Cluster approach development at MPEI

On the 5th of February a video bridge in the International Multimedia Center “Russia Today” between Moscow - Beirut (Lebanon) - Kitwe-Nkana (Zambia) - Windhoek (Namibia) was realized. The bridge was concerned to the theme of “Cluster approach as a new model of the Russian education export”. At the Russian studio the following persons were present: RUDN Rector Vladimir Filippov; Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Scientific Research and Technologies of Gambia, Professor Momodou Jang Jallow; RUDN Vice-Rector on International Activity Larisa Efremova and Head of the Department of International Collaboration RUT MIIT Lubov Luchinina. Alexander Tarasov, Vice-Rector on International Relations, spoke on behalf of MPEI.

In the framework of the event a new technology of Russian education export was presented – a large-scale project of RUDN “Cluster approach”. This is a system for organization of the collaboration with the State departments, Universities and Industrial partners. The cluster system implies the development of the most successful international practices, such as the International Olympiads, Russian language centers, centers of enrollee training etc.
African cluster with MPEI as a member includes such countries as Angola, Gambia, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa. Cluster approach contributes to target training of high-class specialists for the industrial enterprises, creation of a general innovation, education and research product to permit the development of professional cadres with personalities ready for challenges of the ever-changing conditions of the international market.

Annually, MPEI takes part in the organization of the Olympiad in Mathematics in the Republic of Angola. It permits to choose the best ones among the applicants to the Russian Universities, MPEI particularly, that want to study on scholarship of Russian Government.

MPEI also develops the collaboration with Copperbelt University, Zambia. During the last few years reciprocal visits of the delegations from our Universities permit the experience exchange and discussion of the issues for collaboration between our Universities. Head of Copperbelt University responsible for the collaboration admits the importance of the active realization of further steps and discovering academic potential and underlines the impact of Russian education upon the academic staff of the abovementioned University.

In 2017, the Memorandum of cooperation with University of Namibia (UNAM) was signed for searching the opportunities to work together in the actual domains. It is planned to continue and extend the cooperation for exchange programs in the sphere of scientific research.

Among the positive tendencies of mutual education program development there is the signing of the treaty between MPEI and South African North-West University of mutual scientific advisory board to guide postgraduates. In 2018 two postgraduates from MPEI were sent to South Africa, as it is declared by the treaty, to conduct research. Yet, the collaboration is held only in the Hydrogen Power Engineering domain, but it could be extended to others, given a mutual interest. The successful example is to be taken to other cluster partner countries relationship.

There is a high necessity of Alternative and Secondary Power engineering development in Africa, to produce cold as well. During the visits in context of the cluster approach development the agreement for broadening cooperation in these domains was achieved.
MPEI is ready to conduct mutual projects realization, for instance, the English Master program “Sustainable Thermal and Energy Systems”. The specialist training on the bilateral educational programs contributes well to raising the qualification of the partner universities staff.