Ural Federal University: University Keeps Improving the System of Additional Education
UrFU faculty, students – starting from the second year – and even high school students can master additional educational programs within the walls of the university. This is an opportunity not only to expand the range of knowledge in the disciplines already studied, but also to learn something completely new and get a second profession. Valentina Ovchinnikova, Deputy Vice-Rector for Educational Technologies for Project Education and Additional Professional Education, told about the possibilities of additional education.
The choice of specialty depends only on the student: the university has several dozens of programs. As part of the Priority 2030 project, all trajectories of the university’s development are being improved, including the approach to promoting additional education. Soon students will have an opportunity to learn in detail about each direction of training through a separate platform designed specifically to inform future students.
“We have reached new models of implementing additional professional education. If in the first year of the pandemic we only started to work out some approaches to training, by 2022 we have already purposefully introduced new technologies. More online programs are appearing that involve completely remote learning. This allows us to enter the all-Russian and international markets – now programs are sold in 58 regions of the country. In addition, over the past two years, we have redesigned many programs and emphasized practice-oriented, applied skills training, and digital skills,” said Valentina Ovchinnikova.
Continuous improvement in the approach to learning makes it easier for students to organize the process. Classes take place according to a convenient schedule, in the evening or online. There is a flexible payment system, including installment payment and the possibility to use maternity capital. The results of the training are state-issued documents confirming retraining or obtaining new competencies.
Over the past few years, program organizers and compilers have emphasized the development of digital competencies of students. This applies not only to specialized fields, where knowledge of technical issues is mandatory, but also to those specialties for which computerization becomes an additional vector of development. The opinion that university education lags behind technology has long been a myth, and supplementary education programs are improved annually to ensure that students’ knowledge meets the requirements of the labor market.