„A2 to career” – the finals of the first edition of the grant programme of Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A. and the University of Economics in Poznań

During six months three students of the University of Economic in Poznań led by the UEP experts and AWSA, performed in-depth research of the principles of motorway operation in Poland and motorway impact on road traffic safety. The grant holders of „A2 to career” actively participated in the works of AWSA experts to combine knowledge with practice, and observe the company operation.

The grant programme launched in co-operation with the University of Economics was based on the models elaborated by American schools of business, namely Harvard University and Fairfield University, with the assumption of combining theoretical knowledge with practice. The purpose of our project was to show real, as opposed to theoretical, operating principles of AWSA as the largest concessionaire in the Polish motorway market. The students had the opportunity to get familiarised with motorway operation from inside of the company – comments Zofia Kwiatkowska, AWSA Spokesperson.

The students received the grant amounting to PLN 1200 paid monthly from January to June 2013.

The grant holders in the first edition of „A2 to career” were:
• Marika Krolik (3rd year student of economics at UEP)
• Robert Rosochowicz (3rd year student of economics at UEP)
• Magdalena Rudzińska (3rd year student of economics at UEP)

To become the grant holder of Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A., the students had to prepare short video material concerning the motorway impact on safety. The evaluation of the work mainly concerned the contents and creativity.

The results of the students’ work were presented to public through the channels of Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A. and the University of Economics in social media (http://www.facebook.com/AutostradaWielkopolska and http://www.facebook.com/uepoznan).

When educating the students we wish to talk in their natural environment. We chose social portals of Facebook and YouTube due to their position and popularity among young people. As a consequence four very interesting film materials, and an equally interesting making of programme were created – adds Zofia Kwiatkowska, AWSA Spokesperson.

Short films presenting the grant holders’ work:
1. Summary of the theoretical part of the grant holders’ work: http://tiny.pl/hsjwz
2. Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A.  as seen by grant holders’: http://tiny.pl/hsjch
3. Operation of Autostrada Wielkopolska: http://tiny.pl/hsjcx
4. Impact of the A2 Concession Motorway on local communities’ life: http://tiny.pl/hsjcm
5. Making of programme – coming soon

The grant was set up in the scope of co-operation with the UEP Partner’s Club joined by AWSA in 2010. The University of Economics‘ Partner Club forms a prestigious group of enterprises and institutions of importance for the economy of the Wielkopolska region and Poland.

The programme tutors for content-related issues included: dr Zbigniew Bentyn of the University of Economics in Poznań, and Lidia Szyfter representing Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A. as Organiser.