The Schools of Industrial Engineering and Telecommunication Engineering will concentrate joint actions
A leading company for student internships. An active collaborator in training, outreach, and recruitment activities. A sponsor of awards… The relationship between BorgWarner Emissions Systems Spain and the University of Vigo, particularly with the Schools of Industrial Engineering and Telecommunication Engineering, has been ongoing for nearly two decades and will now be formalized through a stable framework with the creation of the BorgWarner-UVigo Chair.
The Rector of the University of Vigo, Manuel Reigosa, accompanied by the Directors of the Schools of Telecommunication Engineering, Rebeca Díaz Redondo, and Industrial Engineering, José Fariña; and the Vice President of Engineering at BorgWarner Turbos & Thermal Technologies, Carlos Castaño, together with the Human Resources Director of BorgWarner Spain, Xurxo Arias, signed today, at an event held on the Vigo campus, the collaboration agreement for the creation of the BorgWarner-UVigo Chair. The agreement aims to regulate a stable collaboration between the academic institution and the company, which provides propulsion and thermal management solutions for the automotive industry. Its purpose is, on the one hand, to promote the development of professional skills among university students, and on the other, to foster technological vocations among pre-university students in areas of knowledge related to the company’s activities.
Manuel Reigosa thanked the company for the trust it has shown in the University of Vigo over the years and emphasized the importance of “identifying and nurturing talent and remaining open to public-private collaboration, which is part of UVigo’s DNA and is beneficial for the region.” Carlos Castaño, in turn, described the creation of the Chair as “a milestone in the collaboration between BorgWarner and UVigo. A collaboration based on trust,” which, he noted, has resulted in numerous academic and knowledge transfer initiatives over the years. He also highlighted that “investing in education, research, and talent is not only a matter of social responsibility; it is a long-term strategic commitment.” Meanwhile, Xurxo Arias, Human Resources Director at BorgWarner, outlined some of the collaborations developed over the years with UVigo and noted that the creation of this Chair “strengthens and consolidates the path towards generating more professional opportunities.”
Strategic areas and activities of the Chair
According to the document signed this Friday, the Chair’s strategic lines of action are fivefold: the creation of a talent recruitment programme aimed at providing excellent training for engineering students in BorgWarner’s areas of activity, specifically within the EET and EEI; the promotion of initiatives to disseminate the teaching and research activities of the Schools’ academic staff; collaboration in cross-cutting educational activities, particularly within the Tutorial Action Plan and the Mentoring Plan, as well as initiatives involving student associations; the promotion of training activities focused on skills development, specialization, and continuous upskilling of the university community; and the organization of workshops, conferences, seminars, and forums within the Chair’s fields of expertise.
These strategic actions will translate into initiatives such as collaboration with the EET and EEI Outreach and Recruitment Plan to promote their degree programmes and foster scientific and technological vocations; the organization of educational and competitive activities for pre-university students; the recognition of outstanding academic records; collaboration in organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, and competitions, as well as final degree projects aligned with the Chair’s interests; and the promotion of scientific and technological events.
The agreement establishes an annual contribution of €15,000 from BorgWarner to the Chair, which will be led by Verónica Santalla, Deputy Director for Infrastructure and International Affairs at the School of Telecommunication Engineering. The monitoring committee will include two representatives from each School, along with representatives from the company.
Specific lines of collaboration: from a dual master’s programme to a micro-credential
At the signing ceremony, the Directors of the Schools of Telecommunication and Industrial Engineering outlined several joint initiatives developed with BorgWarner, expressing their appreciation for the company’s trust.
According to Rebeca Díaz Redondo, the collaboration “has been a natural process,” and she stated that the Chair will serve as “a framework encompassing all activities.” She also highlighted that BorgWarner is one of the patron companies of the conexiónTeleco network, contributing to the School’s quality processes, participating in the development of the EET’s strategic plan, and supporting outreach and student recruitment activities. This includes sponsoring the Teleco Olympiads since their inception four editions ago, as well as funding one of the awards for the top three incoming students in the Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunication Technologies Engineering. She also announced that, for the first time, the positions for the Dual Track of the Master’s Degree in Telecommunication Engineering will be published next week, “one of which is offered by BorgWarner, with a highly attractive profile to work on cutting-edge topics within the company, and which we hope will be filled.”
Additionally, BorgWarner offers Bachelor’s and Master’s Thesis projects (TFG and TFM) and collaborates in doctoral training in both Schools. In the field of specialized training, the Department of Electronic Technology (which teaches in both EET and EEI) has long collaborated with the company through several proprietary programmes, such as the Specialist Course in Electronics for Automotive Components (launched in 2018) and the specialization course in Industrial Electronics for BorgWarner mechanical engineers, which has trained more than 115 engineers from the company to date. Another example of collaboration is the micro-credential “Modelling and Control of PMSM Drives with MATLAB-Simulink.”
José Fariña, Director of the School of Industrial Engineering, referred to these collaborative efforts as being based on two key principles: “trust and alignment,” both in terms of student education and professional reskilling. Fariña, who expressed his gratitude for BorgWarner’s trust in the School, stated that the Chair launched today “will provide a framework to support and continue the work we are already doing.”
Source: Duvi