The Centre of Excellence of Virovitičko-Podravska County (VPŽ) continues its work this year, with operations co-financed by Virovitičko-Podravska County. On the first day of the academic year, head Slobodan Koletić welcomed the attendees, highlighting the importance of such initiatives in developing the creativity and technical skills of young people.
Centre staff Luka Lach, Zoran Kozjak and Igor Koletić also addressed the audience, sharing their vision for the future of STEM education. Kozjak emphasised the importance of mentorship in student development and expressed satisfaction with working with young talents in the new, state-of-the-art facility.
From the very first day, participants immersed themselves in the world of technology through robotics and CAD-CAM workshops. In the robotics computer lab, students familiarised themselves with programming software and robotic systems including SPHERO Bolt, mBot2, mBot2 Rover, mBot Ranger and mBot Ultimate Robot. They are expected to master the basics of programming through play while developing logical and analytical thinking.
Participants will master the basics of drawing and user interfaces through 2D and 3D design, converting digital creations into physical objects using 3D printers. In the metal workshop, they will produce models on a CNC machine. The workshops encourage creativity, enrich knowledge and prepare students for future challenges and careers in STEM fields, motivating them to explore technological innovations.
Drone piloting workshops add particular appeal to the programme. Through practical exercises, students learn to fly FPV drones, or first-person view, using special goggles, thereby developing reflexes and spatial orientation. They familiarise themselves with the DJI Neo and DJI Neo 2 models and learn about gesture control, autonomous subject tracking (ActiveTrack) and aerial filming in 4K resolution.
The next scheduled workshop is on Saturday, 7 November, from 9am at the Virovitica Industrial and Craft School.
