On November 17th, 2017, NUST MISIS held a meeting with Olga Vasilyeva, the Minister of Education & Science of the Russian Federation, and the student community. The Minister answered student questions in an “open mic” format.
The event was an open and honest conversation between the Russian Minister of Education & Science and students. There were no pre-prepared questions and answers.
The fact that the conversation turned into a dialog was the night’s most surprising outcome, as students began to answer and debate their own questions. Through follow-up questions, Olga Vasilyeva helped students decide what they could do for themselves and for other students from their university, where (apart from management office) they could normally find financing for their projects. In particular, the Minister noted that for over 5 years the Ministry of Education & Science has allocated 7 billion Rubles for student events. In 2018, that number will continue on a competitive basis.
It’s realistic to say that every student community has a chance to implement its project. However, to get the Ministry’s support, students have to completely understand why they’re gathering and what their project’s aims are. Olga Vasilyeva suggested that the goal-setting question, which is also important, should be discussed in a separate forum, which could also be held at NUST MISIS.
Responding to students` questions, Olga Vasilyeva said that the Ministry will return student loans in Fall 2018; she also spoke about the “Export of Russian education” project plans, noting that the funding will start from January 1st, 2018. The Minister mentioned the pilot project for the assessment of education from the student side, and she got an early look at some of the problems that will be discussed at the forum for quality education at NUST MISIS on November 24th, 2017.
The Minister offered teachers help choosing their future regions of work upon the completion of their education. There, they will receive the most comfortable conditions for work. Also, she promised emergency rescue groups she’d help form a regional training and refreshment network. Olga Vasilyeva also told the students about the program to develop dormitories. As she noted, every rector of every university knows exactly when the remodeling of their dormitories will start.
“It`s a very significant and expensive project, but we will surely implement it”, Vasilyeva said.
Answering a question from students from Saint Petersburg, Olga Vasilyeva said that 121 Russian universities have submitted applications to become a development center for the “Modern digital educational environment”. A list of 40 universities, which will be announced in December 2017, will become such centers. As the Minister noted, the creation of these centers, which bring together existing educational platforms, will allow Russia to implement a system of online courses, a ranking system, and other aspects to overhaul the country’s education. This program is one of the Ministry of Education & Science’s 6 priority projects.
Students from NUST MISIS, Lomonosov Moscow State University, the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Dmitry Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, MCU, Moscow State University of Design and Technology, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, RANEPA, the Financial University Under the Government of the Russia Federation, MEPhI National Research Nuclear University, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Russian State Social University, MIPT, the Moscow Academy of Humanities and Technology, the National Research University of Electronic Technology, RUDN University, Moscow Automobile and Road Construction State Technical University (MADI), the Russian State Agricultural University, the State University of Management, Moscow Technological University (MIREA), Pyatigorsk State University, Ural State Pedagogical University, as well as representatives of student communities, such as “Moscow Students”, “Russian Student Groups”, “The Association of Students and Student Unions of Russia”, and “the All-Russian Student Emergency Rescue Group body structure” attended the meeting. Students from Far Eastern Federal University, Ural Federal University, and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University attended the event via satellite.
