June 2nd through June 5th, 2025, a joint meeting of the Federal Educational and Methodological Associations in the training areas of 24.00.00 Aeronautical and Rocket-and-Space Equipment and 25.00.00 Air Navigation and Operation of Aeronautical and Rocket-and-Space Equipment was held at Smolensk State University.
The meeting was attended by more than 40 representatives of the leading Russian universities that train specialists for the aviation and space industries, including representatives of our university: Deputy Director for Aerospace Engineering of the Institute of Engineering and Technology Ekaterina Zarnitsyna and Head of the Department of Aircraft Engines Ruslan Peshkov.
The Associations meeting began with plenary speeches. Rector Mikhail Artemenkov delivered a welcoming speech dedicated to the cooperation of Smolensk State University with the Moscow Aviation Institute within the frameworks of joint academic programmes. Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the Moscow Aviation Institute Dmitry Kozorez in his turn presented the project of creating an Educational and Methodological Centre for Training Engineering Personnel for the Aircraft Industry at the premises of the Moscow Aviation Institute and the results of implementing the new educational model at the university. He paid special attention to the modular structure of the academic programmes, thanks to which graduates master a wide range of competencies and can be called "comprehensive engineers" after defending their final qualification works. South Ural State University actively participates in the work of the Educational and Methodological Centre for Training Engineering Personnel for the Aircraft Industry.
"Annual participation in the Associations meetings provides great assistance in planning educational activities. Colleagues share their experience, both positive and negative, which helps coordinate the activities of the aerospace engineering direction at our university. The reports by the representatives of the Moscow Aviation Institute on improving the quality of training specialists in the field of engine building are especially worth noting, since for me the formation of the core of training for academic programmes of 24 UGSN (integrated groups of majors and training areas) is a pressing issue today," emphasized Ekaterina Zarnitsyna, Deputy Director for Aerospace Engineering of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
The problems of training personnel for the aerospace sector were discussed at the meeting of the Federal Educational and Methodological Associations. In their speeches, representatives of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow Aviation Institute, Novosibirsk State Technical University and industry-related organizations proposed approaches to improving the quality of training specialists, including in regional universities.
Also, during the work of the Associations, the participants got acquainted with the activities of Smolensk State University: they visited the university laboratories and exhibition areas.
At the end of the work, changes were made to the composition of the Federal Educational and Methodological Associations: by a unanimous decision, the Head of the Department of Aircraft Engines Ruslan Peshkov became member of the Associations for UGSN 24.00.00.
In accordance with the decision, a collective monograph will be published following the meeting, in which the SUSU employees Ekaterina Zarnitsyna and Ruslan Peshkov plan to publish an article in the section "Technologies and methods of professional guidance for applicants of the aerospace engineering industry".