On Wednesday, February 28, Rector of Mining University Vladimir Litvinenko, who is also a proxy for Russian presidential candidate Vladimir Putin, held a meeting with students of St. Petersburg State Agrarian University, which is located in Pushkin. The topic of the meeting was "State policy in the field of engineering education".
Before the meeting, the rector of the university, Vitaly Morozov, familiarized the guest with the infrastructure of his educational institution. The parties immediately found common ground. For example, in the classroom of Information Modeling Technologies of Construction, where students are engaged in designing buildings, they discussed the possible participation of "agrarians" in the reconstruction of Donbass. And in the geodesy room, they discussed in detail the problem of the lack of time allocated for practical training in the undergraduate curriculum.
During his speech to the representatives of six thousand people, the Rector of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University noted that the spheres of application of the two universities are very similar. These are the basic needs of mankind.
"Natural capital lying in the subsoil is inert. And we need to do everything to turn it into natural capital, social capital, and as a consequence, human capital. And for this we need personnel, personnel, and once again, personnel", - emphasized Vladimir Litvinenko.
According to the speaker, the chimera of liberalization of education, embodied by the Bologna process, has collapsed the main task of higher education, making it an end in itself. In reality, any higher education institution should serve the tasks of the country's development:
"The UN declares 17 goals of sustainable development of mankind. But the most important of them is missing - the sovereignty of states. Man needs food, clothing and protection, not abstract principles of existence."
The presidential candidate's confidant called "digitalization" thinking the main problem of today's civilization. Experts estimate that it already occupies up to 80 percent of schoolchildren's consciousness. And only twenty percent is analog. Students and teachers are going the same way. But the truth is born not through the computer and not in the computer, but in live communication with the lecturer.
"The lecturer must be a curator and mentor in the classroom, a computer program will never do the job," Litvinenko noted.
The speaker told about what is being done in this direction in the higher education institution he leads:
"In February this year, President Vladimir Putin initiated the process of modernization of the higher education system. Now it is being implemented as a pilot project in six Russian universities, including Mining University. We have completely abandoned the bachelor's degree and returned to the basic engineering education, which lasts 5.5 years, leaving in the curricula all the best that has been developed over the past decades. In brief, students obtain fundamental knowledge for the first four semesters, then move on to specialized disciplines. The period of industrial practice in general has been increased to 10 months. In addition, each student is obliged to obtain 8 additional competencies to choose from by the time of the diploma work defense. In IT, economics, rhetoric, management and so on".
The agrarian sector also needs qualified engineers who are able to improve the energy efficiency of enterprises, increase the productivity of the fleet of tractors, combines and other machines, ensure the safety of technological processes, and reduce the anthropogenic load on nature. Therefore, the need for transformation of specialized educational programs is also urgent.
"I've been to many countries around the world. And we are not much needed there. But we have our own home, which because of its natural riches is needed by everyone. Let's think about it, equip and develop it. The President has boldly embarked on a reform of education. This is not a decree signed on his lap. This is a long-term strategy that will outlive the generation of today's leaders, because it is a vector of civilizational development of the country. A country where each of you will be in demand, and where nothing will work without everyone's efforts," emphasized Vladimir Litvinenko.
He concluded by quoting the words of Israel's fifth prime minister, Golda Meir:
"If you want to build a country from which its sons and daughters will leave only during the vacation season, a country that will have no sense of fear for the future, you need to take only two steps. First, equate corruption with treason against the motherland, and corrupt people with traitors, down to the seventh knee. And second, make three professions the highest paid and most respected: the military, teachers and doctors".
The students had tons of questions for the speaker. For example:
- Is it possible to integrate already today the elements of higher education modernization developed at Mining University into the Agrarian University?
V.L.: It is not by chance that the project is called a pilot project. It will be tested, especially since we "create" the lion's share of methods within the team. But some elements, such as the "Core of Education" or additional competencies and increased practical training - why not?
- Is there any hope for an increase in university indoor sports facilities?
V.L.: Absolutely! The state pays great attention to the development of sports and, of course, new venues, including those built by your ministry, will be built.
- Is it true that the state program of dormitory reconstruction is being closed?
V.L.: No, on the contrary, it will only expand with regard to regional universities.
- What, first of all, is subject to import substitution?
V.L.: Now we depend on the components of agricultural machinery, and on the devices on which you study, on the West. This is the result of the paradigm laid down in the 90s: "You give us oil - we give you everything else". Today, obviously, this "strategy" does not work. I have always been against it, believing that the country can be self-sufficient in key areas. It is necessary to correct the state of affairs. Agrarians are correcting it - they are feeding the country, where, 30 years ago, one of the stable expressions was "humanitarian aid".
- A painful question - when to expect the increase of scholarships?
V.L.: They are slightly increasing now. But we need to balance our capabilities and desires. First of all, the amount of payments should depend on the student's academic performance and achievements in science, sports, social life, and not be a "free" bonus just for the fact that he studies.
- And the last question: what qualities do you consider the main in people?
V.L.: Decency. This is at all times. And today, moral stability as well.
