Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute opened the School of Vocational Excellence for Design Engineers. It became possible thanks to the cooperation of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute with the State Concern “Ukroboronprom”. In 2016, our University and the manufacturer of weapons and military hardware of Ukraine signed an agreement of cooperation. Joint work resulted in creating the Spectator drone, which the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine immediately adopted. In 2017, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute with the State Concern “Ukroboronprom” signed an agreement on the training specialists in the defense industry of Ukraine. Since then, the program has trained 177 executives, 60% were from “Ukroboronprom”, 40% were from other law enforcement agencies.
Rector of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute Michael Zgurovsky tells about another ambitious idea:
‘We plan to establish the Institute of Advanced Defense Technologies or the Institute of Defense Technologies – the name is still being clarified – under the auspices of three agencies: “Ukroboronprom”, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine. The Institute will work as a powerful analytical center of the state. It will also model on the Information and Analytical Situation Center of our University. We will involve the innovative ecosystem Sikorsky Challenge, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute structural units, and educational and research centers of Ukraine, which are cooperating with us in innovation.’
Director-General of “Ukroboronprom” Yuriy Gusev stressed that today young, progressive personnel in the defense sector are extremely necessary:
‘Today, we lack design engineers because their average age is 60 years. I support the establishment of the Institute of Advanced Defense Technologies. And the opening of the School is another step towards a whole generation of ingenious design engineers in the future.’
The Vice-Rector for Education Anatolii Melnychenko told about the structure and content of the School training program:
‘In cooperation with consultants from the State Concern “Ukroboronprom”, we have developed a program and agreed on content modules. Thus, the total volume of the program will be 120 academic hours and will consist of three modules: systems engineering; management of innovative projects and programs; modern innovative technologies in the design and production of science-intensive products.’