The result of the Secondary School of Mechanical Engineering students’ work entitled the ‘Platonic Solids’ was presented in Novi Sad, within the ‘Join and Find the Solution’ project, which was implemented by the two European capitals – capital of culture and youth capital.

Despite the pandemic distracting their plans a bit and causing the creation of Platonic solids to take a little longer, the winning teams from the Secondary School of Mechanical Engineering did not give up on their ideas, while the school yard has been decorated with five Platonic solids that will be the spot where outdoor teaching will take place. In addition to being a decoration, it will also be a tool for acquiring new knowledge in the fields of mathematics, chemistry, physics, and many other subjects.

During 2019, students Nikola Dragišić, Jovan Bašić and Marko Jelisavac had been developing the idea, while in 2020, Aleksandar Širočka, Kristina Vukliš and Luka Vujačić joined the project.

‘In cooperation with our professors of practical teaching and technical drawing, and coordinators for practical teaching, we came up with the idea to connect all those things into one whole and create something that could be used as an online classroom anytime,’ said Vladimir Gavrinić, Director of the Secondary School of Mechanical Engineering.

The ‘Platonic Solids’ idea has been supported within the two processes of participative budgeting during 2019 and 2020, when the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture’ joined the project.

‘The ‘Join and Find the Solution’ project is one of the important projects that should change the perception people have of young people and include them more in the decision-making processes and creation of content that directly involves them. Placing of the ‘Platonic Solids’ sculptures by students and teachers from the Secondary School of Mechanical Engineering in Novi Sad is a good example of how students, in cooperation with professors, can creatively contribute to teaching process and move contents out of the classroom. I believe that this example will become an example of good practice which relevant decision-makers will recognize and maintain as a continuous practice in supporting students’ ideas,’ said Milica Rašković on behalf of the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture’ project.

In addition to the above-mentioned students’ idea, the students equipped the canteen and student chill zone.

The ‘Join and Find the Solution’ project was implemented in 11 high schools in Novi Sad during 2019, while the decision on whose idea will receive funds for the implementation was made by the pupils of the school based on the principle of democratic elections – by voting.

‘Join and Find the Solution’ includes the process within which pupils from high schools have an opportunity to learn to recognise the needs of a community, to awaken an adventurous spirit and suggest a creative solution, with the help from trained facilitators.

The project provided an opportunity for high school students in Novi Sad to directly influence the improvement of their environment, i.e., in the particular case, to influence changes in their school, where they spend most of the time. The programme is open to all public high schools in the territory of Novi Sad and all pupils and schools have the right to participate.

The project is implemented with the support of the City of Novi Sad, the City Administration for Sports and Youth, the City Administration for Culture and the Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities.

Photo: Uroš Dožić