Projects of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and the Bureau for Educational Services chosen by the UN for the Expo in Vienna
The United Nations headquarters in Vienna selected, among 28 projects worldwide, two successfully implemented projects led by Prof. Dr. Milena Đukanović from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Montenegro, to be presented during the Zero Project Conference Expo in Vienna.
These are projects on innovations in inclusive education, which the Faculty of Electrical Engineering implemented in collaboration with the Bureau for Educational Services, recently presented by Professor Đukanović at the Institute, which initiated and funded the project.
One project involves designed didactic material modeled with 3D technology and produced by 3D printing using PLA filaments, which was distributed to primary schools with integrated departments at the end of 2022.
The initiative started from an idea that, through technology, paved a path to help educators, teachers, and parents enable children to overcome many barriers more easily. The materials were designed by Prof. Dr. Milena Đukanović and her colleagues from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
"The team performed 3D modeling of 10 toys and made 10 sets of toys, which required a lot of time, effort, and resources but ultimately yielded excellent results. The sets were distributed to primary schools, and the role of collaboration between the Bureau and the Ministry of Education with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering was very significant, where Tamara Milić, an advisor for inclusion at the Ministry, and Anita Marić, an advisor for inclusive education at the Bureau, made a significant contribution by acquainting students at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering with the importance of support, and with technological advancements when it comes to teaching materials intended for children with special needs," explained Đukanović.
Following these instructions, students designed more toys and sought the help of the youngest to choose the best ones. Children from primary schools were invited as the jury, and eight of the best solutions were selected.
"For their effort, the students were given modest awards. The produced materials are an auxiliary didactic tool in working with students with developmental disabilities, aimed at their academic and developmental progress, thus for application in the teaching process, interaction, and socialization. The result of this process is also a scientific paper presented at the International Conference in Sarajevo in July 2023, which was published as a chapter in a Springer monograph, serving as a good reference for the collaboration between the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and the Bureau for Educational Services," said Đukanović.
This collection of 3D toys was also presented at the "3D Printed Dreams" exhibition in Kusleovas house, officially opened by Prince Nikola Petrović Njegoš. The project was also presented at the Milan Design Week, where it was among the 43 finalists, and then at the 55th May Exhibition "Bright Future" traditionally organized by the Association of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Serbia. It also won a prestigious design award granted by the Southeast European Creative Economy institution based in Ljubljana (BIG SEE 2023), where the project was once again presented during the "Design Week" (Teden oblikovanja – Design Week) on the second day of the BIG SEE Design Conference in Ljubljana.
The other project from 2023 - 3D printed kitchen furniture using PETG filaments to be distributed to a certain number of kindergartens in Montenegro, serves as an auxiliary tool in mastering self-care skills – independent feeding for preschoolers. It is also integrated as part of the Innovation Fund project, Green Transformation of Montenegro.