United States
Last year, Ajax Systems, in collaboration with the Kyiv Aviation Institute, opened an electronics laboratory. The project was part of the Ajax Next educational initiative, which was created to develop engineering education in Ukraine. Since then, the space has become a training base and an active hub for student initiatives, interdisciplinary cooperation, and the development of new engineering fields. Over the year, the laboratory launched three internships, provided practical experience to about 200 students, and began recruiting for new bachelor's and master's programs in embedded programming.
Tetyana Solomakha, head of the laboratory, senior lecturer at the Department of Avionics and Control Systems, and head of the KAI-AJAX LAB, talks about how the laboratory influences student motivation and the university ecosystem as a whole, what projects the residents are implementing, and what they are planning for next year.
What are the main achievements of the laboratory over the past year? What has changed in the university ecosystem?
We have accomplished a great deal over the year, but we consider our greatest achievement to be the creation of a community, not the number of residents employed after their internships or the number of master classes conducted.
The best indicator of our work is when students return to the lab after classes to work independently, unite around specific ideas, and restore connections lost during distance learning. Today, the lab has become a real hub that brings together students from different courses and specialties with common interests.
The laboratory has a noticeable impact on the development of the university ecosystem. In just the first year, seven groups of students studied 11 different disciplines at the laboratory. Also, at the end of the semester, two groups of students underwent training in electrical installation.
Do teachers notice improved students' knowledge and motivation thanks to the laboratory?
I am one of the teachers who conduct classes in this laboratory, and I can see its impact on students' motivation. They are genuinely interested in hands-on work. There have been cases when students who previously said they came to university to get a diploma enthusiastically completed practical tasks and were the last to leave once the laboratory was established. In our lab, students can use all the equipment without restrictions if they follow safety rules.
I am confident that the knowledge and skills gained here are of much higher quality than those acquired solely through virtual programs — although those are necessary too. While theoretical material can be learned from lectures or helpful videos, practical skills can only be acquired by working with your hands: telling a resistor from a diode in real life, holding a soldering iron, and using measuring equipment. And although we are training engineers rather than technicians, they must be able to do all the same things — and even more.
In addition, studying in the lab gives the students practical skills that are in demand in the industry. This significantly increases their competitiveness in the job market and opens up opportunities for employment in leading technology companies.
A big part of the lab's activity is student residency. How many students have trained in the lab over the past year? Who are the residents, and what projects are they working on?
The laboratory has two resident teams. One of them is working on restoring an aircraft simulator cabin, and the other regularly participates in robotics hackathons and develops unconventional projects, such as a robotic arm and moving targets. Our instructor, Denys Navrotskyi, is the team's mentor and inspirer. Over the past year, more than 200 students have visited the lab, ten of whom have become permanent residents.
What is the format of cooperation with Ajax Systems and other companies or organizations?
The lab has hosted two waves of device testing internships involving 20 students from various universities. After the first wave, six students joined Ajax Systems, and after the second — another four. Recently, a new Embedded Programming internship for senior students was also launched. All these internships are implemented by KAI teachers together with Ajax Systems engineers.
This internship format is valuable not only for students but also for teachers, as they can consult with industry practitioners.
Apart from internships, the lab has become a platform for educational initiatives. Here we have held:
- open programming training series on STM32 for anyone interested, regardless of their educational institution;
- more than ten workshops in various areas for schoolchildren;
- workshops for students with the participation of Ajax Systems and other partners;
- the event for veterans;
- two sections of an international scientific and technical conference.
We actively participate in university open days. The lab is popular among prospective students thanks to its interactive nature and openness.
Tell us about the new bachelor's and master's programs in embedded systems. Who will be trained, and what is the main difference compared to other programs?
These are interdisciplinary educational programs that combine the following specialties: F2 "Software Engineering" (F "Information Technology" field of knowledge) and G5 "Electronics, Electronic Communications, Instrumentation, and Radio Engineering" (G "Engineering, Manufacturing, and Construction" field of knowledge).
The educational programs are available at both levels:
The programs were developed in collaboration with industry-specific companies, including Ajax Systems, so the training will be as close as possible to the needs of the modern engineering market.
The key feature of these programs is the combination of software and hardware development. This will allow students to acquire the comprehensive knowledge and practical skills needed to create complete technical solutions and build a successful career in the industry.
In which directions do you want to develop next, and what are your plans for the coming year?
We plan to increase the number of laboratory residents. To this end, we are considering creating an additional room with equipment where students can work independently of the class schedule.
We will repeat the STM32 microcontroller programming workshops, as the demand remains high. Also, starting next semester, we are launching a project-based elective course available to students of all specialties. This will be a new format and challenge that will help engage even more students.
We also want to see more teachers from other specialties. I know that not all those who teach electronics have visited us yet. In addition, we are planning soldering courses for students who don't have a separate electrical assembly practice.
The lab is a structural unit of the Department of Avionics at FAET, but is not limited to its teachers and students. What is the current team structure? How are resources and responsibilities distributed?
Our team currently consists of five people: the head, two mentors, and administrators. Mentors come as needed — for classes, consultations, workshops, or simply to work with students. Administrators are in the lab from the afternoon until the last visitor leaves. One is still a student, and the other is a PhD student. They keep order, care for the equipment, and help students if needed. I am in the lab throughout its working hours.
Teachers who want to use the space for classes or other activities should contact me to arrange the schedule. The lab functions as a shared space, so the equipment and resources are available to all departments and teachers.
What advice would you give to other universities that want to create a similar laboratory?
Launching a laboratory is a complex process. You should start by defining the goals and tasks it should fulfill. This will determine the team composition: you need motivated specialists who are ready not only to work with equipment but also to create a development environment. After all, a lab is not just about walls and technology — it's primarily about people who keep things moving.
For example, our administrator Dmytro and instructor Denys often stay late into the night, not because they have to, but because they are genuinely interested.
It's also important to remember that a laboratory means constant expenses. If the university cannot replenish consumables regularly, the lab will eventually become a technology museum.
Another critical point is openness. Access to the lab should not be limited to a single department to which it is formally assigned. The best solution is to make it a separate structural unit or part of a makerspace where everyone has equal rights to access and use the resources.
Students should be given more freedom to feel at ease in the space. They must be allowed to make mistakes, learn through practice, and even break components — this is part of the process. I always reassure my students when something doesn't work the first time, because that's how real understanding is gained.
It's also worth carefully planning the space layout: work areas and separate places for residents and teachers. Everyone should feel comfortable.
That's probably all you should think about at the beginning — everything else will come with experience. Such environments definitely should be created, as developing engineering talent is extremely important in today's conditions.
About Ajax Next
Ajax Next is an educational initiative to support and develop engineering education in Ukraine. In cooperation with leading educational institutions and partners, the company implements educational activities, opens modern laboratories, and provides students with the necessary resources for practical learning. Ajax Next programs cover various engineering fields, from electronics to mechanics, and combine academic theory with real projects under the mentorship of Ajax Systems engineers.
For cooperation proposals or information about educational programs, contact us via email: internship@ajax.systems.
About Ajax Systems
Ajax Systems is an international tech company and the largest manufacturer of security systems in Europe, with over 4 million end users and 290K PRO users in more than 180 countries worldwide. The company offers end-to-end solutions for protecting homes and businesses оf any scale. To date, Ajax product portfolio includes 180 devices for intrusion protection, video surveillance, fire and life safety, and comfort and automation.
