and multimedia lectures. At the TUK there are over 800 computers installed and they are connected to local networks which have access to the Internet. Academic staff and students make frequent use of computer facilities and lectures are very often multimedia in character. The Technical University of Koszalin will continue to be an excellent institution for advanced study and scientific research in the twenty first century.

The Centre is an Equal Opportunity Employer and aggressively pursues a program of equal educational opportunity and affirmative action. The Centre does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, handicap, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Members of all underrepresented groups, women, and handicapped persons are invited and encouraged to apply. Acting in engineering and management, we employ as much as 22% of female members and a female promotion has a growing tendency.

New premises

In comparison with other Polish universities that are forced to rent or even sell their premises the TUK is constantly growing. This intensive development gives possibility to increase the number of students and what is more important to broaden the scope and quality of research and educational activity. It is also the cause for young researchers to see their future career on our University.

Conferences

Conferences organized by our staff take place in picturesque and historical places like Amber Palace in Strzekecino and Manor-house in Osieki. After long hours spent in conference hall participants can have a decent rest in peaceful and full of greenery environment.

The Centre

We have food properties and technology laboratories where we can conduct various measures, from mechanical to nutrient properties. We have wide resources for preparing high level expertises for food industry ranging from fish processing to bakery. Apart from intensive research our labs find time also for didactic activities. We train new specialists in the field of food engineering.

In the machine laboratories we have wide range of food processing apparatus: from milling machines through blenders and filters to whirlpools. They are also equipped with small food processing devices like microwaves, centrifugal separators and others household equipment. Besides food processing we work in the area of packaging systems and polymer processing related to extrusion of thermoplasts.

Our Center maintains current contacts with other Polish academic centers.