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DOUBLE DEGREE MASTER PROGRAMMES AS A MEANS OF GLOBALIZING EDUCATION N.V. Molotkova, O.A. Korchagina, L.P. Khabarova
The paper discusses the benefits of networking cooperation of universities. Having accepted the Bologna principles different universities can easily exchange students which can result in joint degrees. The possible positive outcomes of this process are given and explained by the example of Double Degree Master Programmes in Tambov State Technical University
Key words: Double degree, master programme, bilingual training
Today theconcept of networking cooperationofuniversities,combiningcutting-edgeeducational resources
ofseveraleducationalinstitutions and research organizations, as well as opportunities for practicaltraining of students and specialistsin high-techenterprises is of particular importance.In fact, thenetworkprovides a
unifiedinteruniversityeducationalenvironmentfor continuous education and training. Federal Law"On Education inthe Russian Federation" promotes networking cooperation educational programmes, providingthe opportunity to developtrainingprogrammes using theresources of severalorganizations engaged ineducational activities, including foreign ones, as well as, if necessary, using the resources ofother organizations [4].
The main goals of such cooperation are:
to establish the new study programme according to the Russian educational standards of the 3rd generation;
to agree a protocol for the designing, implementation and delivery of the reformed curricula according to the eight main steps identified by the "Tuning" pilot project in the process of designing a study programme and considering the "Dublin" descriptors;
to develop "Lifelong Learning" (LLL) policy by training some specialists, i.e. not only university staff but also non-university trainees such as officers and managers of public authorities;
- to focus the teaching processes on new methods such as interdisciplinary and interactive forms of lectures, seminars and evaluation strategies.
- to provide collaborative teaching, mobility and scientific research, attracting associate members of the consortium;
- to harmonize the Russian engineering education with the EU one and provide mutual degree recognition through development and introduction the Double Degree Master Programme.
Молоткова Наталья Викторовна - ТГТУ, д-р пед. наук,
профессор, e-mail: vivtkmk@mail.ru
Корчагина О.А - ТГТУ, канд. пед. наук, доцент, e-mail:
vivtkmk@mail.ru
Хабарова Л.П. - ТГТУ,канд. техн. наук, доцент, e-mail: vivtkmk@mail.ru
The developed programmes should be in line with the principles of the Bologna process which aims at creating:
a European Area for Higher Education through a common new degree system;
A European dimension to quality assurance;
the recognition of degrees and study periods abroad.
However, apart from designing Double Degree study programmes educational institutions have to provide high-quality language training for their students and university staff. Thus in Tambov Technical State University at the premises of Centre for International Specialists Training bilingual training has been implemented in order to facilitate this process. Center for International Specialists Training was established in 2004. It provides continuous language and professional training of bachelors, masters, post-graduates and university teaching staff to participate in international academic mobility programmes, joint projects, and conferences and deliver professional activities in world information environment.
Today more than 140 students study in the Center. The training includes a range of courses in such areas as Humanities, Socioeconomic and Natural Sciences, Mathematics, general professional and special subjects. The Center offers a second language as minor (German, Spanish and French) [5].
Center for International Specialists Training cooperates actively with the Chair of International Professional and Scientific Communication and Center for Advanced Training and Retraining of Tambov Technical State University providing the opportunity to the university teaching staff to develop their language skills to a high proficiency level and to study the peculiarities of teaching foreign language and special courses according to the integrated methods. There is an opportunity to combine course of study in the Center with the curriculum of International Society for Engineering Education IGIP. This combination allows university teachers to get the title of "International Engineering Educator".
Bilingual training is teaching academic content in two languages in a mother tongue, and a foreign language, totally or partially, depending on the programme model [1]. In Russia, foreign language mainly refers to English, which has gained the status of lingua franca. Therefore it is English which is used as a second language for teaching subjects. In recent years
the interest in bilingual education in Russia has risen significantly, because it is connected with ambition for entry into the global business environment, and globalization of economy, and production. The first experience of its use was achieved in schools as well as language specialities of the universities. But nowadays the requirement for English proficiency in non-language specialities has become evident. Unlike the countries who are pioneers of this type of education, there is no other native language speaking environment in Russia. That is why bilingual education in Russia has a number of specific peculiarities, and difficulties of use. This type of education will improve the level of students' foreign language proficiency because the non-native language will be the means of instruction but not the academic goal. But all of these are available only if education is designed correctly, taking into consideration all organizational, instructional, didactic specialties, and students' foreign language proficiency levels.
Thepedagogical conditions which will improve theefficiency of the processof development ofEnglish for Specific Purposes (ESP) competencein a technical university should be aimed at:
creating a bilingual educational environment as close to a professional workplace setting as possible. Bilingual educational environment can be understood as a system of psychological and pedagogical conditions that provide the opportunity to build skills, abilities, and disclosure of personal characteristics of the students, in which a foreign language is a means of mastering the special professional knowledge [2];
activationoflearning and cognitiveactivity of studentsin the educational processof the university-based interactive teaching methodsaimed at developingspecific components of theESP competence;
adjustmentof the educational processon the basis ofdiagnosis of the levelof development ofESP competence [3].
At present moment in Tambov Technical State University there are 3 projects carried out on Master's level.
Project "Network for Master Training in Technologies of Water Resources Management" (University of Genoa, Italy) offers a course aimed at water and wastewater treatment in order to form specialists and technicians who are able to implement a better water management cycle. The main goals are:
to widen and improve teachers' knowledge in environmental topics linked to technologies of complex water resources management and treatment, also thanks to the cooperation with public authorities and industrialists representatives, so that the new qualifications are better understandable, comparable and suitable to the labour market needs.
to ensure medium / long-term perspectives by development of joint teaching, mobility and research programmes by setting-up in each Russian university consortium member an updated "Membrane-techniques based Water treatment Didactical Lab", and by establishment of "Technological Transfer and Innovation" offices.
Project "LLL Training and Master in Innovative Technologies for Energy Saving and Environmental Control for Russian Universities" (University of Genoa, Italy), involving Stakeholders. The main objectives are: to promote and implement training in "Energy Saving for Environment Protection and Control" in 11 Russian universities by developing a training programme, adaptive to labour market requirements.
to strengthen links with stakeholders by means of their involvement both in training and in getting requirements and documentation for professional recognition of the new qualification of Green Master.
to create and develop an EU-RU-Enterprise University Network aimed at developing the reformed Master programmes in "Innovative Technologies for Environmental Control and Sustainable Development".
Project "EU-PC Double Degree Master Programme in Automation/Mechatronics" (Partnership of 11 universities from Russia, Ukraine and Europe). Project specific objectives are: to harmonize the Russian and Ukrainian Master Programmes in direction "Automation" with the EU Master Programmes in Mechatronics;
to provide students of four Russian and four Ukrainian Universities with the opportunity to study the Joint EU-PC Master Programme in Automation/Mechatronics both in the Russian/Ukrainian and EU Universities since September 2013;
to obtain Double Master Degree: the Russian/Ukrainian Master degree in Automation and Master Degree of one of the EU States participated in the project, for example of the Czech Republic.
These objectives will be achieved through fulfillment of the following:
Joint EU-PC Master Programme in Automation/Mechatronics & Technology of Double Degree students' training;
Russian & Ukrainian teachers' skills upgrading and methodological support of the teaching process; EU based Quality Assurance System; -International Hybrid Learning Space;
- Students' pilot training
- Quality Control & Monitoring;
- Dissemination of the project results;
- Sustainability of the project results; -Management of the project.
Realization of the project will significantly increase the popularity of the Automation specialities among Russian and Ukrainian students, increase possibility of the graduates for placing in a job and provide the international labor market with the highly qualified engineers. All these will guarantee the sustainability of the project achieved results.
The benefits of network university cooperation can be broadly described as falling into four categories, namely:
those that are aimed at strengthening levels of human capital, with labour supply and employment implications;
those that relate to stimulating entrepreneurship through teaching and learning;
those that relate to knowledge exchange, aimed at promoting or stimulating product/process innovation or new pedagogy;
those that relate to raising the profile of an organization.
References
1.Cummins, J. 2000. Language, power and pedagogy of bilingual children in the crossfire .Clevedon, England: Multilingual Matters. Ltd.
2. Dudley-Evans, T. 2001. 'English for Specific Purposes' in The Cambridge Guide to TESOL, Cambridge University Press
3. Khabarova L., MolotkovaN.Bilingual education in Russian technical universities: teaching Quality Management in foreign language. International Journal of the Humanities. 2011. T. 9. № 8.p. 1-12.
4. KrasnyanskyM.N., MolotkovaN.V. ,DvoretskyD.S., DvoretskayaE.V. Fostering research and innovation activities in Tambov State Technical University.International Journal of Advanced Studies. 2013. T. 3. № 3.C. 31-35.
5.Mishchenko, E, Dvoretskaya, E, Dvoretsky, S, 'Bilingual programmemes as a new dimension of engineering education in Russia', Proceedings of the 37th International IGIP Symposium «Engineering competencies - traditions and innovations», Moscow, Russia, 2008, pp. 173 - 174.
Tambov State Technical University
DOUBLE DEGREE MASTER PROGRAMMES AS A MEANS OF GLOBALIZING EDUCATION
N.V. Molotkova, O.A. Korchagina, L.P. Khabarova
The paper discusses the benefits of networking cooperation of universities. Having accepted the Bologna principles different universities can easily exchange students which can result in joint degrees. The possible positive outcomes of this process are given and explained by the example of Double Degree Master Programmes in Tambov State Technical University
Key words: Double degree, master programme, bilingual training
