Launching of the Copper’s Digital Future program

KGHM has launched a new educational program for secondary school students called “Copper’s Digital Future.” The pilot project involved 250 students from 8 schools in the Copper Belt and the Lubuskie Province. The project is coordinated by the Central Information Processing Center (COPI), a division of KGHM.

The goal of the program is to ensure the development of secondary school students in professions where digital competence is essential. The IT industry has recently been a leader in terms of both employer needs and attractive wages. KGHM’s pilot program has shown how immensely important it is to build digital competence early on in the education of young people.

Participants in the pilot project took part in lectures at the Wroclaw University of Technology and the Tadeusz Kościuszko Military University of Land Forces in Wrocław, among others. They learned the basics of cyber security and had the opportunity to learn about image processing mechanisms and to see 3D scanners. Surveys conducted among the students show that they are most interested in practical classes and workshops with IT experts.

“We are launching a program that is extremely necessary in these times. The pilot project has shown that young residents of the Copper Belt want to explore the digital world with us and are interested in modern technologies. The project will allow us to increase KGHM’s influence on the local labor market for the IT specialists we need in our divisions,” said Tomasz Zdzikot, the CEO of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

“The event is a valuable initiative aimed to enhance students’ digital competence and improve the quality of vocational education. It is worth pointing out that the initiative fosters the preparation of the participants to enter the labor market of the digital age. The project is intended for secondary school students with IT profiles. I would like to thank KGHM for its commitment and cooperation,” said Marzena Machałek, the Vice-Minister of Education and Science, at the launching ceremony.

Representatives of the KGHM division emphasize that as part of the program, they allow students to improve their professional competence and provide the opportunity to combine theory and practice. “The participants have an opportunity to test their skills in real-life conditions and to take part in interesting lectures and teaching activities. Everyone is sure to find an area of interest to them. We want the students to have the opportunity to visit KGHM divisions and conduct internships or apprenticeships at our company in the future,” added a representative of the COPI.

The “Copper’s Digital Future” program was launched at the United Europe’s Nations Complex of Schools in Polkowice. Petros Psyllos, a well-known electronics engineer, programmer, and innovator, became the project’s ambassador. His activities include the implementation of modern technologies, including applications of artificial intelligence and virtual assistants.

The “Digital Future of Copper” program is intended for students of secondary schools - technical schools with classes with an IT profile and high schools with science profiles - who are potential future IT students.

The program was launched for 8 schools:

• COMPLEX OF POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS IN GŁOGÓW
• COMPLEX OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCHOOLS IN LEGNICA
• UNITED EUROPE’S NATIONS COMPLEX OF SCHOOLS IN POLKOWICE
• JAN WYŻYKOWSKI COMPLEX OF SCHOOLS NO. 2 IN LUBIN
• PROF. BOLESŁAW KRUPIŃSKI COMPLEX OF SCHOOLS NO. 1 IN LUBIN
• DOMEYKO COMPLEX OF ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING SCHOOLS IN BOLESŁAWIEC
• BOLESŁAW KRZYWOUSTY 1ST HIGH SCHOOL IN GŁOGÓW
• STANISŁAW STASZIC COMPLEX OF SCHOOLS IN WSCHOWA

In addition to specialists from COPI, the “Copper’s Digital Future” program will also be supported by the staff and students of the Wrocław University of Technology and the Tadeusz Kosciuszko Land Forces Academy in Wrocław. Classes and lectures, scientific conferences, and seminars with experts will be scheduled for the students. Young residents of the Copper Belt will also have the opportunity to visit KGHM divisions.

Since 2018, KGHM has been conducting the “Competent in the Mining and Metallurgy Branch” program. Nine schools from the Copper Belt are participating in the project carried out with the patronage of the company. The participating students have the opportunity to attend classes conducted by KGHM specialists and to receive scholarships for top academic performance. The objective of the project is to prepare graduates of technical and vocational schools for employment at KGHM.