Педагогические науки/4.Стратегические направления

реформирования системы образования

Teacher’s Training sciences/4. Strategy of reforming

educational system

Dr., professor R. Khusnulina

Kazan National Research Technological University, Russia

"Double diplomas" as a new technology for high school’ teaching.
The two-level bachelor / master program is gaining acknowledgement in Russian Universities. After 4-th year studying students receive bachelor degrees, after 5-th year, as before, - traditional diplomas and after the 6-th year they get master degrees.

Nevertheless, foreign master degrees and Russian ones still remain unequal in their concept and paradigm. "Double diplomas" program will help over these difficulties.

The main thing is that this program provides students with opportunities to continue last year training at one of the foreign Universities, in our case - partners of KNRTU. There they can get high theoretical and practical training, working at well equipped laboratories.

They receive deep knowledge for making future business in Russia and abroad. Being involuntary involved in “evening” educational standards, the master students have an opportunity to make necessary friendships and put business relationships.

The decision of taking part in “double diploma” program is based on bilateral agreements between Russian and foreign Universities. The agreement defines the basic principles, including all significant organizational and financial issues.

University-partners of KNRTU in "double diplomas” program are

- Technological University of Graz (Graz, Austria)
- Johannes Kepler University (Linz, Austria)
- Autonomous University of Catalonia (Spain, Barcelona)
- Technological University of Barcelona (Spain, Barcelona))
- University of the Balearic Islands (Spain, Palma).
Before the beginning of the commission for competitive selection of master students and start the “double diploma” program of academic mobility, “both the sides” need to develop a community education and control measures, consisting of lectures held by professors of University-partner, and a mandatory personal interview and / or tests on the materials presented in lectures. They should be certified by KNRTU administration. Informing about existing programs of international academic mobility made in KNRTU employees with: Internet portal, posters, ads, mailing circulars to departments of the university, information meetings, sometimes even personal interviews with students.
Master students of the last year studying should know English fluently (so they have motivation to learn foreign languages) and pass «TOEFEL» examination (from 580 points), as well as be well educated in profile disciplines. After that they may take part in competitive procedures to a foreign University-partner.

Key performance indicators for studying:
- Access for education;
- Open competitive selection process (number of participants in the selection, the percentage of winners);
- Percentage of students who have successfully completed training in the partner institution;
- Career.
As you see, the program of "double diplomas" steps up efforts to study better, to study the foreign language.

Hence, organization of training master students in KNRTU with foreign University-partner include the following stages: studying a foreign language, informative and competitive selection of students, documentary support and supply applications to higher education partners, financial support.

Terms of financing education of master students in the partner institution determined in accordance with the contract between the University and KNRTU partner or international educational project. Sources of financing may be the means: the international educational programs, special international fund, the Governments concerned, sponsors of the students themselves.

The procedures and sources of funding for exchange programs in each case are reviewed and approved by the administration of the sending institution, program coordinators of exchange (both the sides) and financial service based on a list of students sent to study at a foreign University-partner, approved individual plans, employees of international dressed KNRTU with the participation of the relevant directorates faculties / institutes, issue orders.

Students who successfully complete the competitive selection for further processing of their training in the selected partner institution, must prepare the next set of documents: completed application form university-specific international partner program, an excerpt from a training card student in Russian and foreign language, certified by the authorities of the sending institution; existing certificate of knowledge of a foreign language (English), and test results; autobiography.

  Based on the above data, master students start their study abroad, according to subsequent publication of the Order (for a positive decision) to extend student and transfer to the appropriate group of the issuing entity.
          About any changes in the curriculum for the students at the process of studying, the partner should notify the administration of KNRTU. The master student may have individual curriculum, approved by the Council.
Coordinator of the exchange program at the end of each calendar year shall notify the appropriate division of KNRTU (issuing guidance department, international department) about the tentative dates of protection of final works of vaster students.
After that, the relevant foreign partner of the University-partner (dean / institution) issues orders to the formulation of education and the return direction to KNRTU, where he pays attention for continuation of the training of master student according his individual plan.
 After the end of each semester of academic mobility program participants must provide the results of their studies at the University-partner, submitting the University (the administration), including: copies of certificates, copies of extracts from the personal files of students, etc.

Among them are copies of certificates of qualifying examinations for foreign language proficiency, copies of statements of the student's personal file of the deposit examinations, tests (signed by the administrator of the program) work plan for the student, a completed application for renewal of teaching (signed by supervisor of the program).
In case of passing the exams for two semesters running, they are permitted to plead for a master thesis. Then they return to the native University and present their degree works in Russian according to the requirements of the State Educational Standard of Russian Federation.

Making summary, they should mention about the subject and the goal of the research, its newness, then technical, economic and social value, independence of doing University thesis.

The aim of this cooperation is the need for convergence of Russian and European joint educational programs closer. No secrete - International companies are not sufficiently informed about the Russian education system.

Except “double diplomas”, KNRTU suggests the master students of the 1-st year studying the participation in the program of “included education”. In this case the master students will go to the University-partner for one semester, just for training. Meeting the new people, working in the foreign laboratories might be very useful for those who will take part in this program.

The joint programs contribute to the exchange of professional capacities of students from “both the sides,” which in the long run might help to integrate into international education system, increase the mobility of students and teachers. So “the double diplomas”, “the included education” must have allow smoothly integrate into the European model.