Project-based Learning Has Already Engaged More Than 8,000 University Students

10:00, June 5, 2023

The number of partners interested in working with students is also increasing

Acquiring practical skills through projects based on real tasks from Russian companies helps students find jobs more easily after graduation. In the latest issue of the Ural Federal Newspaper (No. 10, June 5), Valentina Ovchinnikova, Deputy Vice Rector for Project Education and Vocational Training, described how project-based learning is developing at Ural Federal University. 

The number of educational programs and students enrolled in project-based learning continues to grow significantly. For example, in the autumn semester of 2022, practical projects were introduced in 129 programs (including 49 undergraduate and graduate programs and 80 master's programs), an increase of 47% compared to the spring semester. The number of students involved in project-based learning already exceeds 8,000.

The number of partners interested in working with students is also growing. In the fall semester, there were 265. The number of mentors from organizations helping students with their projects is also growing.

"If we talk about organizational and methodological changes, in August 2022 was established a new department for the supervision of project-based learning. We also made changes in the regulations on project-based learning: we added the possibility to conduct research work in a project format in graduate programs," - said Valentina Ovchinnikova.

In the fall semester of the 2022/23 academic year, students completed a total of 1,856 projects, 853 of which with external partners. If we talk about the leaders in project-based learning among the institutes, the largest number of projects is carried out at the Engineering School of Information Technologies, Telecommunications and Control Systems, Graduate School of Economics and Management and at The Institute of New Materials and Technologies. And the Radio Faculty is far behind with a total of 702 projects in the fall semester.

"It is very important that students themselves suggest how to make project-based learning more convenient. For example, IRIT-RTF students came up with an initiative to develop a chatbot that reminds project participants of key points and tasks that need to be completed in the near future. Together with UrFU Directorate of Information Technology, the student team developed a chatbot that is currently being tested," Valentina Ovchinnikova said.

In 2023, the first undergraduate students will graduate with project-based learning implemented under the project-based learning regulations. For those who have successfully implemented B- and C-level projects in their portfolio (approximately 500 people), additional attachments to the diploma will be prepared with brief information about the projects and the results achieved.

There are also plans to develop cross-program projects and to revise the classification of project complexity levels.

Reference 

The next issue of Ural Federal Newspaper will be published on June 19.

• Ural Federal Newspaper

The news article was translated by UrFU International Marketing Office. 
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