Victor Koksharov: "We Become a Powerful Driver for the Development of the Ural Macroregion and the Whole Country"

10:02, December 20, 2021

Rector of the university summarized the results of the year 2021

On the eve of the New Year, a journalist from the Urals Federal newspaper traditionally interviewed Victor Koksharov, Rector of UrFU, to learn about the results of the outgoing year and the prospects for the university.

Advancement in Rankings

- For us, the rankings are not an end in itself. But, of course, we take into consideration that when choosing a university, both foreign students and our students and their parents assess its position in the international rankings. The most attention we, as well as the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, pay QS World University Rankings - it is more balanced than other rankings as it is calculated on the basis of experts and employers opinions, citation index of scientific publications, international cooperation and a number of other factors. In 2021, our university ranked 351st in the QS World University Rankings. We were affected by the coronavirus pandemic - for this reason, the share of international faculty declined slightly, and the number of international students was not growing as fast as we had planned.

At the same time, we have made progress in terms of academic reputation. For example, our citation rates have risen very seriously, by 60%.

We Confirmed Leading Positions

- As for the admission campaign, at the end of this year, UrFU confirmed its leading position: we are the first in the country in terms of the number of first-year students admitted to the state-funded program. This year we have admitted 12,429 first-year students, compared to last year's 1,1056, which means an increase of almost 1,400 people. The number of state-funded places compared to last year has grown by almost a thousand to 7,494. The number of students that study on a contract basis has also risen - from 4,546 to 4,833.

Next year we will face a serious test: the number of state-funded places will increase by 1,800 - a huge increase. Moreover, it will affect all levels of education: bachelor's degree, specialist degree, master's degree, both part-time and extramural. We consider it fair and right when additional budgetary places are allocated to regional universities, as we feel the increased demand for education not only from individuals, but also from enterprises, which are interested in raising their specialists through university education.

We Implement Technological Projects

- If we are talking about the activities of the World-class Ural Interregional Research and Education Center, there have been many achievements. Serious technological projects are being implemented and new product lines are being created. Speaking of the Sverdlovsk region, I would like to mention initiatives that have already been implemented, such as the development of a new and improved type of defibrillator at the Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant, the creation of digital electric power management systems - together with ProSoft Systems, high-frequency radar for unmanned vehicles - in cooperation with the Scientific Production Association of Automation, an optical separator for waste separation - together with the I-Tor company.

Our partner in the Research Center, the South Ural State University, is implementing a project to create a new line of transport for the needs of the Far North - the so-called Arctic bus, which in case of an emergency will be able to stay on the water for an hour, until the evacuation of passengers is completed. The project on creation of the propulsion system for the returnable launch vehicle is considerably advanced. The engine prototype was tested at the Machine Building Research Institute in Nizhnyaya Salda.

Kurgan State University together with the National Research Center named after academician G. A. Ilizarov is working intensively on the development of new implants that grow into biological tissues and thus make the situation of injured people much easier.

In addition, within the REC, six laboratories have been established and supported by solid funding, which will be the source of innovative projects.

Results of the Year of Science and Technology

- First, by the decision of the President to declare 2021 the Year of Science and Technology, we have opened youth laboratories and received state funding for many of our projects. Secondly, we will remember the successful defense of our major scientific and scientific-technological projects as part of the Priority 2030 program of strategic academic leadership. The most important project for UrFU is the creation of new materials and technologies for nuclear and hydrogen power engineering.

The project for the development of technologies for the production and design of functional materials and systems is also among the most important. This includes permanent magnets, electrochemical sensors and sensor systems, portable radionuclide diagnostic systems for oncological, neurodegenerative, and viral diseases. Next year we will begin clinical trials of a new, breakthrough type of anti-diabetic medication, which treat not only the consequences, but also the causes of the disease.

The third prospective project is focused on the creation of strategies, models, and high-tech platforms and applications to ensure the well-being of citizens in the context of digital transformation.

The year of science and technology has been very productive for us. We have made serious progress and confirmed our status as one of the leading universities in Russia, represented by world-class scientific schools.

In a word, this is UrFU becoming a powerful driver of development of the Ural macroregion and the entire Russian Federation.