Of current importance

13.12.2013
From 3 to 7 December 2013 the International Conference “Formation of Practical Competences in Education of Engineers: Ideas, Best Practices and Quality Assurance” was held at the Czech Technical University in Prague

The Conference was organized by the Association for Engineering Education of Russia jointly with Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics, Moscow State Technical University of Radioengineering, Electronics and Automation, Czech Technical University in Prague, European Society for Engineering Education SEFI.

The Conference was mainly aimed at the study of best practices of formation of engineers practical competences in the process of their training and familiarization with practice-oriented teaching and learning technologies for their subsequent use in research and educational activities.

Rectors, Vice-rectors, heads and staff of educational divisions, deans, heads of departments, professors, associate professors of Russian universities that provide training of engineers participated in the Conference.

Among the participants there were representatives of Don State Technical University, Siberian Federal University, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Belgorod State National Research University, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Kazan National Research University of Technology, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University), Ogarev National Research Mordovia State University, Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, Volga State University of Technology, Omsk State Technical University.

The Conference participants were welcomed by:

• Prof. Václav Havlíček, Rector of Czech Technical University in Prague
• Prof. Ladislav Musilek, Professor of Czech Technical University in Prague, member of the SEFI Administrative Council
• Prof. Frantisek Hrdlicka, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Czech Technical University in Prague,
• Prof. Yu. Pokholkov, President of the Association for Engineering Education of Russia

The invited European experts from Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Germany reported to the Conference participants on current trends, challenges and learning technologies in the field of training of competent engineers that meet modern requirements:

• “Formation of practical competences in education of engineers: experience of Czech Technical University in Prague”
  Prof. Miroslav Svítek, Faculty of Transportation Sciences, Czech Technical University in Prague
  Prof. Vladimir Marik, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague
• “ Innovative Learning in Engineering Education”
  Prof. Jose Carlos Quadrado, President of Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa - ISEL (Portugal)
• “Tools and indicators for a dynamical, innovative and optimized education program”
  Prof. Stephane Flament, École nationale supérieure d'ingénieurs de Caen (France)
• “Practical Competences as achievable Learning Outcomes using CES EduPack software”
  Dr. Tatiana Vakhitova, Education Division Granta Design Cambridge (UK)
• “The European Platform of Universities engaged in Energy Research, Education and Training”
  Dr. John Smith, Deputy Secretary General of the European University Association (EUA)
• “Digital education to improve practical learning in Engineering Education. Best practices review”
  Prof. Xavier Fouger, Vice-president of the European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI)
• “Challenges of West-European technical universities (the view of invited professor)”
  Prof. Alexander Gromov, Nuremberg Technical University (Germany)
• “Quality assurance in engineering education"
  Prof. Juan Jesus Perez, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – UPC (Spain)
• “Engineering Education 2.0: The Eindhoven Case”
  Dirk-Jan Mulders, Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands)

Challenges and solutions to problems that the system of engineering education of Russia is facing as well as successful experience of modernization of learning process and educational programmes were reflected in the reports of representatives of scientific and educational community of Russia:

• “Engineering Education in Russia: challenges and solutions”
  Prof. Yury Pokholkov, President of the Association for Engineering Education of Russia
  Prof. Alexander Sigov, President of Moscow State Institute of Radio Engineering, Electronics and Automation (Russia)
• “Network project learning as a tool for the integrated acquiring of knowledge and skills by students”
  Prof. Nikolay Rodionov, Head of Electronic Systems Department, Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics (Russia)
• “Engineering education and engineering qualification are not the same”
  Prof. Victor Sheynbaum, Gubkin Russian state university of oil and gas

During the Conference great attention was paid to the issues of application of practice-oriented learning technologies in training of engineers.

Prof. Alexander Gromov, who represented Nuremberg Technical University (Germany), held the Master class “Visual teaching methods as an example of project-focused works in West-European Universities”.

In the Master class participants had to divide into four teams to develop and present an investment project aimed at the development of one type of energy: nuclear, solar, wind and hydropower, respectively. The fifth team participants who were assigned the role of government had to evaluate the projects submitted and to choose the winner.

The Master class was organized to demonstrate the application of practice-oriented learning technologies in the learning process, including:

1. Solution (analysis) in the classroom with students of a real problem.
2. Using interactive teaching methods.
3. Organization of teamwork, business games, etc.

Also within the Conference Prof. Yury Pokholkov conducted the Expert Seminar-Training on “State of implementation of practice-oriented learning technologies in training of engineers”, where participants performed individual and team work, such as:

• Expert evaluation of the level of practice-oriented learning technologies implementation in Russian universities;
• Expert evaluation of features that characterise the level of practice-oriented learning technologies implementation in Russian universities;
• Construction of the matrix of criteria for evaluation of the level of practice-oriented learning technologies implementation in Russian universities;
• Identifying barriers to implementation of practice-oriented learning technologies in Russian universities;
• Search for ways to solve the problem.

The Conference programme scheduled visit to the factory of Škoda Transportation company in Plzen (Europe's largest factory of railway transport engineering such as electric locomotives, subway trains, railway train units, low-floor trams, trolleybuses, electric driving gears and electric motors). The roundtable was held for the Conference participants with the company representatives who actively cooperate with universities in recruitment of new employees from graduates of engineering schools, implementation of educational programmes of training of specialists that correspond to requirements of the company. After there was conducted an introductory tour of the factory production departments.

The Conference became a discussion platform for Russian and European experts in the field of engineering education who had the possibility to share experiences and exchange views on the issues of training of modern engineers, taking an active part in the round table ‘Best practices of Russian universities in implementing practice-oriented educational technologies in training engineers’.

One of the Conference aims was also to establish meaningful contacts and develop international cooperation of universities in order to train competent professionals in engineering and technologies who meet international requirements. One of the Conference results was the signing of the partnership agreement on cooperation between Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University and Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL).

Regarding the results of the Conference the participants and invited experts wished to give the Conference an annual status. It was also recommended to continue work on organization of international conferences and seminars on topical issues of engineering education and training of specialists in the field of engineering and technology:

1. International training seminar «Management of interdisciplinary projects in engineering education: planning and implementation», 21-25 April 2014, Lisbon (Portugal)
2. International training seminar «Problems of formation of different environments promoting development of competence of future professionals»
3. International conference «Networking of universities»

The Conference ended with the solemn presentation of certificates of Czech Technical University in Prague to participants and invited experts.

The Conference organisers express gratitude to all the speakers, partners and participants for their contributions to preparation and organization of the event.

Information about the Conference

Address of Yury P. Pokholkov,
AEER President

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