Engineering Force of Russia: how the "School – University – Enterprise" of a System Operator trains personnel for the energy sector

In the era of digital transformation and increasing demands on the reliability of the country's energy system, highly qualified engineers are becoming the main resource. A university degree is not enough: you need a continuous educational trajectory – from school to enterprise. This is exactly the ecosystem that JSC "System Operator of the Unified Energy System" has been building for almost 20 years through the "School – University – Enterprise" program. We tell you how the program embodies the ideas of the Russian Engineering School, and energy classes and mentoring prepare personnel for technological leadership in Russia.

Today, it is no longer enough to simply train technical specialists at universities. A comprehensive support system for future engineers is needed, starting from school age and ending with professional development at the enterprise. This approach is the basis of the concept of the Russian Engineering School and is being successfully implemented within the framework of the School – University – Enterprise program of JSC "System Operator of the Unified Energy System".

Over the years, the program has become one of the most successful examples of building a continuous trajectory of engineering training in the Russian energy sector.

Russian Engineering School: a return to the best traditions of engineering education

The concept of the Russian Engineering School is based on the understanding of an engineer as a creator and a systems thinker. It is not only about the high-quality possession of technical knowledge, but also about the formation of a special worldview that assumes responsibility for decisions, the ability to see the interrelationships of complex technological processes and the willingness to work for the benefit of the country's development.

In speeches and lectures devoted to the development of the Russian Engineering School and energy classes, it is repeatedly emphasized that a modern engineer should be brought up in a single educational environment that unites a school, university and enterprise. It is this kind of environment that allows for the formation of stable professional motivation and ensures an informed choice of an engineering profession.

Energy classes as the foundation of a future engineering career

One of the most important tools of the Russian Engineering School is energy classes, specialized educational platforms for high school students focused on engineering and technical professions. The main task of energy classes is not only to study mathematics and physics in depth. Their mission is much broader – to form students' understanding of the role of energy in the life of the state, to introduce them to engineering professions and to show real prospects for professional development.

The effectiveness of this model is confirmed by the results of its graduates. Bella Loshkareva, a graduate of the energy class, successfully passed the Unified State Exam, entered the National Research University "MEI" and became a participant in the target program of the System Operator. Thus, the energy class became for her the first step of a continuous educational trajectory "School – university – enterprise". She is still a university student, but she knows that in the near future she will join the System Operator's team.

The first step into the profession is through Energy Groups

In the context of the Russian Engineering School, it is worth noting the educational program of the Reliable Shift Energy Group, which has been implemented by the System Operator together with the Reliable Shift Foundation since 2007. Every year, more than 100 students in grades 10-11 from different regions of Russia participate in the project. The program helps high school students deepen their knowledge of key subjects, prepare for the Unified State Exam and admission to leading universities, and gain practical skills to build a successful career in the energy industry.

The training takes place remotely, taking into account time zones and includes intensive courses in mathematics, physics, computer science and a special course "Introduction to Energy". Each course consists of 30 classes (totaling 60 academic hours), combining lectures, practical work, writing essays and skills control. During their studies, students master analytical thinking, solving complex problems, the basics of programming and modeling, as well as the key sections of the sciences for the Unified State Exam.

Special attention is paid to professional orientation: within the framework of the special course, participants get acquainted with engineering professions, the structure of the industry and physical processes in electrical engineering, as well as carry out their own research work. Teachers develop students' skills in public speaking and discussions with experts. In addition, high school students are involved in large-scale federal projects, such as the International Engineering CASE-IN Championship, where they solve real industry cases.

At the end of the training, tenth graders receive a certificate and an invitation to continue their studies in the project, and 11th grade graduates receive benefits when applying to partner universities of the System Operator, and also receive 5 additional points for participating in career guidance events of the company when applying to universities for targeted training according to the quota established by the Government of the Russian Federation in the interests of the System Operator.

Social elevator for schoolchildren

Another important project for career guidance of schoolchildren and their preparation for a professional career is the International Engineering CASE–IN Championship, one of the projects of the Presidential Platform "Russia – the land of Opportunities".

The championship has established itself as a social elevator for talented schoolchildren. Its essence is simple: students, depending on their age group, solve engineering cases, create technical devices or layouts, and prepare traditional or digital drawings on topics relevant to the industry. The topics of the assignments are related to modern production requirements and priority areas of economic development.

The winners and prize-winners of the championship, who managed to prepare promising solutions to the case, receive certificates for additional points for the Unified State Exam upon admission to specialized universities, as well as preferences for participation in specialized educational shifts. However, the main value of the CASE-IN is not in medals and cups. At the championship, students get acquainted with the activities of the largest companies, receive direct feedback from leading experts in the electric power industry, determine their future profession and come to understand that being an engineer means benefiting society and implementing large–scale projects in key sectors of Russia.

Continued by the link.