An Independent Training Platform to Be Established for Ural Research and Education Center

10:17, October 6, 2020

A full-fledged training platform is aimed at increased competitiveness potential of students and employees of regional universities and REC partner corporations

At the Ural Federal University, a digital educational platform is being created with full access for all participants of the Ural Interregional Research and Education Center (REC) of the world level 'Advanced industrial technologies and materials'. The key task of the platform will be to train highly qualified specialists in the priority fields of Center's economy.

“The platform will provide broad opportunities for involving university students in real projects for their accelerated professional training,” says Viola Larionova, Deputy Vice-Rector for the Development of Educational Activities of UrFU. - Students will receive a new content and format of education, individual learning paths and participation in world-class projects. In addition, great opportunities open up to representatives of business and scientific organizations. The platform will host digital content developed by leading scientists and practitioners."

As a result, the business will get the involvement of universities in the implementation of science-intensive projects, will be able to satisfy the request for new competencies and professional development of employees. There will also be an opportunity to recruit talented university graduates on the basis of a digital footprint and access to the innovative infrastructure of universities.

In turn, universities will be able to update the content of educational programs and increase the motivation of students through the involvement of students in innovative projects. Moreover, it is the ability to flexibly manage the package of educational products and programs. Ultimately, this will increase the competitiveness of universities in the global market and provide an increase in wages and the percentage of employment of graduates.

The educational platform will provide researchers with an effective tool for finding partners for the implementation of innovative projects, commercialization of scientific results and collaboration with industrial partners.

“REC leaders - world-class project managers - will determine the content of educational programs and compete for personnel from among the best students,” says Viola Larionova. - Students compete for participation in the most promising and interesting REC projects, striving to become researchers, innovators, manufacturing leaders, entrepreneurs. The platform provides a choice of educational products from different universities or partner companies in the form of online courses, simulators, simulators."

The digital platform is planned to use both online educational programs of higher education and programs of additional education. The national platform Open Education will be the main ground for online courses of UrFU, for example. 

A digital educational platform for REC was discussed by REC industrial partners, universities and research institutes at the international scientific online conference EdCrunch Ural.

About REC

Ural Interregional Research and Education Center (REC) 'Advanced industrial technologies and materials' was established to combine the potentials of educational and scientific organizations in the real sector of the Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk and Kurgan regions. The Ural Federal University initiated the creation and performs the functions of the project office of the REC. The idea of ​​creating a research and educational center was supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to UrFU in July 2019.