History students of group СГ-406 presented a Digital History of SUSU website on December 11th. As part of the Young Stars project, this event became the first in the program of celebrations dedicated to the 80th anniversary of our university.
The platform includes key periods in the history of the higher educational institution: Creation of Chelyabinsk Mechanical Engineering Institute (CMEI) (1943–1951), Creation and Development of Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute (CPI) (1951–1990), Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute (1990–1997), South Ural State University (1997–2015), and University of the 21st Century. SUSU (October 23, 2015 – present time).
The creators of the website managed to integrate the results of long-lasting scientific research by the Department of Russian and International History of the Institute of Media, Social Sciences and Humanities, including the works of the Oral History Laboratory (headed by Doctor of Sciences (History), Professor Viktor Balakin), the publication of archival documents (under the leadership of Doctor of Sciences (History), Professor Igor Sibiryakov), Public and Digital History Master’s degree programme (supervisor: Doctor of Sciences (History), Associate Professor Olga Nikonova).
In addition to presenting the project, 4th-year students were engaged in filling the website with content (The Great Siberian Road film about the interuniversity expedition, materials and photographs from the Museum of SUSU History over 1951–1997). The students were assisted by their teachers: Acting Head of the Department, Candidate of Sciences (History), Associate Professor Svetlana Krivonogova, Candidate of Sciences (History) Alexey Bogdanov, assistant Yulia Bogdanova, as well as Head of the SUSU Museum and Education Complex Nadezhda Ivanova.
The leader of group СГ-406 Maria Leshukova said that students must know the history of their alma mater, because the development of scientific schools and achievements, the quality and quantity of academic staff, and the material and technical resources form the image of our university, and therefore evoke a sense of pride in all involved.
“It performs not only an educational, but also a scientific and social function: people with disabilities (including researchers) can view digitized documents directly from home. In the process of work, what struck me most was the archive of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, especially the photographs of testing! I would like to appeal to all departments with a request to share their archives so that our website develops and becomes of interest to all users,” said Maria about the prospects of the project.
Another participant, Gleb Sidorov, emphasized that digital history is a modern way of reconstructing the past. The relevance of the project is determined by the mediatization of culture, which today allows us to create new educational spaces and implement interdisciplinary scientific collaborations.
“The prospects of the website are determined by the digitalization of the humanitarian heritage, the creation of historically oriented systems and the publication of research results in an electronic format,” noted the student.
Digital History of SUSU website: https://sites.susu.ru/dh/