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LIFELONG EDUCATION
ON THE BASIS OF A CONSORTIUM:
SPECIALIZED SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT -HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT - ENTERPRISE
G. А. Tsoy,
P. S. Shamritskaya
The problem of competitiveness of domestic engineers and technical staff is one of the most crucial problems in the context of development of the Russian economy. In the context of the dynamically developing economy there is a problem that educational establishments’ curriculums don’t keep pace with the changing market requirements. According to the existing opinion of employers, graduates of the educational establishments do not have enough competences to begin their labor activities. Lack of coordination in activities of the educational establishments and the industrial sector results in emergence of a paradigm - under conditions of a deficit of highly-qualified specialists in the labor market, graduates cannot find a suitable job. At the present time, this problem is solved at the local level: graduates either receive a second education in order to upgrade their competitiveness, or employers spend large amounts of money for selection of personnel and retraining or training of young specialists.
In this context, development of the lifelong education model with participation of employers and educational establishments becomes a very important issue for the purpose of preparation of highly trained professionals. The project of creation of the lifelong technical education model on the basis of the consortium “Corporate training center of the applied qualifications - specialized secondary educational establishment - higher educational establishment” is intended for solving lifelong education problems. Foundation of the consortium will make it possible to solve the issues of preparation of staff for the enterprise in the most efficient way and with minimum expenses, and strict coordination of work of the consortium members will facilitate achievement of mutual goals for the purpose of implementation of the integrated main educational programs in order to prepare highly skilled engineers and technical staff. Creation of the lifelong education model on the basis of the consortium, in our opinion, will make it possible to solve several very important tasks.
First of all, preparation of specialists of different levels (workers, technicians, technologists, engineers) with necessary qualifications. Participation of representatives of the industrial sector in development of educational programs will make it possible to approximate the educational process and competences of future graduates (skills and knowledge) to the real needs of the manufacturing sector.
Secondly, to increase mobility of students. Due to the approved professional standards it will be possible to transfer credits of students; students who have graduated from a technical school would be able to continue their education at a university in the applied Bachelor’s program disciplines. The next stage of study will be a continuation of the training program. At the same time, students who do poorly at their university exams would be able to study at a technical school and become mid-tier specialists, and give their place at a higher educational institution to somebody else.
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Thirdly, to solve different problems which the graduates face during their employment. Lack of working experience, which is a problem for more than 50% of graduates of the higher and intermediate vocational educational institutions, may be compensated by means of practical field training, which is a key element of preparation of future specialists and which is an integral element of each curriculum. It is expected that the level of salary offered to the young specialists will also be increased, because the probation period after employment will be decreased, and study of the job descriptions during the period of education will make it possible to start working right after graduation.
Fourthly, to cut down the expenses of the enterprise for retraining or additional training of young specialists1. Interaction with the enterprise will make it possible to prepare specialists with all the necessary qualifications, and the field practical training under real manufacturing conditions at a specific enterprise will allow students to understand activities of the enterprise and reduce time for adaptation after employment.
Fifthly, systematic advanced training of employees considering specific needs of an enterprise. The close connection between the enterprise and the educational establishments will make it possible to quickly react to the needs of the enterprise and to develop programs of advanced training in accordance with their needs. Furthermore, availability of own resources (teachers, material and technical base, information resources, etc.) gives a company opportunities for advanced training of personnel on the basis of educational institutions, being part of the consortium, without attracting additional resources. Regular advanced training is necessary for professional recognition, and is a necessary requirement for specialists registered in national and international professional societies, for example, in the Russian Register of APEC Engineers.
Sixthly, to create stable team of professionals focused on achievement of common goals. Preparation of staff, starting from the development of their common and professional competences during the period of study at a technical school and at a higher educational institution, including further improvement of the acquired competences within the scope of the programs of advanced training, leads to creation of a well-consolidated team, where everybody understands his/her own role and importance for the company, and sees possible prospects of professional growth and development.
Focusing on solving common tasks, the Polytechnic University of Tomsk is developing a project for creating a lifelong educational model, and is planning to solve the issues of development and implementation of the integrated curriculums for preparation of graduates-technicians at different levels (technician, process control engineer, etc.). Thus, we suppose that creation of the consortium will make it possible to create and implement the efficient model of lifelong education in the system of preparation of technical staff.
Translated by Znanije Central Translations Bureau 1
1 According to the information of Rosstat (Federal State Statistics Service), each fifth graduate undergoes additional training within the first three months after employment. The need of additional training at a new job place can be explained by insufficient qualification of a young specialist (32%), while other important reasons include professional adaptation (28%) and study of activities of an enterprise (27%).
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