PhD Student Dominika Płaczek and DPS Software Support Electric Vehicle Student Competition in Poland

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (Wydział Inżynierii Mechanicznej (WIM)), Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Poland organized an electric vehicle event for high school students. Named eWIM, students must design and build and electric vehicle and race in competition.

Dominika Placzek is a PhD student, faculty member, and one of the coordinators for the event. Thanks to our Value Added Reseller, Kamil Gruszka, Application Engineer, DPS Software Poland. I had a chance to interview Dominika and find out more about this exciting competition.

Marie: Can you tell the SOLIDWORKS community about the objective of eWIM and what it means?

Dominika: The main objective of the competition is to promote the study of mechanical engineering and encourage young people to develop technical interests. The event is competition for high school students.

Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology is divided into thematic departments. The event is organized by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in polish is: Wydział Inżynierii Mechanicznej.

The name eWIM means:
“e” – is the first letter of the word “electric”
“WIM” – is the abbreviation of the department’s name (Wydział Inżynierii Mechanicznej)

The full name of the event is: eWIM – design and build an electric vehicle with us

Marie: How many years have you held this event?

Dominika: This year was the third edition of the event. We post information about the event.

Third edition (2024)

Second edition (2023)

First edition (2022)

Marie: How many students and schools participate?

Dominika: The event is a competition for high school students. Each school can participate as 1 team. In the regulations, 1 team means 5 students and 1 teacher.

Third edition (2024): 29 schools = 29 teams

Second edition (2023): 28 schools = 28 teams

First edition (2022): 21 schools = 21 teams

Marie: How long have you been teaching and using SOLIDWORKS?

Dominika: My story is a little different. I have been working at the university for several years and I’m a PhD student. Together with Paweł Maćkowiak, we are the supervisors of the Rail Vehicles Scientific Club at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Students in this club use SOLIDWORKS and help with the eWIM event.

I will start working as a teacher at the University in October. I also know SOLIDWORKS from my second job as a mechanical engineer.

Marie: How were you introduced to our SOLIDWORKS Reseller, DPS Software Poland?

Dominika: While organizing the second edition of the event, I thought it would be a good idea to use SOLIDWORKS. I contacted DPS Software from Poland. Since then, DPS Software has supported our event. The event is aimed at high school students to encourage them to study mechanical engineering. I wanted to show school students what the work of a designer will involve in the future. The event is about building an electric vehicle. So there are many areas where they could use SOLIDWORKS: project visualization, models for 3D printing, DXF files for cutting and others.

Other companies also participate in the event as partners. These are often design companies where students can work as mechanical engineers after graduation.

Thanks to this, the event is attended by:
– Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology – as an organizer,
– School students – who we encourage to study mechanical engineering,
– Design companies – to showing the possibilities of future work.

Marie: Can you share some of the design requirements?

Dominika: Students are given regulations, a SOLIDWORKS start assembly and an outline of the obstacle course. There are design parameters and specifications.

On competition day, the students present their ideas to judges, drive their vehicles, and compete for awards.

Thank you Kamil Gruszka and DPS Software Poland for supporting this student event and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

Thank you Dominika for supporting students and sharing the eWin competition story with the SOLIDWORKS Community. On behalf of the SOLIDWORKS Edu team, congratulations on your new faculty appointment!

Design well, Marie

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Marie Planchard

Senior Director, Early Engagement, 3DEXPERIENCE Works at Dassault Systemes

Marie Planchard is an education and engineering advocate. As Senior Director of Education & Early Engagement, SOLIDWORKS, she is responsible for global development of content and social outreach for the 3DEXPERIENCE Works products across all levels of learning including educational institutions, Fab Labs, and entrepreneurship.