In October, students at the University of Ljubljana can look forward to courses in Danfoss Leanheat® Network.
The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering has recently revisited its study programs and now also offers competencies within the green and digital transformation. The Leanheat@ Network tool is part of the new course for master students about Smart Cities.
Professor Andrej Kitanovski from the Laboratory for refrigeration and district energy at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering explains: “Our courses now also include Smart Cities and the digital green transformation. The greater choice of courses enables students to acquire a wider range of knowledge and experience.”
Before creating the Smart Cities course, the faculty connected with Danfoss:
“Cooperation with industrial partners has so far always proved to be very useful because, in addition to the transfer of knowledge and experience, it also introduces career possibilities and helps them network and establish contacts with experts from various fields," Professor Andrej Kitanovski explains.
He underlines that the students will get to know and test the Leanheat® Network tool firsthand during the course. The tool enables the planning and analysis of district heating/cooling systems. The green and digital transition treats district heating/cooling as one of the ways to increase the use of renewable resources and waste heat to achieve climate neutrality.
Danfoss looks forward to the partnership
For Product Manager Tomaž Benedik and Sales Driver Amer Karabegovic from HydronicS, this opportunity is unique and a role model for more universities globally:
“I look forward to learning more about the results when the students join in October. The collaboration is a great beginning that could potentially grow into something much bigger. For example, talent recruitment, post-graduate programs, new product development, etc.,” says Amer.
“We have granted free licenses to the students to Leanheat @Network. It is a very intuitive tool, and I am convinced that the students will enjoy exploring it, and who knows, maybe they will come up with new ideas and challenge good old Danfoss. I look forward to collaborating with the university and hope more regions feel inspired to work with their local universities,” Tomaž says.
Among the best faculties in the world
Founded in 1919, the University of Ljubljana is Slovenia's oldest and largest higher education and scientific research institution.
Today, approximately 40,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students benefit from studying in Ljubljana. The university employs around 6,000 higher education teachers, researchers, assistants, and administrative staff in 23 faculties and three academies of arts. The central building, three academies, and the faculties are in the city center.
Over the years, new buildings have been added to the university on the outskirts of Ljubljana as for example the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The faculty ranks among the top 250 faculties of Mechanical Engineering in the world. It consists of 16 departments, including the Department of thermal and environmental engineering and the Laboratory for Refrigeration and District Energy, where the main activities with Leanheat® takes place. The laboratory represents an interdisciplinary team of experts in the field and different heating and cooling technologies.