What knowledge and skills will future mechanical engineers need? And how can universities, industry partners, and makerspaces work together to develop them? These questions will be at the heart of the FSI Industry MeetUp, taking place on 21 October 2026 at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology (BUT). The programme will also feature a presentation of the results of the international DiSTT project and opportunities for applying them in education and training.
FSI Industry MeetUp is a new platform for open dialogue between industry partners, faculty management, study programme coordinators, and students. The aim of this interactive event is to jointly identify the key competencies of future engineering graduates and explore practical ways to develop them through innovative teaching methods and cooperation with industry.
The DiSTT project will contribute to the meeting by presenting its results and sharing experiences in developing technical and digital skills. Representatives from industry and academia will be introduced to educational workshops developed and pilot-tested by the international project consortium, opportunities for using them in university and community FabLabs, and the SkillNest.app platform, which makes the project’s outputs accessible to teachers, trainers, and other interested users.
The programme will also include a discussion on how university FabLabs, including strojLAB at FSI BUT, can help students develop practical skills and strengthen the connection between education and employers’ needs.
The event represents another DiSTT dissemination activity focused on engaging key stakeholders from industry and higher education. It will provide an opportunity not only to present the project’s results to new target groups, but also to discuss their practical application and long-term sustainability beyond the project’s lifetime.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 16:30–19:00
Venue: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Room U5, Building A5, Technická 2, Brno, Czech Republic
Programme
16:30–17:00 | Networking and Inspiration
- Informal networking between industry partners and faculty representatives
- Opportunity to visit strojLAB, the university FabLab
17:00–19:00 | Competencies of the Mechanical Engineer of the Future
- Opening remarks by Jiří Hlinka, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
- Interactive workshop: What competencies will future mechanical engineers need?
- DiSTT case study: Developing technical skills through a university FabLab and international cooperation
- Interactive workshop: How can we develop essential competencies in cooperation with industry?
- Closing discussion