The heritage of university classics
The classical university in our time is often perceived by applicants and their parents as a fairly conservative educational space with a focus on humanitarian training. We beg to differ. Classics (Latin – «classicus») first of all presuppose exemplary behavior, including in relation to higher education. A classical university is a university with a long history, an organic connection between the educational and research process, offering fundamental training in multidisciplinary educational and scientific lines and, as a result, forming a fully developed personality that can respond to any challenges of the time.
Yes, universities are changing significantly today. New programs to support science and education are being adopted, the paradigm on the value of higher education is rapidly transforming, and, finally, the requirements of the labor market are changing. Educational activities at universities often come to the fore, but the involvement of students and young scientists in research is becoming a new challenge for university science. It is very important to give the student the opportunity to try on a career as a researcher during their studies at the university because it is associated with the formulation of critical thinking, the formation of a wide range of competencies among young people, and the production of new knowledge.
Research trajectories: from student to graduate student
Ivanovo State University, as a classical type of university, has a significant advantage: the possibility of synthesizing various scientific directions within the framework of an interdisciplinary model. Scientific activity is familiar to students from the 1st year of their studying: a scientific supervisor appears, coursework is completed, the first participation in scientific conferences takes place and serious skills of scientific creativity are formed. By the final year, every second IvSU student has experience of participating in research activities. Thus, the international festival of students, postgraduates and young scientists "Young Science in the Classical University" annually gathers more than 1000 students. In 2020, despite the pandemic and online format, the festival was attended by 1,245 students and postgraduates from 20 universities in Russia and 10 countries of the near and far abroad. Within the framework of the festival, which lasted for two weeks, more than 100 events were held: communication platforms, workshops, virtual exhibitions, sections, poster presentations, round tables, etc. The format of such festival will be continued and expanded.
Students are also actively involved in project activities. Project-based training is implemented under all educational programs as a necessary competence. In 2020, a Project Office was opened at IvSU, which accompanies the project activities of students from the idea to the grant application and the subsequent implementation of the project. During such a short period of work of the Office, students have already developed more than 20 projects of social and creative direction. Business projects are implemented in IvSU through an innovative business incubator, whose residents have already become more than 40 people.
According to a sociological survey initiated by the research department of IvSU for February 8, senior students note the importance and effectiveness of the formation of research trajectories in the university. Thus, 60 % of respondents are interested in research, because it gives the opportunity to study what they are interested (62.9 %), benefits for society and changes the world (50.5%), develops creative competencies and gives the opportunity to realize themselves (52.4%). At the same time, the survey showed that students perceive scientific activity as an additional activity to their studies, rather than as a potential profession that may eventually become the main one.
IvSU Scientific Ecosystem
Ivanovo State University remains the region's leader in the development of basic science. The priority task of IvSU is not only research within the framework of priority scientific areas, but also interdisciplinary research at the intersection of various sciences. For this purpose, the university has established and operates about 20 research and educational centers (RECs). Their task is not only to conduct scientific research, but also to train scientific personnel. Each REC has its own strategic research areas and a well-developed partner network that extends beyond the region and the country. Many of these RECs were formed on the basis of well-known scientific schools.
The head university, together with its branch in Shuya, carries out research and development in 18 scientific areas in the field of natural, technical, humanitarian and social sciences. Among the main directions::
- research of spheres of using liquid crystal compounds and composite materials based on them (prof. N. V. Usoltseva and the "Liquid Crystals" consortium»);
- creation of mathematically complex computer algorithms (prof. E. V. Sokolov and REC "Actual problems of Mathematics and Computer Science")
- study of speech and non-verbal communication based on the analysis of authentic texts and video sequences of English, German and Russian languages (Prof. F. I. Kartashkova and REC "Laboratory of Human Communicative Behavior");
- analysis of language personality, literary text and literary process (Prof. Y. L. Tsvetkov and REC "Art Word in the Culture");
- historical and typological research of dictionaries and digital lexicography (Prof. O. M. Karpova and REC "Modern Russian and European Lexicography");
- research of gender aspects of various spheres of society, conducting sociological research on current topics, studying socio-economic barriers to the development of the digital economy (prof. O. A. Khasbulatova and REC "Social and Gender Studies");
- research of the innovative educational environment of the university, ICT competence of students and teachers, distance educational technologies (Associate Professor E. A. Shmeleva and the Socio-Humanitarian Scientific and Educational Center);
- development of problems of thinking and consciousness in the context of digitalization, noosphere education and sustainable (including regional) development (prof. G. S. Smirnov and REC "Integrated Noosphere Research");
- conducting fundamental and applied research in the field of urban and regional historical and cultural design (Prof. M. Y. Timofeev and REC "Urban and Regional Studies");
- Conducting actual research on economic and demographic processes in the country and the region (Prof. E. E. Nikolaeva and REC "Theoretical and Applied Problems of Multilevel Social Reproduction"), etc.
IvSU scientists regularly receive financial support from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, the Russian Science Foundation, and others. In 2020, more than 30 applications were submitted to competitions of various levels by IvSU scientists, and every third application was supported. Among the supported projects are applications for scientific conferences, competitions for postgraduates and young scientists, competitions for basic research and, of course, competitions funded by scientific funds jointly with the Government of Ivanovo Region.
Science inside and out
The publication of the results of research work is supported by high-quality publishing activities. Thus, on a regular basis, IvSU publishes 10 scientific journals, three of which are included in the international scientometric databases ("Liquid Crystals and their Application", "Woman in Russian Society" and the magazine "Intelligentsia and the World"). These are quite serious indicators for a regional university. In 2020, the electronic scientific journals "Labyrinth. Theories and Practices of Culture" and "Noospheric Research" were added to the publications of IvSU.
The journals give support to new research, they allow for a scientific discussion, in which, as we know, the truth is born. So, in 2020, IvSU scientists published more than 500 articles in scientific publications (of which every sixth article is in highly rated journals), wrote more than 30 monographs and training manuals. University scientists have participated in 222 international and 147 national conferences, which have a positive impact on the mobility of researchers and the scientific image of IvSU.
The university is also proud of its serious expert work. Every third scientific and pedagogical specialist of IvSU is a member of expert councils of various levels. During the year, the scientists prepared more than 200 expert opinions and reviews.
The development of research activities at IvSU is not only scientific directions, articles and conferences. It is also a unique museum complex, which includes archaeological, zoological and literary museums. This is an extraordinary botanical garden, which in 2021 will be 45 years old. This is also a scientific library – a special art space for exhibitions, master classes, meetings with interesting people and presentations. This is also a special atmosphere of scientific creativity, which is created by professionals in their field, caring people who are ready to share their experience and knowledge in any circumstances.
Vice-Rector of Research and Project Activity of Ivanovo State University Inna Smirnova
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