Results of training under the Academic Programmes Code project of the Skolkovo School of Management have been summed up at South Ural State University.
This was the first experience of creation of an academic programme jointly with an industrial partner, KONAR Industrial Group. The intensive course participants developed a package of study guides for training of foundry engineers and mechanical engineers at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology.
"I would like to thank the Rector of SUSU, Mr. Alexander Wagner, and the Head KONAR Company, Mr. Valery Bondarenko, for your trust. You offered a true intellectual challenge for us. We had to solve a difficult, and I would even say, a specific task: to unite representatives of different worlds – science and production. And to work as one team. As a result, we ourselves gained new knowledge, and this always means development. We are grateful to our graduates for their courage and professional rebirth, which happened to each of them over these six months. We would be happy to keep supporting you in the future; we wish you success!" Olga Nazaikinskaia, Director of the Education Transformation Centre at the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo addressed the participants of the final session.
Among the experts, before whom the results of the project teams' work were presented, also were: Head of the KONAR Industrial Group Valery Bondarenko, HR Director Nataliia Khomutinina, SUSU Rector Alexander Wagner, and Vice-Rector for Education Marina Potapova.
"We don't feel excited, we feel the responsibility since we need to fulfil the obligations that we have undertaken. The programme has been approved, and we're looking forward to when we start implementing our plans in September. So, I'm going to keep an eye on this star that has been born in the sky today, and will actively participate in the educational and organizational processes. We thank everyone for this possibility of fruitful work. We would like to thank the Skolkovo team for their highest competences. We hope that this team that has been formed will give a start to our bright common future," stated Valery Bondarenko.
The Head of the KONAR Company stressed that after their graduation from university young engineers must determine the technological development of our country: create production, and support and ensure its improvement.
"I'd like to look back to the start, to what everything began from. I believe that the main thing was to work as a team in order to achieve the result. Over the course of the training you were exchanging opinions, suggesting ideas, disputing, and that's why your are a team of like-minded people now. You have a common goal and common path. I have absolutely no doubts that we will succeed," said Alexander Wagner.
In 2024, KONAR helped revive a crucial engineering faculty, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, at SUSU. More than one hundred applicants enrolled in it during the first admissions campaign. Currently, training in five programmes is offered: Robotics and Welding Production Engineering; Automation and Engineering of Pressure Metal Treatment; Digital Mechanical Engineering Technologies; Metallurgical Science; Thermal Treatment and Physical and Chemical Properties of Materials; and Systems Engineering in Metallurgical Technologies.
Already from September 1, 2025 training of specialists for the Russian industries will be organized under the new academic programme, which is aimed at satisfying the needs not only of industries, but also those of students regarding their career tracks.