One of the most significant changes in the operation of the Division of Technology occurred in mid-1948 when a general reorganization of the University took place. The Technical Faculty was separated from the University and the Technical University was formed, while the former divisions were organized as independent faculties. The newly formed faculties changed their status, although they remained in their old places with the same teachers, staff and students, and for many subjects there were still joint lectures.
The development of the Division of Technology into a Faculty brought about an important change: the formation of the Division of Metallurgy, which started working in 1949. The curriculum for engineers was organized after thetwo first years ofjoint study. The first dean for the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy was Panta Tutund`i} (45k).
The ever growing number of students called for greater efforts and led to considerable difficulties. The space, which was increased by almost one third in regard to prewar space, soon proved insufficient. Problems also arose due to the lack of teachers and staff. A temporary solution was hiring student-demonstrators who assisted in the experimental laboratories. Later, upon graduating, some of them were hired as teaching assistants. These were the first attempts to alleviate some acute problems. An attempt was made to solve the biggest problem - space. However,the solution of this problem required joint action by the Faculty and society. The first action taken to provide a new building was not successfully completed, regardless of the fact that the site, project proposal and even finances were obtained. Construction was started and then cancelled, funds were provided - then blocked, while projects were modified. Finally, after many joint actions taken by teachers and students, work on the new building of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy at the present location was continued in 1954. to be completed in 1960. In 1959, however, despite the fact that the building was not finished, the Faculty moved in. This building(13k) provided better working conditions on its 13404m2 of useful surface. However,considering the number of students and teachers as well as staff whose presence is necessary for the operation of such an organization as the present Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, this cannot be considered to be too large.
In the last 35 years, since the Faculty has been operating in new surroundings, there have been significant changes. The number of techers and staff has increased and stabilized around 190 and 14000 students have been enrolled out of whom 6933 have graduated by October 1, 1985. Graduate studies were organized which were completed by 418 candidates, while 291 candidates defended their doctoral theses at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy.
Changes can also be seen in the curriculum.In the mid-nineteenth century when courses in chemical technology started, this subject was only a general education subject.The tendency that technology acquire a professional character arose at the end of the nineteenth century to be realized only in 1923 when the Technological Group was formed within the Mechanical Division of the Technical Faculty,which was only confirmed two years later by the formation of the independent Division of Technology. At that time engineers of technology were already recognized as a separate profession. The profile of this engineer of technology was uniform,there being no differences in the education of engineers preparing to work in the few chemical plants, or simple plants for processing natural raw materials, forges or foundries, textile plants, oil and sugar plants. This uniform curriculum had been maintained from the formation of the Division until 1949 when the education of engineers of technology was separated from that of engineers of metallurgy. The undeveloped chemical industry, with limited funds, at a level between artisanship and real industry, did not have any needs for specialists that would be prepared in advance for certain jobs. Instead, it required a more general engineering profile, a hybrid between a mechanical engineer and a chemist. Any type of specialization, if there was any need for it, was usually attained through practice. Only with the development of the chemical industry and metallurgy in the postwar period did demands for various profiles of engineers arise. This led to differentiation into many profles and was performed by many curriculum changes at the Faculty especially by introducing the so-called stepwise curriculum.
