Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Ilya Ivanov, a student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Technologies at the RUDN University Engineering Academy, won the all-Russian "SOLLERS Orbit of Professionals" competition. He received a scholarship and a paid internship at a leading automotive company with a flexible schedule during his studies. The internship will be supervised by experienced mentors and experts in the automotive industry. It will provide the student with the opportunity to directly participate in the development and implementation of the company's projects.
The competition, which Ilya won, consisted of several stages: online testing, a practical case study, and an interview. At the in-person finals, attended by 200 of the best engineering students from across Russia, he presented his project to the company's expert committee, which received high praise for its innovation and practical relevance. We spoke with Ilya to learn more about the project that won him the competition and what he expects from his upcoming internship.
How did you prepare for the various stages of the competition—the online testing, the practical case? Share your secret to success.
My preparation was systematic. Before the online test, which covered both general automotive knowledge and technical topics (vehicle electrical equipment, metalworking, strength of materials), I reviewed key subjects from my final years—mechanical engineering technology, machine and mechanism theory, and cutting tools. When solving the practical case, the experience gained during my summer internship at the MAZ Moskvich plant, where I was fortunate to participate in the development of new production automation systems and immerse myself in the specifics of the domestic automotive industry, played a significant role. So there's no secret—it was simply a lot of time spent developing a deep understanding of the subject.
What knowledge did you gain at RUDN University helped you win? Are there any particular teachers you'd like to thank?
The objective of the competition case is to develop a mounting bracket for the ERA-GLONASS emergency call unit for a Sollers ST6 vehicle. This is a complex task: the development must take into account production volume, cost, labor intensity, and other factors affecting the final product. We discuss all these aspects in detail in our classes, so I would like to thank our department's instructors: Pavel Aleksandrovich Davydenko, Dmitry Gennadievich Allenov, and Vladimir Viktorovich Kopylov, for their high-quality and accessible presentation of these specialized subjects.
Which stage of the competition was the most difficult for you and why?
The development stage was the most challenging, as there were countless possible solutions. I chose the path of maximum functionality, emphasizing simplicity and low manufacturing cost, which ultimately led to victory.
What was innovative about your project and its practical significance for the automotive industry?
My project included not only the bracket itself, but also a proposal for organizing production, strength analysis results, cost calculations, and a corporate-style brochure outlining the advantages of the proposed solution.
How did you feel the moment you found out you were the winner? What was the first thing you thought about?
The competition organizers kept the suspense going until the very end. On the way to the awards ceremony, I expected to win a prize, but certainly not first place, because, as it seemed to me then, I hadn't done anything special—I'd simply applied the knowledge I'd gained in class. At the event, I met students from various universities in Moscow and the Moscow region, such as MIPT and Bauman Moscow State Technical University, including both master's and doctoral students. The organizers began presenting the awards: third place—not me, second—not me, first—again, not me. At that moment, I thought, "Oh well, I didn't win—it happens, I'll try next time." But then they announced, "Today, our guest is the person who took first place among all participants in Russia—RUDN University student Ilya Ivanov." At that moment, I was overjoyed and immediately ran onto the stage.
The grand prize is a paid internship at SOLLERS. What are your expectations for this job?
This is a very valuable award. What I'm looking forward to is immersing myself in real production processes. Theory and case studies are one thing, but a live factory with its challenges is a completely different and most valuable experience. I hope to contribute to the development of the domestic auto industry and learn from the best specialists in the industry.
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