About Department

From the history of the department

The Department of Electrical Power Engineering was established on October 1, 1973 on the grounds of the young Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Technology in Košice (it was founded by the Decree of the Slovak Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic No. 79/1969 and with the fulfillment of its mission since the academic year 1969/70) as an independent scientific and pedagogical workplace. The establishment of the faculty and its workplaces was motivated by social demands for increasing the educational level of the Eastern Slovakia region in general, but especially in connection with its rapidly developing industrial base.

The personnel core of the future department was formed only from the establishment of the faculty at the level of the electrical power engineering section and under the management of the Department of Electrical Drives. Its establishment dates back to June 1, 1971, when Ing. Karol Marton, CSc., was appointed its leader, already as an internal employee of the faculty. The department was continuously strengthened in terms of personnel, and by the date of the establishment of the department (October 1, 1973), it already consisted of a 9-member team in the positions of assistant professors and assistants. Ing. Jozef Blišťan, an employee of the FMPaE of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in Prague, was appointed head of the department (external).

At its inception, the department became a profiling workplace for the study focus of energy within the study field of high-current electrical engineering. The pedagogical duties of the department increased in 1977, with the opening of another study focus of environmental protection. In the 1970s, the pedagogical process at the department was helped by several external experts from practice and the sister department from Bratislava. They were also trainers of domestic teachers in obtaining scientific degrees. In the first decade of the department's existence, research projects were solved at the level of faculty tasks, while applied research was also developed, e.g. for VSŽ Košice, VSE Košice, EVO Vojany, etc.

The department experienced positive changes after the adoption of the new Act No. 39/1980 Coll. on higher education institutions in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. In terms of content, a new technical department No. 26-34-8 – electrical engineering – was adopted into the network of study departments, which allowed students to specialize in several study areas. This fact was also contributed by the personnel connection of the Department of Electrical Power Engineering with the Department of Electrical Heat and Electrochemistry, which guaranteed the study area of ​​electrical heat technology. In the period after the merger of the departments, the new department had 16 teachers, of whom two associate professors, 11 assistant professors and three assistants. Several new subjects related to the automation and control of power plants, power systems, electricity economics, operation of electrothermal equipment, non-traditional energy sources and others were introduced into the curriculum.

In the fulfillment of pedagogical duties, the quality of scientific and research work and the qualification structure of teachers were appropriately improved. In the years 1981-1990, a total of 13 projects were solved at the department, two of which were tasks in the ŠPTR category. In 1990, 6 associate professors already worked at the department. Cooperation with energy practice has expanded significantly. From a present perspective, it is possible to recall with pleasure the year 1983, when the department acquired the first digital computer HP 85, and work on it was possible only with the consent of the head of the department.

It would be unnatural if the social changes caused by November 17, 1989 did not manifest themselves in universities. Thus, the expected changes took place at the University of Technology in Košice, its faculties and departments, their management was legitimately changed, the pedagogical process, scientific and research orientation and their management were reorganized. The department increased the emphasis on the complex profile of the graduate by more consistent use of computer technology in the field of analysis and management of electrical systems, in the digitalization of protection, the scope of economic disciplines and the emphasis on rationalization of electricity consumption. The equipment of the department's laboratories was materially improved.

In the 90s (1991-2000) the department solved and successfully opposed 16 research projects, one of which was departmental, 4 VEGA-type projects. The rest were at the institutional level. As a result, 4 patents were also filed and granted.

In the first decade of the 3rd millennium, the department's team solved 24 projects in the categories: VEGA -12; KEGA 3; APVV -4; ŠF ASFEU -3. One project had the character of a state program.

Secondary, based on good research results, the department's publication activity increased, the qualification structure of teachers and their active participation in domestic and foreign scientific events improved. Conversely, the participation of the international scientific public in events organized by the department increased. From 1994 to the present, there were 13 of them in total, the last 10 at the level of international scientific symposia.

In 2003 to 2005, a fundamental reconstruction of the department's premises on Mäsiarska Street was carried out, which gave the workplace new and better laboratories and seating areas. During this period, the recently abolished Department of High Voltage Engineering was incorporated into the department. This significantly strengthened the teaching staff of the expanded department by 1 professor, 2 associate professors and 6 assistant professors.

Currently, the department has 14 teachers (2 professors, 7 associate professors and 5 assistant professors).

The present of the department is a reflection of its rich past. During its almost 50-year history, the department has achieved results in the pedagogical and scientific research areas that oblige it to continue the set trend, to continue educating future experts (including top managers, directors, great designers, etc. in the field of electric power engineering). In the scientific and research area, to solve tasks that will benefit society and ensure the department's high erudition and competitiveness.

The Department of Electrical Power Engineering guarantees the study program Electrical Power Engineering in bachelor's, engineering and doctoral studies. The department is responsible for education in the basic subjects of the study program Electrical Power Engineering:
- Transmission and Distribution of Electricity
- Power Plants
- Lighting Technology
- Faults in the Electrical System
- Electrical Installations and Stations
- High Voltage Technology
- Electrical Protection in the Electrical System
- Quality and Reliability of Electrical Power Supply
- Optimization of Electrical System Operation
- Control of Electrical System Operation
- Stability of Electrical Power Transmission
- Fundamentals of Design in Electrical Power Engineering
- Diagnostics and Prophylaxis in Electrical Power Engineering

The department develops the educational process also in cooperation with foreign universities using the ERASMUS+ program.

The basic mission of the department is to educate new graduates in bachelor's, engineering and doctoral studies. Since its establishment, the department has educated a total of 618 bachelors and 2327 engineers.

As part of doctoral studies, the department has educated 67 doctoral students in internal and external form.
In the field of science and research, the department's employees actively participate in solving basic and applied research projects in the following areas:
-    Smart Grids
-    Electromobility
-    RES
-    Power system operation
-    Electrical equipment design
-    Intelligent electrical installation
-    Aging of electrical equipment
-    Diagnostics of electrical equipment
-    Electricity generation
-    EMC
-    High voltage technology (insulators, patents...)
-    Lighting technology
-    Protection of electrical equipment

The high-quality results of the scientific and research activities of the department's employees are confirmed by the outputs in renowned impact and peer-reviewed international scientific journals and their presentation at domestic and foreign conferences.
The department participates in solving tasks assigned by energy practice (SEPS, a.s., VSD, a.s., Siemens, s.r.o., ABB, s.r.o., etc.).