On February 20, a workshop titled “How to Reduce the Waste of Time in University Processes? Using Value Stream Mapping in Improving the Organisation of the Teaching and Learning Process in Material Engineering” was conducted by Justyna Maciąg from the Institute of Public Affairs, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. The workshop focused on addressing the pressing challenges universities face, including budget cuts, rapid technological evolutions, changing stakeholder expectations, internationalization, and increasing competition, all of which necessitate new approaches in university governance and management to enhance effectiveness and quality.
The purpose of the workshop was to introduce Value Stream Mapping (VSM), a fundamental Lean management tool that helps in identifying and eliminating inefficiencies in processes. The session was organized into two segments: the first part provided an overview of essential concepts related to VSM, including the definitions of value and waste, as well as the principles of Lean thinking. The second segment involved practical exercises where participants mapped out processes, conducted waste audits to pinpoint inefficiencies, brainstormed solutions to mitigate waste, and developed a final project of the process map which was then tested for validity.
Additionally, this workshop was part of the “Good Practices in Materials Engineering Didactics” conference, which was held within the scope of the “Materials Science Ma(s)ters – developing a new master’s degree” project, co-financed by the European Union. The integration of the workshop into this larger event underscored a collaborative effort to advance educational methodologies and practices in the field of Material Engineering, aiming at a more efficient and impactful learning experience.
