On June 23, 2026, students from Class II. AB at Malacky High School took an Educational Excursion to the Gabčíkovo Waterworks, during which they gained valuable insight into the world of water management, renewable energy sources, and modern technologies.

The program began in the interactive auditorium of the Information Center and continued with a tour of the Gabčíkovo Hydroelectric Power Plant. Afterwards, the students took a guided cruise tour on the ship Ondava through the modernized lock chambers, during which they learned about how they operate, their technical specifications, and their importance for inland waterway transport.

During the cruise, the current activities of VODOHOSPODÁRSKA VÝSTAVBA, STATE ENTERPRISE (VV, š. p.) in the areas of research, innovation, and sustainable energy were also presented. The students learned more about the research and innovation project “Strategic partnership for green and sustainable energy research using AI for major waterworks” – AIHydroHUB, which is co-financed by the European Union under the Slovakia Program.

The program also included a technical presentation by VV, š. p., employee Ing. Monika Takáčová, dedicated to the “Upgrade of Gabčíkovo locks” project, which was co-funded by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union. The lecture introduced the history of the Lock chambers since their commissioning in 1992, described the process of their renovation and modernization, and presented the benefits of the implemented measures for ensuring the smooth navigation, safety, reliability, and operational efficiency.

The educational excursion gave the students an opportunity to connect their theoretical knowledge with practical experience and to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of water infrastructure, modern technologies, and innovations for Slovakia’s sustainable development.

We would like to thank the students and their teachers for their visit and for their interest. We believe that the excursion was a valuable experience for them and will serve as inspiration for their future studies.