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Getting the education at two leading universities in the country at once to become the holder of two diplomas is realistic for students of Samara University. The joint program with the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) not only allows mastering relevant areas, but also provides valuable experience of working in research teams.
Vladimir Zhaurov graduated from Samara University, having mastered the Bachelor’s Degree program “Electronics and Nanoelectronics”. The scientific supervisor of his thesis was Nishant Tripathi, Associate Professor at the Department of Nanoengineering. They studied together the synthesis of transition metal dichalcogenides. This work resulted in the synthesis of titanium disulfide and the photodetector creation.
In his fourth year, Vladimir learned about the opportunity to study at two universities in the country at once and get two diplomas. The program is implemented by Samara University together with Skoltech. Vladimir Paveliev, Head of the Department of Nanoengineering, explained in detail how the selection process works, what stages are to be completed and what documents are needed. “Vladimir Sergeevich supported me at all stages of admission, helping with advice, and told me that, for applying, I needed to have my Bachelor’s Degree Diploma to be translated into English. If it weren’t for his assistance, I probably wouldn’t have decided to take such a step”, says Vladimir Zhaurov.
By the beginning of his Master’s Degree, Vladimir already had experience of working with scientific publications in English. He is especially grateful to Svetlana Avdeiko, an English teacher and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Foreign Languages and Russian as a Foreign Language, who made him feel confident in the English-speaking academic environment. “Her classes really helped prepare for work and study in English. It would be difficult without such a base: at Skoltech, all training is conducted in English, and this is applicable to both lectures and practical classes”, says Vladimir.
At Skoltech, he studied in the area “Photonics and Quantum Materials”. His scientific supervisor was Sakellaris Mailis. Vladimir continued working on transition metal dichalcogenides and their use in modern photodetectors. “At Skoltech, I was impressed by the laboratory facilities and the atmosphere. The walls in the classrooms are transparent, you can see how the other groups’ classes are going, and can join if you are interested in the theme. The team is international, students and teachers from various countries, with everyone to have own approach and experience”, he notes.
The learning process is built individually. For getting the diploma, you need to score a certain number of points, master compulsory subjects, such as quantum mechanics and the basics of photonics, as well as complete additional tracks, for example, on nanomaterials and modern modeling methods. At the same time, Vladimir continued studying at Samara University, where he mainly focused on applied disciplines.
According to Vladimir, much of knowledge received during his undergraduate studies was in demand in his Master’s Degree program. The skills of independent work in the laboratory and practical experience of conducting experiments turned out to be especially important. “If it weren’t for the thorough training at the University, it would have been much more difficult to cope with the workload of the two programs”, shared Vladimir his opinion.
The Double Degree program means not only two education documents, but also the experience of living and studying in two different cities, new acquaintances, the opportunity for working in strong research teams, and participating in real scientific projects. Now Vladimir is considering admission to postgraduate school both in Samara and at Skoltech, as well as work in the field of his specialty.
He is confident that two diplomas are a real advantage and the opportunity for reaching a new level in science. “The Skoltech diploma is especially appreciated in countries with photonics and quantum materials to be well developed, for example, in Germany and China. There, much attention is paid to researching the field of optics, laser technologies, sensors and new materials, so international experience and skills in working with modern equipment become a serious advantage”, shared the graduate his thoughts.
Vladimir advises future students not to be afraid of new opportunities and to use all resources provided by the University. He believes that traineeships, practice, communication with teachers and participation in research projects will definitely be useful in future. The main thing is not to miss the chance to try yourself in a new area and gain experience to be helpful for determining your professional path.
Photo by: Andrey Pavlov
