Foreigners Have a Desire to Enroll on Master’s and Postgraduate Degree Programmes at Samara University

For two weeks, 18 foreign students from China, Iran, Brazil and Peru were studying the issues of space engineering and technology within the same-name English-language professional programme at Samara University. The course was organized by the Institute of Space Rocket Engineering  in cooperation with the Institute of Further Education.

"The course united knowledge in the field of technology, economics and law and was designed for foreign students, post-graduate students and PhDs, — noted Viktoria Nedikova, a specialist in the Institute of Further Education. —  Despite the fact that the main organizer was the Institute of Space Rocket Engineering, the programme was integrated and united the representatives of different institutions of the university".

During two weeks the participants were given the lectures on Space Engineering, Space Materials Science, Spacecraft Flight Dynamics, Optical-Telescopic Systems Design, the Basics of Life Safety in the Rocket and Space Systems Life Cycle, Space Economics, and the Role of the State in Space Economics Development. Moreover, the participants got acquainted with Samara University and visited a number of excursions around Samara.

"We managed to organize these courses, and in fact the Summer School, very quickly, — said the Director of the Institute of Space Rocket Engineering, Sergey Ishkov. — Within a few months we managed not only to think over the methodological component, but also to organize both the learning process and the search of students who studied at their own expense. We have tried to give the participants a holistic idea of the level of modern engineering  and space technology. In some cases the overview lectures were deepened in order to demonstrate the possibilities of the university and show the students what they can learn if they want to enroll on  Master’s, Postgraduate Degree and PhD Programmes at Samara University”.

On August 17, the Vice-rector for Academic Affairs Andrey Gavrilov presented the certificates of participants to the graduates of the programme.

Jonas Degrave came to Samara from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). In his country, he studied at the bachelor's programme in the specialization of "Electrical Engineer"."At this summer school I learned about Russian scientists and Russian engineering in the field of aerospace, — says Jonas. — Since I'm interested in the field of modeling and design of systems for controlling the orientation of nanosatellites and controlling the trajectories of space vehicles, the lectures on the technology of conducting research in space were the most interesting for me. It is good that I had the opportunity to visit the laboratories of Samara University and compare them with the laboratories of my university. I would be glad to continue my education in Samara".

Master’s degree student Shu Ming arrived in Samara from the Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi'an (China), where she studies the management and the navigation of space vehicles. "The lectures on the dynamics of the spacecraft were especially informative, because they were very close to my specialty, –  she remarked. — I dream of continuing my studies at Samara University: the school of aerospace technologies is very strong here. I want to study at your post-graduate school!" Shu Ming also noted the excursion programme: "We really enjoyed the sights of Samara, as well as the museums of the university –  Aerospace Museum named after Sergey Korolev and  Aviation Engines History Centre, which comprises an amazing collection of engines".

Besides, within this school the participant of the programme, the member of the Iranian Parliament Committee on Industry Ramin Norcolipur and the Head of the International Office of the university Sergey Tits signed a memorandum of cooperation between the Iranian Space Agency and Samara University.

"Our Iranian colleagues offer scientific cooperation, — commented Sergey Tits. — They are ready to participate and provide financial support in the creation of micro- and nanosatellites, as well as in developing a payload for them. They are also interested in geoinformation technologies. It is also important that the signed document assumes that one of the areas of cooperation will be the training and retraining of personnel for the Iranian Space Agency on the basis of Samara University".

Photo: Natalia Orlova