The 50th Anniversary of cooperation between MPEI and Ilmenau University of Technology

In the period from the 20th of March to the 24th of March, 2017 at Ilmenau University of Technology (Germany) the scientific conference of alumni and a solemn academic conference "Computer facilities, a person and mobility" has been held. The Conference was devoted to the 50th Anniversary of cooperation between our Universities.

More than 50 alumni of the double diploma program between MPEI - TU Ilmenau, realized since 1997 have participated in the events. In 20 years of collaboration 140 people from 1500 applicants who have passed several steps of strict competitive selection received documents on the graduation from two universities. To achieve such a purpose students should additionally learn the German language within 3 years, attend lectures on several technical subjects, complete a monthly course at TU Ilmenau Summer School and confirm the level of proficiency. Only after completing all these stages they could apply for the annual training in Germany that include attending of classes, examination, defense of the master thesis and practical training at the department, in the enterprise or in research park.

To extend the list of the areas of joint preparation in 2007 with the assistance of Rectors from both Universities MPEI – TU Ilmenau German engineering Department at MPEI was created. Now it functions as a part of Institute of Remote and Additional Education.

The class reunion program was saturated very much and it was consisted of many lectures of the leading professors and research associates of TU Ilmenau, and also the invited experts of leading research centers of Germany. Besides, several discussions as round table took place and the main theme was concluded in the features of training systems at Universities of Russia and Germany. The excursions to the laboratories of research park at Ilmenau and to the monuments of cultural heritage of Thuringia were also organized by the hostess part.

The alumni could learn about the latest German developments and see firsthand some of them in operation for example:

• submersible for gas pipeline examination
• the taught wireless traffic control system
• the wheelchair controlled by mobile phone
• robotic system for post-discharge adjustment and escort of the patients who had a stroke
• the program module for MR-tomograph to perform the short analysis of the brain activity
• the application program for recognition of plants according to the photo

and many other scientific innovations.

The solemn colloquium confined to the 50th Anniversary of partnership between MPEI and the TU Ilmenau in 1967 became the central event of the festive week. It was opened by Rectors of both universities: TU Ilmenau - prof. Peter Scharf and MPEI - prof. Nikolay Rogalev. In their speeches they noted high importance of the academic communications between Universities for increase in mobility of students and professors, and for development of world science and social and cultural relations between Russia and Germany. P. Sharf noted that for married people fifty years of joint life are called the golden wedding. Relations between our Universities have never fallen, despite change of the political situation that allows to call the 50th Anniversary of our cooperation "the golden" one. During the ceremony, TU Ilmenau Rector P. Sharf handed to MPEI Rector Nikolay Rogalev a title of "TU Ilmenau Honorary personality".

Any successful cooperation program is not only a signed document, but, first of all, laborious work between people. In this regard, the special award – TU Ilmenau honorary medal was given to associate professor of Dept. of information and measurement engineering E. Dolgacheva who was one of the first alumni of the double diploma program and its permanent coordinator since 2000.

During the ceremony and the whole week from MPEI took an active part in discussions. Among the MPEI delegation members were: Vice Rector on international relations V. Zamolodchikov

• Director of the Center of international programs I. Zhelbakov
• Director of Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics - I. Miroshnikova
• Director of Institute of Electrical Engineering - S. Gruzkov
• Assistant to Vice Rector on study A. Kondrat
• Director of the Volga branch M. Sultanov
• Chair of Department of control and informatics prof. A. Bobryakov
• Associate professor of Department of control and informatics prof. V. Shikhin.

The solemn colloquium has drawn great attention of public persons of Germany, and students, professors and residents of Ilmenau. The performance "Russia and the West" by Mrs. Gabriele Krone-Schmalz confirmed that. She called absurd the present political situation in the relations between Russia and the European Union and she emphasized the importance of cooperation between Universities and citizens of both countries in educational and cultural spheres that created friendly relations between Russia and Germany.​