Tomsk State University: TSU passes an important accreditation

Tomsk State University has passed the external evaluation of the Institute of Applied Mathematics and Computer Sciences and the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics program cluster in applied mathematics and informatics, mechanics and mathematical modeling (programs: Big Data & Data Science and Mechanics of Fluid, Gas and Oil and Gas Transmission Systems). The evaluation committee was comprised of experts from Russia and China.

Experts from the National Center for Public Accreditation of the Russian Federation and Higher Education Evaluation Center of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China noted that TSU preserves fundamental achievements of the past and integrates them into the reality of contemporary education.
“This accreditation and the experts’ opinions are very important for us because students trust rankings and professional assessment more and more when choosing a university,” explained Leonid Genze, dean of the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics. “Moreover, this accreditation is very important for drawing attention in the future from students in China, because the information will appear on the related websites of the Ministry of Education of China”.

Over 70 people took part in nine meetings held online by the evaluation committee. They are TSU students and alumni, administrative and academic staff, and employers who are representatives of the companies Rubies, Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk, and Innotech. The experts got acquainted with the contents of the programs and how they develop hard and soft skills, and assessed human relations policy, their experience of international cooperation, and quality assurance of education.
“Our university is participating in international accreditation for the first time. It is a very interesting experience for us. The process went online and therefore was quite intensive,” said Alexander Zamyatin, the director of the Institute of Applied Mathematics and Computer Sciences. “I want to thank my colleagues involved in this accreditation and note a high professional level of the expert committee. They asked serious, ‘professor-level’ questions, and they paid attention to very important topics.”
Wang Jiming, the chair of the evaluation committee, professor at the Department of Oil and Gas Engineering of the China University of Petroleum, emphasized that both programs are demonstrating definite success. He highlighted a student-oriented approach in education and a well-developed system of campus intellectualization. At the same time, the programs’ administration should stimulate staff training and broaden the practical side of it.
The expert also added that the program needs more specialists from the industry, teachers with PhDs, and international teachers. It needs to strengthen its international experience and the internationalization of the academic staff.
“It’s important to promote cooperation between universities and enterprises, stimulate an interdisciplinary approach and intergovernmental and interuniversity relations to give students the opportunity to develop and create an environment for their professional growth. It is also vital to participate in long-term international projects,” – said Wang Jiming.
Ekaterina Turilova, deputy chair of the evaluation committee, director of the Kazan Federal University Institute of the Mathematics and Mechanics, added that the process of assessment once again proved that TSU successfully preserves the fundamental achievements of the past and implements them into modern reality.
“You could see it well in the programs we worked with. The most important thing, in my opinion, is that the staff is interested and invested in their work. Everyone gives these programs their best, it is very noticeable,” said Ekaterina Turilova. “The programs were very interesting, and they give every student the opportunity to get what they want from the university. Some people want more academic knowledge, some seek specific practical skills.”
Ekaterina Turilova advised TSU representatives to dedicate more time to the websites of their structural units. The information on programs, courses and tracks, and career opportunities, as well as alumni reviews, should be easy to find.
The decision on the joint accreditation is made based on the report written by the deputy chairman of the evaluation committee and approved by all its members during the meeting between the National Center for Public Accreditation of the Russian Federation and Higher Education Evaluation Center of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. The National Center for Public Accreditation will make its decision in January 2022.
If the decision is positive, the TSU programs will receive two international certificates – the Russian and Chinese – and will be included in the Russian, Chinese, and European registers of programs accredited by professional communities.