Zhigalov schoolchildren successfully enter universities thanks to the CASE-IN engineering competition system

Moscow State Educational Institution "Zhigalovskaya Secondary School No. 1 named after G. G. Malkov" has been involving students of the Irkutsk region in engineering and technical creativity and solving real production problems for 4 years. The results of work in this area have been recognized as successful: students get acquainted with the key professions of the industry and successfully enroll in specialized universities. Therefore, in January 2025, the management of the institution decided to enter the system of educational circles of the International Engineering CASE-IN Championship. 

The additional general development program, created to develop students' engineering thinking through case studies, involves 9 tenth graders from the core group. The head of the group, Larisa Galichina, a physics teacher, is confident that in the future this area will bring together even more students interested in technical areas. 

"The guys are showing interest in the circles, as case technologies are becoming more and more popular in the learning process. Not only future applicants will be able to take part in the club activities, but also middle-aged children who will test their abilities in competition with more experienced comrades. Solving the case at school will simplify the task of admission to university and will have a positive effect among students, because Irkutsk Polytechnic University is also actively involved in this area," Larisa Mikhailovna believes. 

During the classes, young researchers will get acquainted with new areas of engineering science development, learn how to create presentations using diagrams, and learn about specialties that are in demand in the Irkutsk Region and the country as a whole. Solving engineering cases will help you develop skills such as the ability to interact in a team, find and evaluate information, and work with online resources. 

"They will try themselves in different roles. The guys will develop a sense of responsibility, because the result of the team will depend on how each of them copes with the task. Working on the case will significantly increase your own self-esteem and help you find a job and move up the career ladder in the future," Larisa Galichina told about the advantages of participating in the circle.

For the first time, the case method was learned at school No. 1 named after G. G. Malkov in 2021 from Evgeny Rudykh, a graduate and now a leading specialist at Gazprom Dobycha Irkutsk LLC, who repeatedly participated in the CASE-IN championship, became a prize-winner and raised the champion's cup over his head. In the same year, the school's students tried their hand at the championship and are now actively participating in it. Over the years, the school's teams have won in the special "Breakthrough Solution" and "Top 6 Best Engineering Case Solutions" categories.

"Participation in the championship has become a big challenge for our children. New acquaintances and communications at the championship provide an opportunity for further development and participation in projects of Russia's leading universities," Larisa Galichina emphasized. – When preparing for competitions, the most difficult thing is to find time, especially if the team is not students from the same class. The work of the club can be a solution to this problem." 

Inspired by the successes of high school students at the CASE-IN, in February 2023, the school's management initiated an intensive training course on solving engineering cases. 70 people from six schools in the Irkutsk region, with the support of School No. 1 and the district administration, solved a case written by Evgeny Rudykh. The students participating in the CASE-IN were invited to the championship, and its sponsor was Gazprom Dobycha Irkutsk LLC. The participants of the tournament not only worked on the task, but also had a chance to visit one of the most modern enterprises in Russia and talked with leading experts. 

In Moscow State Educational Institution "Zhigalovskaya Secondary School No. 1 named after G. G. Malkov", the results of interaction with CASE-IN are already being seen today: more than 30% of graduates of the institution have become students of engineering universities. Therefore, students will continue to solve cases within the framework of the championship, as well as develop engineering and general scientific skills in the educational circle.