On the occasion of Higher School Teachers’ Day we spoke with the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, Head of the Hydrogen Technologies in Metallurgy Laboratory, Candidate of Sciences (Engineering), and Associate Professor Pavel Gamov.
– Could you please tell us why you chose SUSU, and what influenced your career choice?
– During the times when I graduated from high school, few people considered applying for universities outside our region. My hometown, Kopeysk, is a suburb of Chelyabinsk. And, of course, given the technical mindset of students, studying in a state-funded programme at SUSU was a priority. Our region is a metallurgical one, with many factories and there will always be demand for such specialists, so I chose metallurgy. Besides, a classmate of mine was also applying to this programme. That is how I ended up at the Faculty of Physics and Metallurgy.
By 2009, when it was time to choose between postgraduate studies and working in the industry, the global economic crisis hit. And I thought: this is not the best time to engage only in industry. It was better to focus on science and wait until the economy improved. Besides, federal university development programs and large grants were starting to appear. Our department was among the winners.
During the postgraduate studies, I fully integrated into the system and became involved in the vibrant scientific life. Postgraduate students attended all department meetings, participated in important decision-making, and participated in scientific seminars, where everyone was required to ask at least one question. And this came with a certain responsibility. Well, you cannot ask something stupid. I did not want to seem ignorant. I had to understand the material and formulate my thoughts correctly. All of this was very useful for us.
Moreover, I taught the Fuels and Refractories discipline to third-year students. And this was quite a challenge, because I myself had been a Master’s student not long ago. And here, essentially, I had to explain things to my peers. Despite having had graduated with honours, I had no experience in conveying information in an interesting and understandable format. Nevertheless, I quickly got pulled into teaching.
– Do you remember your very first lesson? How did students react to you?
– It would be interesting to hear what they said about me… (laughs). Although, officially, I received pretty good feedback during the course. Of course, the first lectures were nerve-wracking, and I prepared very carefully. We followed the example of professors who never allowed themselves to read from a piece of paper or a textbook. We strove exclusively for live interaction, for dialogue with students. And this was probably the most difficult thing at first. You had to manage your time wisely, especially during lectures. Practical classes are easier. There you assign tasks, provide some guidance, and then check...
The classes were organised in a respectful manner, both from the students’ and, I hope, from my side. We found common ground. Moreover, many of the students whom I taught during the first years, later enrolled in our postgraduate programmes, and now some of them are defending their candidate dissertations. This chain continues.
– A new Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology has been opened at SUSU in collaboration with the KONAR Industrial Group. What is the primary goal of this educational initiative?
– The main mission of this faculty is the targeted training of qualified engineering personnel for metallurgy and mechanical engineering. Since the project was launched in close partnership with KONAR, the program is being implemented using the company’s state-of-the-art production and expert resources. Therefore, graduates will be in demand not only within our region but also at other industrial enterprises across our country.
The goals of the faculty include applying modern approaches to the education system. Russia is currently actively modernizing its educational approaches, and we are ready to utilize all relevant and promising methods in this faculty. In particular, the faculty’s curriculum puts a special emphasis on practical work. In particular, many modules of the educational programme will be taught in connection with the KONAR group.
– What would you like to wish to your colleagues and students, planning to become teachers, on the eve of their professional holiday?
– My congratulations to the entire SUSU team on this important occasion. Our university has a unique team of professionals of all ages and fields of activity. I wish you to be proactive, love your students and your profession, and not be afraid of changes!