Educational and scientific laboratories as a form in the training specialists in the sphere of light industry in the technical universities of the Czech Republic and Slovakia

This research examines the peculiarities of organization of academic and research laboratories during the training of specialists in the field of light industry at such universities as the Technical University of Liberec (the Czech Republic) and Alexander Dubček University in Trenčín (Slovakia). In recent years, these universities have been formed as research centers that are able to develop new technologies and high-tech products which are demanded not only in the domestic market, but also outside their own countries. Funding for the development of a laboratory base, as a necessary component for the implementation of high-quality scientific activities, is carried out from several sources: state budgets; Structural Funds of the European Union; own resources of the faculties and university funds; the manufacturing sector. The article also examines the peculiarities of the material and technical base formation at Alexander Dubček University in Trenčín. It has been established that the scientific activity takes place in cooperation with specialized institutes of National Academies of Science, partner universities and profile enterprises. The formation of research-based systems on the basis of universities contributes to: the concentration of scientists from various academic and research institutions and the coordination of their work within a single working area; the attraction of young scientists in various specialties from different High Educational Establishments to work on joint projects; the expansion of the team of young and highly skilled workers and their involvement in doctoral programs; the increase in productivity of use of high-tech equipment; the optimal mutually beneficial cooperation. The scientific work characterizes the content of the activity and material and technical support of the laboratories of Clothing Technology Department of Textile Engineering Faculty at Technical University of Liberec. In particular, such specialized laboratories as the Laboratory of Comfort and Physiology, the Laboratory of Hand Evaluation KES-FB (Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabrics), the Textile Fire Resistance Testing Laboratory and the Image Analysis Laboratory provide the development of professional competencies to identify a wide range of characteristics of materials and garment industry products in order to improve their quality and to develop new types of materials and products in accordance with given features. The Automation Laboratory helps students to form the ability to design the latest automated systems for solving a particular technological problem. The Laboratory of the Traditional and Non-traditional Way of Textile Materials Connection provides students with the ability to develop and improve technological processes for materials preparation and sewing products manufacture. The work in the Software Laboratory facilitates the formation of knowledge, abilities and skills needed for the use of specialized software products, which in terms of computerization, increase productivity and quality of work at most technological stages of garment industry productions. The effective use of laboratories in academic and research activities helps the universities, which are mentioned above, to be competitive on the Educational Services Market both at national and international levels.