Research and teaching staff of the Kiev Polytechnic University, as well as the entire educational community, is working in conditions of higher education reform: a new law "On Higher Education" was adopted, the law "On Education" is prepared for amendments. The first vice-rector of the University academician of NAS of Ukraine Y.I. Yakimenko is talking on the activity of NTUU "KPI", the main objectives and their implementation.
- Yuri Ivanovich, is it possible today to organize the educational process to meet international standards of education, but at the same time preserve our traditions and achievements?
- Our main task - is the introduction of a three-tier system of education: Bachelor - Master - PhD; improvement of the internal quality assurance system; international accreditation and academic autonomy of the university. Academic autonomy - that's what we are based primarily because most of the innovations in teaching, we introduce the corresponding letter of the law is carried out in the framework of this autonomy.
Integrating into the international system of education, we make the first steps towards international accreditation. In the first place, as it is said in the law - to prevent plagiarism. Already since September 1, 2014 it is introduced the publication of all theses PhD, from the summer – it will be introduced the publications of master's thesis, that is, we are talking about promotion of social movement "Student Code of Integrity." But this is a topic for another conversation.
If we talk about the steps toward international integration, then today it is the introduction of international standards, the corresponding system of self-examination (Rector's control, state accreditation, monitoring, surveys of employers), double degrees programs, student participation in international events, cooperation with domestic and foreign universities -partner and the like.
For each of these positions, we have already developed appropriate programs and documents. For example, the Regulation on the quality management system of education, and others. According to the European criteria it is implemented a model of quality assurance which closes on employers with respect to the requirements for training programs and to assess performance. Also contacts are established with European agencies of quality assurance in higher education, in particular the European Network for Engineering Education Accreditation (ENAEE).
- What determines the quality of specialists’ training in NTUU "KPI"?
- The quality of education is based on the knowledge triangle: education - science - innovation and depends on the quality of applicants and the number of students, the quality of educational programs, scientific and methodological support, quality of staff composition, the level of financial and logistical support, evaluation of the quality of training.
Now KPI provides training in 54 directions and 117 specialties. Over the past year there have been accredited 14 specialties. The new law provides for the re-formation of specialties, we have developed the conception of this reformation, tried to sat that in addition to fundamental training one must exist industrial engineering training. On this basis, we suggested engineering education, which includes a group of specialties.
- Please, tell more about the components of quality: students, teachers, programs and financial support.
- Of course, potential students are interested us in the first place. Indicators of enrollment in recent years almost were unchanged, in 2014 the admission plan - 4197 people, the competition on the applications (state order) - 7.67. Competitive situation is powerful enough, but the difference between competition for the different faculties retained. It is important that in recent years we have clearly a competition for all departments. The worst situation is with contractors and foreigners.
Who do we accept? Those who have the best performance IET (see. Chart). This year, for the first time it was held input rector’s control in mathematics and physics for all students of the 1st course. Math - more than 4 thousands, Physics - almost 4 thousands Students (333 groups). Quality of residual knowledge is sufficient to equal the faculties. But, unfortunately, it does not meet the high performance of the certificate of IET. What is the solution that we are waiting for this summer?
Last year, it was registered for the IET 290 thousand school students (plus 50 thousands with the certificates of previous years), this year - 236 thousand. (Certificates of previous years do not work). There were in mathematics in 2014 - 178 thousands, now - 120 thousands; in physics –there were 6 thousands, now - 42 thousands; in chemistry - was 49 thousands, now - 32 thousand. In Kiev on math registered 8.5 thousands, on physics - less than 3 thousand., to chemistry - 2 thousand. We can choose only from those people. There are no others.
Firstly, the pre-university preparation system can help. It is designed to improve the quality of knowledge of applicants and students of the Minor Academy of Sciences. On the FPP there are now about 2,100 students, the quarter of them are of non-residents. Here FCE: it is not the most prestigious faculty at the University on market conditions and professions, but there are 241 listeners at the preparatory courses that will have an impact on competition and on knowledge as freshmen.
Secondly, we need to work with those we have. Our department of physics and mathematics have learned to work with these students: after the input controls they are working on different programs. Those who can learn, but have not received sufficient school level – will be helped. Statistics show that they are on the 2nd course in mathematics and physics generally aligned.
For the third year we are working with a rating of academic staff. This year, for the first time it was introduced the staff appraisal by students. The ratio in the rating of teachers serious, so it gives the result. Although in recent years the average age of our teachers a little bit rejuvenated - from 52 to almost 50 years, but it's different in different faculties (young - FL, FMM, the most – FASS, FRE). As for doctors, half of them are of the retirement age. To create a talent pool of 89 departments (almost 80%) there are no doctoral students, which is categorically unacceptable. 15% missing graduate students. But three cycles of training are required of any university, not to mention research. The absence of the third cycle of training (PhD) put the department it the position without any future.
If we talk about our training programs, they are formed in accordance with the law on the basis of educational and professional standards. There are already developed requirements for the quality of training programs on scientific and methodological support. There are important cross-cutting integrated training - Masters - PhD, independent monitoring, state certification, -Production comprehensive system to prevent plagiarism.
Component, which defines logistical support is very important. All we know about the current financial limitation, so one cannot speak about the growth. Salaries are paid regularly while. The law provides 600 hours of the maximum load for the teacher. How to achieve this without compromising the learning environment and student workload? Optimization of classroom - one of the sources of scoring. We develop appropriate methodologies.
Material base NTUU "KPI": we have 53,000 seats in classrooms for 30,000 students. With regard to methodological support, the publishing house "Politehnica" is actively working. This year it released 1200 editions. Information security: information portal, e-campus. The last allows teachers and students to communicate online. Institute of Postgraduate Education has trained 1,500 co-workers and provide sufficient information resources. At present, e-campus is 80% full, but the materials need to be more complete.
- The enrollment, training and employment are related things. What employers say about our graduates?
- Requirements for the content of training are formed on demand and focus on results. Moreover, the demand both employers and students themselves. But we must ensure solidity, and scientific training and its conformity with modern requirements.
Today, 20% of the state order is formed as a result of admission campaign, depending on where the applicants had applied. The competitive points: profile score the most, non-core (average score of the certificate) - with coefficient 0.06; extra points for the FPP - 5%.
Employment of graduates last year as a whole went well. Annual fair trades (91 representative companies for the last time) reflected the pattern of employment of our students: Computer Science - 350 people (2,000 issued), system science and cybernetics - 150 electronics - 250, power - 350, power system - 200 Engineering - 350, instrument - 150.
The problem of providing qualified staff remains very serious. About 60% of the enterprises surveyed said that it is for them a major concern. Qualification of our graduates, according to employers, more than 90% responded to requirements. The overall level of training as a high is estimated by more than 90% of them. The level of training 95% of our employees assess as high (rather high). But among the drawbacks is a traditional point - the lack of practical training. More than 40% of employers complain about it. Low level of information technology is noted by 17% polled. It is very disturbing to us, because the KPI - the main smithy IT personnel. It also remains a low level of knowledge of foreign languages (13%). This position has improved twice, but this is still not enough. We have introduced a comprehensive list of measures to improve the situation, the European integration is not possible without a foreign language.
- Do we teach everything needed?
- The law "On Higher Education" indicates that at least 25% of the subjects to be elected by the students. Items offered for the choice – from the general training, language selector, discipline specialization. That is, more than 60% of the credits are from selective courses. A technology for free choice disciplines is developed: suggestions from departments, conducting surveys, the selection of students and identification in the programs.
According to employers, half of the graduates require additional training. Innovative component, which lay in the training programs, is not clearly perceived, the programs are not clearly constructed and organized. This also applies to joint projects and practical training. This is especially true for masters. Under the law, we will prepare two types of master's degrees: Master's professional direction (the amount of training 90-120 credits) and Master of Science direction (at least 120 credits, ie two years of training with the scientific component of not less than 30%). The total number of masters we have more than 1,500. We admit them after appropriate admission tests: foreign language, professional examination and creative component. It is suggested to include the rector control results when taking into account the creative components that will motivate 4 year students.
We say that there are not enough masters. And where to get them more? We have established a fairly strict quotas for departments – the number of masters they can prepare depends on their scientific potential, the volume of scientific papers and the like. We only got a third of the faculties more or less serious competition in the magistracy. Masters degree must become a major level of the training of our specialists.
- Do students KPI have the possibility to gain additional knowledge?
- With regard to the additional knowledge, a good example of this year is school program startup and technology transfer based on the IPO, which there were trained about 400 masters. They received additional certifications that we, in accordance with our autonomy fits into the Diploma Supplement. It was important the annual competition Sikorsky Challenge 2014, which received 52 innovative projects.
Summer School, which is held on the initiative of our students of applied computer neurosciences, is another example non-traditional teaching methods (additional knowledge).
One of the methods for monitoring knowledge is the dual degree program. We immerse students in research and education among the leading universities in Germany, France and others and look on the impact of their work. This year, 171 students left for training. There were no complaints. This should continue. It is a concrete example of European integration.
- A word, please, about Master’s training.
- Selection of our candidates in post graduate (the third cycle PhD) is a very important thing. 15 departments did not have a post-graduate, there is a shortage of candidate on others. Therefore, integrated Masters program together with a PhD should be implemented in all departments (now 15). In 2014, prior to graduate school there were enrolled 187 Masters. By law, every 20th graduate of Bachelor should go for PhD. This is not happening yet. Now the number of our graduate students - 564 people (495 full-time form), completed post-graduate studies in the past year - 161 people. In KPI it was left 67 people work on teaching, 23 - on the scientific. To update this is not enough.
Preparing PhD has two components: education (system discipline of 60 credits) and research within 3-3.5 years. That is, the graduate should be an expert in all specialties, not just on the subject of his dissertation.
- What's new in determining the rankings and what Departments are leading?
- When we talk about university rankings, which form the department, the previous performance it was added with monitoring websites of the departments and surveys of students.
Top of the department at the end of the rector's control: system analysis and management; systems and methods of decision-making (IASA), Applied Mathematics (IPT) chemical technology of organic substances (FCT), Economic Cybernetics (FMM). The Department of boilers and reactors (FHPE), aircraft and helicopters (FASS), devices and systems Precision Mechanics (FIDE) are completing the list.The departments: Applied Mathematics (FAM), physical and biomedical electronics (FE), Electrochemical Production Technology (FCT), Physical Education (FBMI) English language technical direction №1 (FL) are leaders in filling the web sites.. The Department of Biomedical Engineering; biosafety and human health (FBE) geostroitelstva and mining technologies (IESEM) do not fill their web sites at all.
N.Vdovenko