Novosibirsk State Technical University (NETI), together with the Skolkovo Foundation, initiated the unification of universities within the framework of the Techno-exhibition program and gathered representatives of some leading universities of the country. The meeting was held in the format of a round table: the results of the first stage of the technology mentoring project "Technologies of the First" were discussed, as well as the possibilities of scaling this practice to different regions of the country.
The Technologies of the First project was developed by NSTU-NETI with the support of the Russian Movement of Children and Youth "Movement of the First", the Academy of Mentors "Skolkovo" and the Ministry of Education of the Novosibirsk region. The first season was successfully held in the fall of 2023. The Technologies of the First project has already included industrial partners of NSTU-NETI, educational institutions of seven regions of the country — Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Tomsk, Omsk, Tyumen regions, Altai Territory, and the Republic of Buryatia.
Opening the meeting, Rector of NSTU-NETI Anatoly Batayev thanked all participants, noting the importance of joint efforts in popularizing engineering education, particularly in the format of technological mentoring and the transfer of knowledge from students to schoolchildren.
The discussion was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Novosibirsk region, the regional branch of the Movement of the First, as well as universities of the country — Skolkovo Open University, NSU (Novosibirsk State University), DSTU (Don State Technical University), Moscow State Technological University "STANKIN" and directors of educational institutions.
"The demand for chief engineers, technologists, and mechanics has increased by 58%, especially in regions such as the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East (2022). However, according to Rosobrnadzor, the share of graduates who chose the Unified State Exam in physics is decreasing annually: in 2023 — 16.03% (101 thousand people, of whom about 89 thousand people passed the exam), while physics is a necessary subject for admission to engineering specialties. The Technologies of the First project is designed to solve this problem and increase the interest among young people in enrolling in technical universities," said Daria Borovikova, head of the Department of Pre—university Education and Recruitment at NSTU-NETI.
The main topic of discussion of the expert community was the results of the first stage of the project "Technologies of the First" and the joint development of a unified strategy for the mass involvement of children in technical projects through the creation of a unified system of technological mentoring.
Oleg Dyachenko, Head of the Department for Cooperation with Non-profit organizations of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, noted that issues related to achieving technological sovereignty are among the key issues on the current agenda: the NSTU-NETI project "Technologies of the First" can contribute not only to attracting motivated applicants to technical universities, but also to solving the problem of shortage of engineering personnel in the country.
"It is essential that everyone really attend such discussion platforms: representatives of universities, schools, and the participants in the process themselves — students and schoolchildren, whose opinion is especially valuable when building any new system, including technological mentoring," Oleg Dyachenko added.
"NSTU-NETI is certainly a leader in the formation of technological mentoring. Our goal is to involve more universities in this practice. The promotion of projects in which schoolchildren find mentors despite students is an important step in ensuring the technological sovereignty of our country," commented Vladimir Shchukin, Deputy Minister of Education of the Novosibirsk Region.
According to Ekaterina Morozova, director of the Skolkovo Open University, the main goal of the professional community at this stage is to scale the system of technological me-NETI project experience into standard practice and its implementation in Russian universities and colleges. "It is important to expand our activities to other regions to create a strong engineering school," Ekaterina Morozova stressed.
Let us recall that more than seven thousand schoolchildren were involved in the first stage of the Technologies of the First project. One of the project participants, a sixth-grader from Novosibirsk Lyceum No. 176, shared his impressions during the round table. Dmitry Tomilov noted that thanks to Techno-mentor, who explains complex things in simple language, a lot of new knowledge was gained in the fields of mathematics and physics. He thanked the mentor for his kindness and understanding, and mentioned his desire to be like a techno-mentor: to study science and technology.
One of the results of the round table held at NSTU-NETI was the decision to develop a unified strategy for technological mentoring, uniting universities and schools throughout the country. The project aims to increase interest in technical specialties among students from regions where the issues of training qualified engineers for local enterprises are especially important.
