A series of strategic meetings dedicated to the development of international academic cooperation took place in Dushanbe. The events were held at the site of the Russian-Tajik (Slavic) University (RTSU) with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Konstantin Mogilevskiy.
The representatives of Russian universities and the RTSU leadership discussed joint projects at a separate workshop. One of the key topics was the use of the university’s infrastructure to promote Russian culture, science and education in the Republic of Tajikistan. Mikhail Shepel, Vice-Rector for the Development of Additional Education, shared the specific expert assistance that Tomsk State University is ready to provide and what key agreements were reached.
Thus, one of the main results of the trip to Dushanbe concerns the online platform “In Russian”. This platform contains materials for adaptation in Russia: how to open a bank account, call an ambulance or deal with documents, as well as training modules to help learn Russian. A separate feature of the platform is an adaptive simulator, which adjusts to the level of knowledge of each user and provides for an individual training trajectory.
It was agreed that the platform will be used in the educational process of the Russian-Tajik (Slavic) University. Cooperation will cover several areas at once: language training, development of continuing education, interaction with enterprises.
— It was the translation of the content of the platform “In Russian” into Tajik that aroused special interest among colleagues: it helps to make the resource more accessible to a local audience. RTSU will promote “In Russian” in Tajikistan and include classes with its simulators in the training of students. The next step is a joint experiment: to accompany specific groups and assess how adaptive learning affects the results, including in comparison with the control group, – says Mikhail Shepel.
RTSU is currently developing a continuing education system for schoolchildren, college students, graduates and adults. Here colleagues also want to rely on the experience of TSU. The plans include assistance in creating a specialized center, methodological support and the development of joint programs, including for those who are going to work in Russia. It is planned that the experience of interaction between TSU and enterprises will help determine which professions and competencies are in demand by employers, and train future specialists directly in Tajikistan.
Another area is patent analytics. TSU has experience in implementing relevant programs in conjunction with the Federal Institute of Industrial Property. Now it is planned to train RTSU specialists so that in the future they will help Tajik enterprises analyze patent landscapes and look for opportunities for technological development.
— The agreements reached in Dushanbe cover several areas of cooperation and show what competencies of TSU are in demand among our partners in Tajikistan today. These include educational technologies, training and expert support. For RTSU, this is an opportunity to develop its own educational and expert teams based on the experience of Tomsk State University, – said Mikhail Shepel.
The meeting united the representatives of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Russian State University for the Humanities, Far Eastern Federal University, Tyumen State University, National Research University Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg State University of Economics, State Institute of the Russian Language named after A.S. Pushkin, National Research Technological University “MISIS”, National Research University “MPEI”, Don State Technical University and Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Text and photo by Institute of Distance Education