Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Director of the Educational Center for Project-Based Learning at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering Natalia Zaitseva, Inna Sukhanova, Victoria Vinogradova
The SPbGASU Project-Based Learning Educational Center (PBCEC) has launched an optional course, "Project-Based Activities," giving students the unique opportunity to work on real-world projects and receive consultations from industry experts.
What makes this elective unique?
On September 24, an organizational meeting of participants was held, at which the OCPO staff explained the implementation of the elective course and answered questions from students and partners.
This is a new format for the university, bringing together students from various fields of study, industry partners, and SPbGASU faculty.
"First and foremost, I'd like to thank the faculty and students for their willingness to embrace new learning formats and their trust in the university as the organizer," noted Vice Rector for Continuing Education Victoria Vinogradova. She also thanked the university's partners, who provide students with the opportunity to work on real-world projects and provide consultations and expert support.
The uniqueness of this elective lies in the opportunity for students to complete projects based on technical specifications from industry partners and use them in their final theses. Furthermore, this is an excellent opportunity to establish themselves with potential employers.
Participants in the elective will work in teams supervised by SPbGASU faculty and university partners. Project defenses are scheduled for December.
"Many of the projects proposed by our partners are innovative and can be considered a challenge even for practicing professionals. We hope that the students will be able to use the experience they gain in their final theses and in their future professional careers," said Victoria Vinogradova.
"The elective will also serve as a recruiting platform where students and employers can get to know each other," added Inna Sukhanova, Director of the Project-Based Learning Educational Center at SPbGASU.
How the work process is structured
"The optional course 'Project-Based Activities' includes weekly theoretical lectures hosted in the LMS Moodle online course management system, workshops from partners, and consultations with instructors and industry experts on specific topics," explained Inna Sukhanova.
The university mentor's responsibilities include developing an individual activity plan, overseeing preparation for the current assessment, and collaborating with an industry expert to determine the final product. This is the first time the elective has been held, and the organizers are considering all communication and work formats. Therefore, they encourage collaborative learning to ensure the elective is successful.
Teams work on diverse projects, and each student can choose a topic that interests them. The elective program includes 20 projects from 14 partners (LenOblAHMK, StroyKraft, Concern Titan-2, SPb GKU GCRPO, Metropolis LLC, SPbGASU, Glavstroy-SPb, Ridan Trade, Sysoft Development, Setl Stroy, Setl City Architectural Bureau, NIP AQUAEFFECT, SPb GUP Passazhiravtotrans, and Gazprom Proektirovanie).
Ksenia Shapovalova, a fourth-year student majoring in Industrial and Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, believes that project work is a great opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary team and see the project process from conception to implementation.
"I was interested not only in the project work and interaction with the industry, but also in the opportunity to implement the completed project. It's wonderful to see the building you planned completed. Especially since my experience with the industry is currently limited to internships. I hope that by the time I graduate, I'll be able to significantly expand this experience thanks to the elective," Ksenia shared her expectations.
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