Environmental Protection Technologies

Graduate Profile

Knowledge

Graduate of the study program Environmental Protection Technologies: ● is able to creatively apply knowledge gained during the study ● masters the principles of operation of management systems with emphasis on their use in the field of environmental protection ● controls the issue of air pollution, manages and coordinates the field of air protection and the directly associated negative phenomena and processes leading to the disruption of outdoor air quality in the organization with a large impact on the environment ● masters the principles and procedures of current analytical methods used in atmospheric chemistry ● controls the processes of selected technologies for the removal of gaseous pollutants and the measurement of gaseous pollutants ● controls the management of relevant documentation, processing of methodological materials for air protection and the creation of ecological concepts and studies in the field of air protection ● has deep and at the same time cross-sectional knowledge of basic technological processes of water treatment, wastewater treatment and sludge treatment ● has knowledge of the calculation of water needs for the population, industry and agriculture and can calculate it ● can design and manage wastewater treatment processes, water treatment and sludge treatment, as well as wastewater disposal processes ● has knowledge of waste classification, sources of waste generation, methods of waste management, minimization of waste generation and integrated waste management system ● has knowledge of the processing of biodegradable waste by composting and masters the issues of waste generation, processing and disposal ● controls the issues of collection, separation and material recovery of individual types of waste ● has knowledge of the main causes and sources of groundwater and soil pollution, the mechanisms of pollution transport, the basic processes of pollution transformation, pollution prevention techniques, groundwater and soil remediation processes and techniques ● can perform professional activities in the field of prevention and environmental protection of an industrial enterprise in the field of waste management, water management, air protection and chemical risk management ● has acquired knowledge of the principles of operation of equipment for technologies aimed at waste collection, transport and treatment ● can handle information on working with sources of pollution, transformation reactions and risk properties of environmental pollutants ● controls legal and legislative regulations relating to environmental and health risks in municipal and industrial operations, in the field of water protection, treatment and treatment of wastewater ● masters the basics of mathematical modeling of processes of protection of individual components of the environment, mathematical models and simulation programs for the removal of organic pollution, nitrogen and phosphorus and the possibilities of their use in research and technological practice ● can describe the events of given processes, characterize their main manifestations and measure the characteristic parameters of processes ● can do a literary search and use of available literature in Slovak and English ● has knowledge of the capital and money market, the principles of its operation as well as an overview of securities and trading in them ● has sufficient experience for statistical processing of measured data, including the use of modern software applications for processing and presentation of results

Skillset

Graduate of the study programme Environmental Protection Technologies:

• is able to read the technical documents and assignments from the customer with understanding
• has the ability to develop technical documents to determine the most appropriate solution
• can combine the latest knowledge in the field of control, automation, and optimization to solve a technical problem to obtain a solution with significant added value
• in connection with the laboratory results of water samples is able to design, calculate or. to optimize the technological process of cleaning and treatment so that it meets the legislative requirements for their quality
• can apply the principles of safety and health at work, occupational hygiene and environmental protection
• can manage and organize activities related to monitoring, evaluation and publication of quality standards for the supply of drinking water by public water supply and drainage and treatment of wastewater by public sewerage and related services in accordance with applicable legislation
• masters sufficient skills to evaluate the measured characteristics (speed) of processes and at the same time professionally interpret and defend them
• has basic practical experience in measuring the most important analytical parameters in environmental protection (drinking water, wastewater, sludge)
• controls simulation programmes as a means of integrated water quality protection
• can solve in a creative way practical and theoretical tasks associated with sampling, storage and analysis
• can analyze the risks arising in the indoor and working environment of municipal and industrial plants
• can argue the selection and use of appropriate analytical methods for the effective characterization of given processes
• can assess the risks arising from the specific production and operational activities of the company and propose measures to minimize these risks
• is independent in solving professional tasks, projects and coordinating partial activities.

Competencies

Graduate of the study programme Environmental Protection Technologies:

• can comment on investment plans and project documentation in the field of drainage and wastewater treatment, water treatment, sludge treatment and waste management
• is ready to coordinate and develop concepts and methods of quality management in environmental technologies
• is equipped with sufficient information to manage a high degree of independence in solving problems in water and waste management in a real industrial enterprise
• is characterized by the ability to apply knowledge of design and principles of elaboration of project documentation of health and environmental constructions
• can coordinate the field of air protection and the immediately associated negative phenomena and processes leading to the disruption of outdoor air quality in the organization with a large impact on the environment
• can appropriately and professionally present their own opinions and technical solutions to different types of audiences at different levels of management
• is able to independently and creatively solve complex projects, with regard to his professional focus he can think analytically, present his own opinions and solutions to new and non-standard situations and understand the current state of technology
• is ready to work effectively in a team, cooperate and motivate people, take responsibility for team results
• can manage the technologies used and their modes of operation
• is able to assess the risk properties and effects of risk pollutants on humans and living organisms through an innovative and creative process
• has sufficient managerial, economic and ecological awareness to promote proven but also new progressive methods of sewage treatment from small sources of pollution
• is able to perform analytical, synthetic, conceptual and decision-making activities in the agenda of nature and landscape protection and fulfill obligations in accordance with applicable legislation on nature and landscape protection and other relevant legislation
• is characterized by the ability to identify, quantify and evaluate the impact of problem solving on the social and environmental area

Profile courses

Employability of graduates

The study programme of Environmental Protection Technologies is a unique study programme in Slovakia. It is oriented towards three main and currently extremely important areas of the environment – water, air and waste. An extremely important aspect of this study programme is its focus on solving technological problems of the environment, with a focus on water treatment, wastewater treatment, air protection and solving the issue of industrial or municipal waste. The study programme is a modern successor of the first Slovak study programme with a focus on the environment and its protection (since 1978) and to this day it is the only one providing a wide interdisciplinary study in the field of natural sciences – chemistry, mathematics and physics, chemical and environmental technologies. Environmental protection is now one of the dominant directions in all areas of industry and is an essential part of the sustainable development of our society. That is why the application of graduates is practically in all industrial and municipal areas, i.e. wherever modern man is aware of the impact of his activities on nature, where it is necessary to look for and find modern procedures for the protection of water and air, to solve the issue of waste, etc. Environmental protection is now one of the dominant directions in all areas of industry and is an essential part of the sustainable development of our society. That is why the application of graduates is practically in all industrial and municipal areas, i.e. wherever modern man is aware of the impact of his activities on nature, where it is necessary to look for and find modern procedures for the protection of water and air, to solve the issue of waste, etc. An expert in environmental technologies is now a sought-after "commodity" on the labour market, especially in the chemical, petrochemical, food, pharmaceutical and paper industries, but also in the interdisciplinary professions in the industrial and municipal spheres, especially where it is necessary to recognise the dangers of environmental pollution and to look for solutions to protect and revitalize it. Due to the specific and currently exceptional position of the graduate of this study programme within the higher education system in the Slovak Republic, we have long registered an increased demand for practice for such graduates. The possibilities of application after graduation of this field of study are e.g. as: • technologists for the operation and optimization of environmental protection processes and technologies (in particular for waste water treatment plants, water treatment plants, biogas plants, air protection equipment, etc.) • researchers in the field of environmental technologies • technologists for the projection of environmental structures (water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, air protection equipment, etc.) • control laboratory managers and laboratory staff specialised in monitoring the components of environmental • environmental workers of industrial enterprises managers, • employees of water companies employees of state and local administration in the field of environmental protection • trade representatives of distribution companies active in the field of environmental protection The graduate of this study programme is characterized by deep knowledge in the field of technical and technological knowledge of material and energy balances of phenomena that take place in facilities for the protection of environmental components. It controls various methods of measuring physico-chemical and biochemical quantities and can process, analyze and evaluate these. The graduate can analyze environmental problems independently and as part of the team, design their solution, implement modern measurement, optimization and control algorithms and systems.

Examples of professions the graduate is prepared for

Graduate of the study programme Environmental Protection Technologies:

• is ready to study the 3rd level of university studies and can use the acquired knowledge and skills to directly continue in subsequent doctoral study programmes in the field of Environmental Chemistry and Technology, but also Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, Chemical Engineering, Inorganic Technologies and Materials, Food Industry, Biotechnology and other doctoral programmes at faculties with a close environmental focus
• will be applied as (according to the System of Occupations at www.sustavapovolani.sk): Waste Management Manager, Air Protection Specialist, Industrial Environmental Protection Specialist, Waste Management Specialist, Hazardous Waste Recycling Technician, Environmental and Water Management Hydrologist, Water Management Manager, River Basin Management Specialist, Specialist Technician for Drinking Water Treatment, Specialist Technician for Wastewater Treatment.

Job descriptions are available on the website Karierna brána

Examples of successful graduates

In almost 50 years of its existence, the study programme of Environmental Protection Technologies (together with its previous but focused identical study programmes) has raised almost 800 successful graduates who have been applied in the industrial, municipal, research, commercial and academic spheres.

 

Statements of employers or regulators

Employers are positively assessed mainly by the ability of graduates of the study programme Environmental Protection Technologies to creatively apply theoretical knowledge to solve specific problems and challenges in the field of wastewater treatment technology, water treatment, air protection and waste management. Thanks to their wide-ranging scientific knowledge and technical perspectives, they can be applied in various areas of industry, the municipal sphere, but also in state administration structures in jobs requiring a second-level higher education. The quality of the study programme is undoubtedly enhanced by the close cooperation between the faculty and industrial partners and research institutions aimed at confronting students already during their studies with the challenges they will face in future employment. In this respect, an important partner of the FCHPT, which regularly, usually twice a year, provides feedback from employers, is the FCHPT Industrial Council and its individual members representing the most important industrial partners in the chemical, food and environmental sectors. For the area of the above mentioned study programme are Ing. Peter, Plekanec, Executive Vice President, Association of Industrial Ecology in Slovakia, Trenčín, Ing. Marián Lesanský, Director, PreVaK, s.r.o., Stará Turá. It is also highlighted by employers that the study programme Environmental Protection Technology accentuates the inclusion of project-type subjects, whether individual or group, thus preparing them for work in the collective. The quality of the study programme benefits (and is also appreciated by employers) that students are confronted with experience after the first year of study in the form of the subject Professional practice, where for three weeks they participate in the activity of the company (establishment, company) where they are obliged to perform the practice. On the part of employers, quality preparation in the field of laboratory skills, the ability of graduates to be able to face up to various technical problems and find suitable solutions, the ability to work independently, but also teamwork are also highlighted. The education of graduates also in the field of soft skills, the acquisition of which is part of several compulsory and compulsory optional subjects, is welcome. Positive experience with our graduates was expressed by Ing. Vladimir Krajči , Production Director, Mondi SCP a.s., Ružomberok, Dr. Ing. Peter Németh, Head of Investment Construction Department, Duslo, a.s., Šaľa, Executives of ENVIRAL, a.s., Leopoldov, Directors of all relevant water companies in Slovakia (BVS, a.s., Bratislava, TAVOS, a.s., Trnava. ZsVSK, a.s. Nitra, TVK, a.s., Trenčín, SEVAK, a.s.Žilina, OVS, a.s., Dolný Kubín, STVPS, a.s., Banská Bystrica, POVS, a.s., Považská Bystrica, Turčianska vodárenská spoločnosť, a.s. Martin, PVPS, a.s., Poprad, Liptovská Vodárenská Spoločnosť, a.s., Liptovský Mikuláš, VVS, a.s., Košice), supply business entities in the field of environmental technology and technology (HACH, s.r.o., Bratislava, WTW Measuring and Analytical Technology, s.r.o., Banská Bystrica, , a.s., Bratislava, HYDROTECH, a.s., Vinosady, Ferrmont, a.s., Púchov, ASIO-Sk, Bytča) or executives of VÚVH Bratislava and SHMÚ Bratislava.This is not the case in regulated professions