On the 18th of October the ITMO University held the official meeting of the International council for the increase the competitiveness of leading Russian universities among the world's leading research and education centers, headed by Dmitry Livanov, the Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
Members of the International council met in St. Petersburg to discuss the results which are already achieved in the program of improvement of competitiveness of Russian higher education within the framework of the "5/100"program as well as to make the objective analysis of the ITMO University, one of the participants in the program. Today, the government project involves 14 Russian universities, two of which represent St. Petersburg - the ITMO University and Saint Petersburg State Polytechnic University.
The Council participants' working day began with the closed session where the progress of the "5/100" project was discussed, some key indicators of the effectiveness of the action plan for the implementation of program of competitiveness improvement ("road maps") were also voiced and the ways of the expansion of the universities applying for government assistance, in order to increase their competitive advantages in the global arena were identified. But the first thing that drew the attention of all those who were at the meeting was the rebranding of the ITMO University. The new logo and slogan of the ITMO University summoned positive feedback from the representatives of the Council.
"It's great that the University has obtained a new logo and slogan", Philip Altbach noted, the director of the Center for International Higher Education in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. "I want to emphasize that the ITMO University can become an example for other Russian universities. It is developing very fast, faster than the others, and it is very good. Most other universities do not fully recognize the importance of the brand formation. And this term not just simply means a memorable logo or slogan, but the creation of something special, original".
To prove the statement that the image of the university is not only some bright emblems but also the serious work of highly qualified specialists, there was a sightseeing tour of the ITMO University for the world's leading experts in the field of higher education. The Council participants visited the museum of optics at the university and visited the offices of the residents of the business incubators QDof the ITMO University, Schools of urban transformation, where the heads of the departments gave a detailed account of the activities and training programs carried out under their control. The tour continued with the demonstration of successfully implemented projects within the framework of international cooperation and innovative scientific achievements.On the lecture called "The stories of success: the experience of leading Russian and foreign scientists in the implementation of scientific and research and development and design developments with the establishment of international research units" the representatives from various laboratories and international institutions of the ITMO University shared their successes with members of the International council.
International laboratory "Laser systems", International institute "Photonics and optical information technology", The international research centre for nanophotonics and metamaterialsand adaptive and nonlinear control systems lab, as well as many others, presented their projects during the meeting. The guests were especially interested in the developments of the Scientific and research institute of science-intensive computer technologies of the ITMO University. And that is primarily because of their "live" demonstration. One of the scientific and research institute projects is the development of methods, models and high-performance software module of data assimilation for the management of the Complex of structures protecting St. Petersburg from flooding.
On the interactive touch "table", which is a map, the members of the International council could see online the speed, direction of water flows in the Gulf of Finland and the Neva River, their level of water and other characteristics. The specialists of the scientific and research institute explained guests, how can a situation online control help to block the dam timely and save the city from flooding.
Then the business program continued with the closed session of the Council members and the ITMO University administration. The key areas of the development of the University in the immediate future were presented during the presentation part by the university staff. According to the event results the international experts expressed their opinion on the most promising areas within the realization of the project of the increasing of the international competitiveness of the university.
In general, the world experts noted the significant development of all Russian universities because of the "5/100" program. As was emphasized by experts, the government project should be considered not as a race for the so-called "world leaders", above all it must be an activity for the benefit of themselves and their country: do a good job and carry out useful research, educate worthy generation of professionals - all these things are always needed, regardless of the position in the rankings.
Tsui Lap-Chee, the one of the members of the International council and the president of the University of Hong Kong, believes that it is hard and not quite right to compare the higher education systems of vastly different countries, because each country has its own background: "For example, in Asia, the education system is very different from the European one - at least we are pursuing different goals. And it would be unfair to compare Russian and American universities, because, first, they are totally different, and second, each of them has its own way of development".
"The ratings, really, are the indicators, but I believe they are not sufficient", Michael Crow says, the president of Arizona State University, the expert in the use of new methods in higher education, knowledge economy and intellectual entrepreneurship. "More important is the university's contribution to the formation of a global network, taking the global leadership position, generating links with other universities and companies, establishing the relationships - that's what's really important".
International experts had different views on the future path of development of the ITMO University, approved the selected direction of the university in general. In coming years, the university plans to successfully continue its work within the framework of the program of the improving of the competitiveness of Russian education ("5/100" program) and achieve even better results.
"Today, in our university, the experts of the highest class brought together, they do not have to talk a lot about themselves. During just only 15-20 minutes they can understand and see what there is in fact, because they understand the system of higher education sufficiently well. All the key areas of development of the ITMO University which were demonstrated, were positively marked by experts, only positive emotions remained, and this is very important. It is an honor for the ITMO University, to host the world's leading experts and the members of the International council", Vladimir Vasiliev summarizes, the rector of the ITMO University.