On Tuesday, November 25, the Winter University of Engineering Sciences, an international educational project bringing together engineering students from around the world opened at Samara University.
This year, the international project is implemented as part of the National Project “Youth and Children” and simultaneously takes place at three Russian universities, each with its own separate educational program. Along with Samara University, the venues for the Winter University are Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and Yaroslav the Wise Novgorod State University. The project participants were welcomed by Konstantin Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, in his video message.
“This project has brought together over 600 future engineers from 15 countries in 3 Russian cities – St. Petersburg, Veliky Novgorod and Samara. The Winter University takes place at Russia’s leading engineering universities. You will be able to work on your own projects in the field of aerospace-engineering, artificial intelligence and communication systems together with the largest industrial companies: this is a unique chance to put your knowledge into practice. I am sure that the Winter University is not just about studying: it means new acquaintances, communication with like-minded people and your new opportunities for professional growth. Today, the most interesting engineering discoveries are born where different approaches to solving problems meet. It is this kind of live interaction and communication between you, future specialists from various countries, that creates the ground for real innovations. I wish you to make the most of these two weeks, meet new friends and get closer to important discoveries!” said Konstantin Mogilevsky.
“In 2022, Samara University became one of the first to participate in the large-scale state initiative for creating advanced engineering schools, which is being implemented in our country today. This program, supported by the President of Russia, is designed to solve a key task of providing strategically important enterprises with young, proactive specialists. Samara University’s advanced engineering school has become a testing ground for the new model of engineering education. Over the years, we have created 17 new modern educational spaces. These include two cyber-physical factories – pilot productions of small-size gas-turbine engines and small-sized spacecrafts, as well as a digital factory for the systems of regional aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles. I think you will have the opportunity for getting acquainted with their work. I wish you vivid discoveries, fruitful work and self-confidence!” stated Viktor Soifer, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, President of Samara University, at the opening of the Winter University in Samara.
More than 200 students from 11 countries came to Samara, in order to participate in the Winter University: about 150 students from Belarus, China, India, Serbia, South Africa, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as over 50 students from various regions of Russia. The thematic focus of the educational programs of the Winter University in Samara was “Integrated Technologies in Aerospace Engineering”.
Makar Goncharov, a 3rd-year student of the Belarusian State University of Transport, came from Gomel. He masters the specialty “Microprocessor Information and Control Systems”, and his choice of Samara University is informed, as he is interested in unmanned technologies and follows their development. “As soon as I learned about the possibility of studying at the Winter University, I immediately made every effort to get here, passed the selection process at my home university”, shared the young man. “I believe that participating in the International Winter University is a great opportunity for meeting students from other countries, with similar experience and related to the same specialized fields. At my home university in Belarus, I master the specialty “Microprocessor Information and Control Systems”, these systems are also used in drones. To my mind, this area is extremely promising, and I want to develop in the field of UAVs. We follow the news, so I know that in the Samara Region, this area is developing especially rapidly. I’m looking forward to the excursion to the specialized enterprise manufacturing UAVs”.
For almost two weeks, the project participants will attend a course of lectures and gain practical skills in the field of aerospace-systems engineering or in the field of designing and constructing unmanned aviation systems (UAS), depending on the specialization chosen. The training will be conducted in Russian and English.
Among the academic disciplines offered in the field of unmanned systems are Fundamentals of Aerodynamics and Theory of Materials, Practical Design and Assembly of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Reliability and Safety Issues, UAS-Related Innovative Solutions and Promising Areas.
As part of the curriculum “Aerospace-Systems Engineering”, students will get acquainted with aircraft-engine production technologies and additive-technologies design specificity, study space navigation issues, and consider various space engines and fuel systems. Special attention will be paid to environmental aspects of the design.
At the end of the course, the participants in the Winter University, divided into teams, will present to the experts of their own development projects on the chosen theme.
In addition to intensive studies, the students will also enjoy a rich cultural program including excursions and events that introduce project participants in the history and culture of the Samara Region and Russia as a whole.
The Winter University will end on December 7.
Photo by Olesya Orina
