Engineering classes: TUSUR teaches students in 50 schools across Tomsk Region
Fresh Take:
Tomsk, 28 apr - RIA Tomsk. Tomsk University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics (TUSUR) continues partnering with educational institutions – high schools and after-school programs for kids. Today, the "Engineering Classes at TUSUR" project covers all municipalities in Tomsk Oblast. Within the project, a cyberclass has been established at the Siberian Lyceum in Tomsk, and a radio technology club at the Kargasok Children's Creative House. Details can be found in the RIA Tomsk article.
The main goal of the project is to promote engineering education among students in grades 7-11, and support their preparation for university admission in engineering-technical fields and specialties. The instructors, who include top scholars and teachers from the university, organize project-based learning for the students, and conduct orientation activities.
As of today, engineering classes are available in 50 schools across 20 municipalities in Tomsk Oblast.
Getting a Glimpse of University Life
"Our agreement with the Faculty of Security was signed in the spring of last year. The class is oriented towards cooperation with TUSUR, focusing on cybersecurity. We've been conducting classes for 10th grade since October 2024, with students attending Saturdays, and teachers leading the classes. So far, there's only one class – 29 students," – explained Nadezhda Filatova, a physics teacher at the Siberian Lyceum.
She added that the engineering class is designed for two years of study (10-11th grades). In the first year, students get acquainted with the field of information security, and in the second year, they work on practical tasks.
"Students already in 10th grade are introduced to university life, participate in events, some of which are organized by the Faculty of Security. They meet with teachers who work there, learn about campus life. We can't promise that all 29 students will attend TUSUR, but at least some of them will, as the competition is always fierce, and they know there's something to strive for," – clarified Filatova.
In the initial sessions, students were briefed about existing vulnerabilities in security systems, connecting to other computers through a network, and defense mechanisms against intrusions.
Tolerating the Road Bumps
School No. 2 in the village of Kozhevnikovo joined the project in September 2023.
"Last year, we worked primarily with 10-11th graders, with after-school courses in physics and mathematics. This year, the 8th and 9th graders were added. The 8th graders work on engineering modeling and project-based learning, while the 9th graders focus on additional physics. Students also participate in orientation events at TUSUR and complete online engineering courses," – shared Elena Lysina, Deputy Director of the school in charge of educational work.
She noted that students of 10-11th grade, who are studying in the engineering class, have already chosen a physical-mathematical profile. For 8th and 9th-grade students, this is an after-school activity.
"Our teachers, who work on the project, have completed training courses at TUSUR. The university provides us with methodological textbooks and teacher materials. We periodically visit TUSUR for orientation events, and they come to visit us. There's also group project-based learning – there, students work together with master's students at TUSUR to develop projects in digital format, which is for 10-11th graders," – added Lysina.
Approximately 40 students are in the engineering class at TUSUR in Kozhevnikovo. Many of them are planning to apply to the university in the future.
Paving the Way to Projects
A radio technology club on the premises of the Kargasok Children's Creative House has been operating for several years under the project concept and with university support.
According to TUSUR's press service, the radio technology club in Kargasok Children's Creative House was founded in 1947. Today, the club's students include winners and prize winners of regional and national competitions. Over the past 40 years, more than 300 students have been educated in the club. About 30% have proceeded to universities, where they acquire specialties related to radio technology.
"We've been working with TUSUR for over 12 years. Currently, there are 16 students in the engineering club (radio technology group). Due to the age range, students are divided into groups. The first-year group studies the basics of electrical and radio technology, semiconductor devices, the ability to read schematics, and the ability to use simple measuring tools," – reveals the press service of the pedagogue at the Kargasok Children's Creative House, Andrey Zakharyov.
In addition, students learn to assemble basic electronic devices. In the second and third years of study, students explore logical elements, deepen their knowledge in the field of digital microchips (trigger, counter, decoder), based on which various measuring instruments, electronic automata, and household devices can be built. Senior students engage in project-based learning.
"We have visitors from six faculties: Radio Technology, Radio Construction, Security, Electronic Technology, Innovative Technology, and Humanities Faculty twice a year. They conduct master classes for students, sharing information about the university. We, in turn, visit the university, touring laboratories," – explained the club's teacher.
- In Section 2024, the Siberian Lyceum's physical science class, collaborating strongly with TUSUR's Faculty of Security, focuses on cybersecurity education for 10th graders, leading to university life exposure and event participation.
- As part of the "Engineering Classes at TUSUR" project, School No. 2 in Kozhevnikovo, since September 2023, has expanded its offerings to include 8th and 9th graders, with an emphasis on project-based learning and additional physics courses.
- The radio technology club, established at the Kargasok Children's Creative House in 1947 and supported by TUSUR, offers students a comprehensive learning journey, including practical projects and university visits, with about 30% of its graduates pursuing radio technology specialties at universities.
- Uchreжденияmi dopolnitelnogo obrazovaniya (additional education institutions) oversee the radio technology club's students, who delve into logical elements, digital microchips, and project-based learning in their second and third years, and receive visits from six faculties of TUSUR twice a year for masterclasses and shared information about university life.
