University Received Grant to Train New Generation of Engineers

13:09, February 16, 2023

Funding for the development of Advanced Engineering Schools has been quadrupled

The Ural Federal University has received a federal grant in the amount of 348.221 million rubles. The grant will be used for the Ural Advanced Engineering School project. The university team presented the results of 2022 and plans for 2023 to the members of the Grants Council for State Support of Creation and Development of Advanced Engineering Schools under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

In total, based on the results of the performance evaluation, the Council determined the funding for 2023 for 30 universities. On the basis of this, the Advanced Engineering Schools were opened.

"The Ural Advanced Engineering School is aimed at solving the problems of digital transformation of machine building and metallurgy. The School works both in the direction of creating technologies and in the direction of training specialists for the benefit of enterprises. This gives our students an opportunity not only to be trained in advanced engineering. They can also carry out scientific research on behalf of leading companies and be integrated into their development contour. In this way, at any stage of their professional development they can acquire up-to-date knowledge and skills in the field of digital production technologies," Valentina Ovchinnikova, Director of the School, emphasizes.

Last year the research groups of the university carried out research projects in the interest of partner companies in the total amount of over 120 million rubles. Among the partners of the school are Sinara-Transport Machines, Kamaz, Nizhniy Tagil Iron and Steel Works (EVRAZ), and Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant.

Currently, 121 students are enrolled in the school. The first enrollment in the Bachelor's Degree Program "Systems Analysis and Management" and in the Master's Degree Program "Systems Engineering" took place in 2022. 133 members of the School's management and teaching staff received advanced training. Among others, the trainings were held on the basis of partner companies and manufacturers of Russian engineering software.

The total financing of the project "Advanced Engineering Schools in 2023" amounted to over 10 billion rubles. This is four times more than last year's figures. The amount of grants has grown organically in comparison with the short reporting period last year. From July to December 2022, the amount of funding amounted to 2.5 billion rubles. In addition, adjustments were made to the programs for the development of Advanced Engineering Schools in accordance with the new challenges that require the achievement of greater results.

Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education, noted that the distribution of grants to schools is influenced by the effectiveness of development programs. Grants increase the degree of integration of schools into the agenda of enterprises of the real sector of the economy. It also affects the extent to which universities have implemented the recommendations of the last Council and their commitments to attract extra-budgetary funds.

"There is a demand in society and from the state for new-format engineers, and we read this demand. The Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education is paying close attention to each of the 30 advanced engineering schools. This is one of the tools that will solve the problem of training engineers for high-tech sectors of the economy. While evaluating the results of the work and potential of advanced engineering schools, we paid attention to the efficiency of interaction between universities and industrial partners. We noted how they connect students to solve urgent engineering problems in production. The broad and diverse composition of the Council allowed us to make a comprehensive, unbiased assessment of the schools' work during the reporting period and to distribute grants objectively," Falkov said.

The project is an important step towards the technological sovereignty of the country and is under special control. During the reports of the project participants on the results of their work in 2022, the Grants Council did not make any indulgence to any higher education institution. Groups of experts will work in each region to improve the efficiency and development of Advanced Engineering Schools. Their work will be aimed at supporting the project.

Reference

The federal project "Advanced Engineering Schools" was launched in 2022 on the initiative of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. It is one of 42 initiatives of the Government of the Russian Federation aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens and is implemented within the framework of the state program "Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation".

The news article was translated by UrFU International Marketing Office. 
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