Intensive Safety Week 2025: Faculty of Safety Engineering Brings Together International Safety Experts
From 22 to 25 September 2025, the Faculty of Safety Engineering at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava hosted the international event Intensive Safety Week 2025, bringing leading experts from universities and institutions across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East to Ostrava.
Over the course of the programme, students, academics, and industry professionals came together for a series of lectures, workshops, and excursions covering industrial safety, ergonomics, environmental hazards, artificial intelligence, and the digital transformation of industry.
A Programme Full of Inspiration and International Cooperation
On Monday, participants were introduced to the Faculty of Safety Engineering and its partner institutions. The expert programme opened with a lecture by Dr Faisal Khan from Texas A&M University, who presented the safety challenges associated with digitalised and automated processes.
Tuesday’s programme featured lectures on artificial intelligence in industrial systems by Dr Edison Sripaul, forensic engineering in industrial explosions by Dr Enrico Danzi, and the economic and social aspects of emergencies by Atdhe Kabashi. Experts from the University of Sharjah discussed environmental risks and health, while Karlis Apalups from Turiba University provided insights into national security.
Wednesday was dedicated to informal activities. Participants explored the VSB–TUO campus and took part in a group excursion to Hradec nad Moravicí Castle.
On Thursday, the programme returned to technical and practical issues. Topics included differences between types of explosions, presented by Prof. Ernesto Salzano from the University of Bologna; lessons learned from industrial fires, presented by Dr Rafal Porowski from Kielce University of Technology; and extreme fire behaviour in natural environments, discussed by Prof. André Rodrigues from Lusófona University. Prof. Marcin Butlewski from Poznan University of Technology explored the role of ergonomics in future organisations. The day also included laboratory tours, a visit to the Integrated Safety Centre in Ostrava, and a final networking session with participants.
A Space for Networking and New Perspectives
Intensive Safety Week 2025 was more than just an expert conference. It also provided a platform for strengthening cooperation between the Faculty of Safety Engineering at VSB–TUO and its partner institutions: Texas A&M University, Politecnico di Torino, the University of Sharjah, Biznesi College, Turiba University, the University of Bologna, Poznan University of Technology, Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, and Lusófona University.
During internal meetings, participants discussed new opportunities for cooperation in areas such as wildfire management, knowledge and experience sharing, and joint publications on crisis management, ergonomics, and safety culture. They also explored ways to strengthen student mobility through study placements focused on physical security.
“Our aim was to bring together researchers, professionals, and students from around the world and create a space for discussion on current safety challenges. We also wanted to demonstrate that Ostrava and our faculty are places where new ideas and collaborations take shape,” said Prof. Aleš Bernatík, Vice-Dean for International Relations.
Looking Ahead: Impact and Key Takeaways
Intensive Safety Week 2025 showcased current topics that are highly relevant not only to academia but also to industry and society as a whole. From artificial intelligence and ergonomics to environmental risks, all sessions shared a common goal: exploring ways to make the world a safer place.