USTU Helped Serbian Colleagues in Word and Deed

The working visit of representatives of Serbia to USTU took place from 1 to 5 September. Dean of the "Mihajlo Pupin" Technical Faculty of University of Novi Sad, Dr. Milan Pavlovic, Managers for Cooperation with Universities of NIS-Gazpromneft, Snezhana Lakićević and Anna Simanik, as well as Assistant to the Mayor of the town of Zrenjanin, Dusko Radisic came to Ukhta to continue work on a joint educational project of the University of Novi Sad and USTU.

The next day upon arrival guests met with the USTU Rector, Nikolay Tskhadaya who showed interest in what is being done in the Serbian universities within the framework of agreements reached earlier with USTU. According to Snezhana Lakićević, the programme developed by the University of Novi Sad and NIS-Gazpromneft has already received funding. Also, the university received the support of the Serbian Ministry of Education, which helped equip the University classrooms with computers and is ready to provide students’ access to specialized research. Despite the difficulties, 50 people have already enrolled in the new specialty; 20 of them will follow the state-subsidized programme.

The point is that the University of Novi Sad lacks experience in the development of such programmes and it needs concrete proposals of Ukhta University not only concerning teaching but also further technical equipment of the Serbian University for teaching a new specialty.

“We are ready to advise what equipment suppliers you can apply to. As these are German companies, it will be much more easier for you to form partnerships with them,” said N. Tskhadaya to his colleagues.

After meeting with the Rector, Serbian guests took a tour of the University classrooms and USTU Museum of History. In the afternoon, the delegation met with USTU scientists and professors, who are directly involved in the development of the training programme. The meeting discussed various aspects of mutual cooperation: not only equipment, but also bringing of the two university programmes to a common denominator. This, according to the view of both sides, will make it possible to promote regular and effective exchange of researchers and teachers between the universities.

Obtaining professorship ahead of time

Five teachers and scientific employees of Ukhta State Technical University received the status of Visiting Professors at the "Mihajlo Pupin" Technical Faculty (Zrenjanin) of University of Novi Sad (Serbia). This was told by Milan Pavlović, Dean of the Technical Faculty of the University of Novi Sad at the wrap-up meeting with the Rector of USTU N.D. Tskhadaya on 5 September.

Oleg Morozyuk, Alexander Mogutov, Evgeny Poluboyartsev, Igor Bykov and Alexander Mordvinov from now are accredited teachers of the specialty “Oil and Gas Field Engineer” at the Serbian university. However, only I. Bykov and A. Mordvinov of the five invited professors actually possess that title.

There is no surprise that delegation of the Serbian University highly appreciated the merits of USTU teachers: in record time (less than two years) our teachers helped to organize training in the specialty that is new for the University, as well as to develop curricula, provide practical advice on laboratory and technical equipment of the faculty.

Nikolay Tskhadaya expressed his hope that the trip of Ukhta teachers in Zrenjanin will mark the beginning of even greater collaboration, and over time, other Russian-Serbian specialties will be added to the oil and gas field of study.

The Serbs’ visit continued with a tour of the town and the University buildings. On Friday, before departing, the guests met with representatives of the city administration.

Reference:

Solemn signing of a Protocol on long-term business cooperation between the "Mihajlo Pupin" Technical Faculty of University of Novi Sad and USTU took place on March 6, 2014 at Ukhta State Technical University. The goal of cooperation is developing the training programme “Oil and Gas Field Engineer” at the Serbian University.