"CASE-IN Simulator": developing the potential of industry youth and digitalization of engineering education

Industry 4.0 is not only the theme of the anniversary season The International Engineering Championship "CASE-IN" but also the rhythm of life of the whole project. The organizing Committee of the championship is improving the process of solving engineering cases by introducing new digital technologies. The "CASE-IN Simulator" is one of the sought–after developments, which was appreciated not only by the participants and experts of the engineering competition.

The interactive platform, created on the basis of the case method in 2021, includes more than 150 cases and solutions. These are more than 1,500 interactive technologies for different target audiences, tasks and other formats - mini-cases, tasks, role-playing games, etc. The platform contains keys to solving cases and interactive formats, an intuitive system for completing tasks, uploading solutions and peer review has been developed, statistics and a rating of participants and organizations have been built in, and educational materials and instructions for use have been developed.

Since 2021, the platform has been fully implemented in the International Engineering Championship "CASE-IN".

"The case study method integrates the tasks of the real sector of the economy into theoretical knowledge and develops both "hard skills" professional competencies and supra-professional skills"soft skills», – explains the Founder and co-chairman of the organizing committee of the International Engineering Championship "CASE-IN" Artem Korolev, – The Organizing Committee of the championship "CASE-IN" together with analysts from specialized universities and companies, I have accumulated an extensive database of cases, which has become the basis for a new interactive platform.  Its functionality has been developed taking into account the recommendations of teachers and company representatives and allows universities and organizations to easily integrate the platform into educational and work processes."

The platform's functionality allows university students and teachers to work in the classroom and independently, monitor the level of knowledge, conduct competitions and practical exercises, prepare graduation and term papers.

Today, the "CASE-IN Simulator" is integrated into the educational processes of Kuzbass State Technical University named after T. F. Gorbachev, Irkutsk National Research Technical University, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg State University of Economics and other universities.

The development helps industry companies in the selection, evaluation and development of personnel, holding corporate case championships, attracting talented students and career guidance for schoolchildren. 

In 2021, Rosneft conducted a computer business course for students of Ufa State Petroleum Technical University and the Far Eastern Federal University. During the game, students assessed hydrocarbon reserves on the Pechora Sea shelf, developed oil and gas production technology, and economically justified their decisions.

The "CASE-IN Simulator" provided remote assignment receipt, communication between participants, organizers and experts, uploading presentations of solutions and explanatory notes, summarizing the results of the game and feedback from experts. Experts from PJSC NK Rosneft, JSC Vostsibneftegaz, ANC Bashneft of UGNTU, FEFU and Tyumen Industrial University were able to participate remotely in the evaluation of the solutions.

Gazprom Neft PJSC, EFKO Group of Companies and participants of the Youth Global Forecast of Energy Development have already evaluated the new platform.

Kuzbass State Technical University is one of the first universities to use the CASE-IN Simulator.  Students and teachers of the fields of "Electric Power Engineering and Electrical Engineering" and "Mining", as well as participants in scientific and educational events of KuzSTU, work on the platform.

As a pilot project, the university launched a Simulator for the preparation of final qualifying papers: students will defend their first research papers in the field of Electric Power Engineering and Electrical Engineering in June 2022, and in the future these papers may also be considered promising for participation in the Startup as a Diploma program of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.

"Currently, teachers and students are mastering the platform, testing its main features, and this makes the educational process more intense, interesting and diverse. Students and teachers can work with real practical situations, solve various tasks of companies and enterprises in the real sector of the economy., - said the project manager, Deputy Director for Scientific and Innovative Work at the Institute of Energy KuzSTU Roman Belyaevsky, - This is a plus in favor of digitalizing the educational process, expanding the educational technologies used, and in the fall semester we plan to hold an internal case championship based on the Simulator as a training for participation in the International Engineering CASE-IN Championship.

The implementation of the interactive platform "CASE-IN Simulator" is an open project that universities, colleges, and industry companies can join. More information about the platform can be found on the project page at the link.

The organizers invite all interested parties to cooperate.