The IM4StEM project coordinator, Professor Marijana Hadzima-Nyarko, visited the Department of Civil Engineering at University North on 29 May 2026, where she presented the results and activities of the Erasmus+ KA2 Cooperation Partnerships in Higher Education project entitled Intelligent Methods for Structures, Elements and Materials – IM4StEM. The initiative for this presentation came from Professor Ivanka Netinger Grubeša, PhD, who recognised the importance of familiarising students with current international research in civil engineering.
During the lecture, students had the opportunity to learn in detail about the project’s topics, including seismic risk assessment, earthquake-induced structural damage, and the potential for reusing construction waste generated by the demolition and damage of buildings. Specific project activities were also presented, such as the collection and analysis of data on building characteristics in urban areas, laboratory testing of concrete with recycled brick aggregate, and testing of walls built from old brick. Students were thus able to see how contemporary scientific research is applied in the context of sustainable construction, numerical and experimental evaluation of seismic resistance, and the circular economy in civil engineering.
The IM4StEM project is implemented within the Erasmus+ KA2 programme with the aim of developing and applying intelligent methods for assessing the condition and improving the resilience of building structures, materials, and elements, with particular emphasis on seismic resistance and sustainability. For civil engineering students, the project is especially relevant as it encompasses research directly applicable to engineering practice – from methodologies for characterising the building stock to experimental material testing and the development of open-access educational resources.
