Samara National Research University and the Volga Region State University of Service are continuing their joint efforts to train the next generation of industrial designers.
During a meeting at Samara University, the universities' rectors, Vladimir Bogatyrev and Lyubov Vybornova, signed agreements to implement networked educational programs for the 2026 intake and discussed expanding student participation in joint modules.
Industrial design has become a top priority for major industrial corporations aiming to boost the competitiveness of both mass-produced and custom-made products in Russia and globally. The new agreements on networked programs and the integration of individual educational trajectories (IETs) will open the world of industrial design to a much broader student body.
"We are seeing a growing interest from applicants and students in pursuing careers in industrial design," noted Lyubov Vybornova. "New forms of network cooperation, including supplementary education, will allow a wider circle of students to immerse themselves in this field. For University of Service students studying industrial design as their future profession, the engineering and technological competencies provided by Samara University are absolutely vital."
Bridging the Gap Between Art and Engineering
Students from both universities now have the unique opportunity to take supplementary modules across institutions.
For students in the University of Service’s "Industrial Design" program, this means taking the "Engineering Support for Industrial Design" module. Taught by Samara University faculty, this module covers four key disciplines: Engineering Graphics, Materials Science in Industrial Design, Production Technologies for Industrial Objects, and Prototyping Technologies. During the 2025–2026 academic year, design students mastered these engineering disciplines, explored the technological aspects of design, and gained hands-on experience with specialized equipment in Samara University’s specialized labs.
Conversely, faculty from the University of Service delivered the "Industrial Design" module to Samara University students enrolled in the "Virtual Engineering in Aircraft Engine Design" program. This module included Sketching, Technical Aesthetics and Design, Color Science and Color Theory, and Ergonomics in Industrial Design. It equipped future engineers with the methodology of design engineering and introduced them to creative product development approaches.
During the 2025–2026 academic year, students from these programs—who originally enrolled in 2024—successfully completed their cross-university modules.
"Students at both universities are genuinely enthusiastic about this interdisciplinary approach," emphasized Vladimir Bogatyrev, Rector of Samara University. "Engineers begin to think in terms of imagery and ergonomics, while designers start to think in terms of technologies and materials. It is precisely at the intersection of creativity and engineering that truly competitive industrial design is born today."
Looking Ahead
The partnership is set to deepen in the upcoming academic year. Samara University students will have the opportunity to study the "Industrial Design" module in person at the University of Service. Upon completing the networked modules, students from both institutions will jointly defend a final industrial design project, cementing their collaborative skills and innovative vision.
