Another year of study for our unique Sustainable Biomass and Bioproducts Engineering (SBBE) degree course has begun. Nineteen students from all over the world attended Monday's ceremony at Wrocław Tech. They are now facing the so-called introductory week.

The Sustainable Biomass and Bioproducts Engineering degree programme is run jointly by three universities under the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree Programme: the Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Castilla-La Mancha University from Spain and Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology from Finland.

Wrocław Tech is the first Polish university to coordinate such a programme. It runs until 2027 with funding of €4.3 million. The first 2022 graduates will receive their diplomas on Thursday at PWr.

- Our graduates are specialists and specialists in sustainable biomass processing and bioproduct engineering. The added value for them is that they will receive diplomas from all three participating universities,' says Prof Jolanta Warchoł of the Wrocław Tech Faculty of Chemistry, coordinator of the course.

On Monday, 9 September, the traditional inauguration for the new year group took place at our university. It was attended by representatives from both partner universities, the authorities of Wrocław University of Science and Technology, as well as faculty coordinators and industry representatives. Dr Sarah Clapham from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) also gave a presentation.

Nineteen students from Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Ecuador, Finland, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, Portugal and Vietnam, among others, have come to Wrocław.

They will spend their first semester of study with us. For now, they will have an ‘introductory week’, during which they will visit the laboratories of the Faculty of Chemistry and the Faculty of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, take analytical courses in the laboratories, participate in online training, and take part in team-building activities and tours of the campus and Wrocław.

How does it works?

During the first semester, conducted at Wrocław Tech, students will learn about the synthesis of biomaterials and techniques for analysing the resulting products. The second semester will be carried out in Spain. There they will gain knowledge of process design, simulation and optimisation. They will finish their studies in Finland, where they will learn about the practical application of green biomass conversion technologies and strategies for the use of bioproducts. As part of their coursework, they will develop engineering-scale projects and plant prototypes.

Students on this prestigious master's programme in English receive a stipend of €1,400 per month. Internships in industry (in companies in Poland, Finland and Spain) and placements at foreign universities in Europe, Asia or South America are also planned.

The programme also included specialised lectures given by representatives of international institutions involved in financing environmental projects.

Prof Jolanta Warchoł points out that Sustainable Biomass and Bioproducts Engineering is the only course in the European Union that covers the technological aspects necessary to develop innovative solutions in the bio-industry.

- ‘Our students gain knowledge and skills in designing and developing engineering solutions for sustainable biomass management and the production of “green” products: biofuels, bioenergy, biodegradable plastics, building materials, paper and chemicals,’ explains Prof. Warchol, ‘The partner universities have been selected to combine the classical fields of chemical engineering, biotechnology and materials engineering and to adapt them to the current needs of industry,’ adds the scientist from the Faculty of Chemistry.

With the help of experts

The creation of the course and all teaching activities was extensively consulted with companies associated with the SBBE project. - All industry partners offered internships and placements, as well as lectures and study visits to industrial plants, which will be another asset for our students, adds Prof Jolanta Warchoł.

The teaching team from Wrocław University of Science and Technology specialises in bioproducts, from Castilla la Mancha University in bioproduct engineering, and Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology offers expertise in the production and application of paper and construction biomaterials and biocomposites, as well as solutions for the sustainable use of renewable resources.

Join us!

- The studies are aimed at persons with an engineering degree obtained in chemical engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical technology or biotechnology,’ enumerates Prof. Joanna Warchoł.

She also adds that in order to apply for admission to the SBBE course, one must have at least basic knowledge of organic and inorganic chemistry, chemical reactor engineering, process apparatus and basic processes and unit operations in chemical and bioprocess engineering.

Among this year's 19 new students is Maciej Borowicz, a graduate of Wrocław Tech's Department of Chemistry. - ‘I liked the thematic scope of these studies, which complemented the chemical technology programme I had just completed,’ - says the student. - ‘The issues of sustainable industry and the implementation of modern technologies that will prevent the climate crisis are of great interest to me, so I find this choice ideal for my development. On top of that, there is a high scholarship and the opportunity to visit two countries - the advantages alone’. - he adds.

Importantly, the recruitment process for this course is slightly different to that for the other courses at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology. - Those interested must first register on the university's website, then go through an interview, and then wait for admission, explains Maciej Borowicz.

The two-stage recruitment process for the Sustainable Biomass and Bioproducts Engineering course is led by an international committee of fifteen professors representing three partner universities from Poland, Spain and Finland.

This year's recruitment will start on 15 December 2024. For details, visit the SBBE website