The academic year at the Dubai branch of the St. Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics is drawing to a close. What was this year like, what were the successes and failures, what happened and what didn’t, we decided to ask the university teachers and students.
Vladimir Troykalo, associate professor, director of the branch of SPGIEU in Dubai:- First of all, I would like to thank our teachers and staff for their fruitful work this academic year, as well as students who had to withstand our strict requirements. I would like to express my gratitude to the embassies of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus, the Consulate General of Kazakhstan, our partners and friends who have provided and are rendering great disinterested assistance to our branch.
Over the past year, block curricula approved specifically for us in St. Petersburg have been completed. Full-time students have passed the winter session and are now preparing for the summer. During the year, fruitful work was underway to prepare correspondence students. We must pay tribute to our students who successfully pass exams and tests. Unfortunately, there are those who could not cope with our rather high requirements. Affected by very weak school preparation. But, in general, the guys are trying, and this is an incentive for us to continue fruitful creative work.
Repnikova V.M., Doctor of Economics, Professor of the Russian Academy of National Economy G.V. Plekhanov:- I was invited to a branch of SPGIEU to organize the preparation of teaching special disciplines. I was pleasantly struck by the enthusiasm with which the staff of the branch is building the work to create the actually first Russian higher educational institution outside of Russia. The idea of creating and supporting such a university found a wide response among my colleagues at leading universities in Moscow. Successfully passed a visit to the UAE of the luminaries of Russian science, academicians Mau and Aganbegyan. Currently, a branch of SPGIUU has successfully negotiated the opening of MBA programs with Luton University in the UK. We are already working on recruiting the first students for these programs.
Bazhenova D.V., head of preparatory courses SPGIUU:- During the academic year, we restructured the work of preparatory courses, with the main emphasis on closing the large gaps in the children’s knowledge of mathematics, Russian and English. I would like to note that not only students are happy to attend our courses. With the advent of professional courses, we have increased the number of students by more than five times. At present, new directions we have discovered are very popular - computer courses, interior and landscape design. Russian language courses for children studying in English schools are very popular.
Ralph Higgins, English Teacher, Canada:- The branch management invited me to teach as a native speaker. There were concerns - would the guys understand me how the Russian and Canadian teaching systems could be combined. All doubts were dispelled in the first lesson. We have been working for six months now, and not a single missed class was noted. I will say in Russian: "Russian students are cool!"
Tsaplin Kirill, student:- I think that I will express the general opinion of the guys in our group. Classes are held at a high level. We are all provided with textbooks and teaching aids. The reading room of our library works regularly. It was a bit difficult at the beginning, but now we are drawn in.
Motchanaya Natalya, student of the correspondence department:- I can say objectively, as I was among the first students who believed in this idea. We now have regular weekly consultations. Despite the fact that we all work and we have problems with free time, many people prefer to study at the university. To everyone who has any doubts, I say - come to our university, come to our classes, and all your doubts will be dispelled.
