Oleg Aleksandrovich Kravchenko: Forming the Scientific Potential of the Region
Rector of Tula State University, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Oleg Aleksandrovich Kravchenko became a guest of the "Dialogues" program on the radio "Komsomolskaya Pravda" in Tula (16+).
The conversation took place with journalist Igor Vladimirovich Kopytov. We are publishing the printed version of the interview, which was also published in today's issue of the newspaper "Komsomolskaya Pravda".
Oleg Aleksandrovich, the admissions campaign is ending. How many applications were submitted by applicants this year and how many of them became state-funded students?
– First of all, I would like to say that this year we have a record number of state-funded admissions in the last decade – 1,556 places. Moreover, the increase in admissions target figures has recently occurred in two areas – engineering and medical. There are also more people submitting applications this year – 5,835 people.
The number of those enrolled under targeted admission has increased significantly. If in 2024 there were 212 of them, this year there are 281. The number of children under a special quota has also increased – these are the children of special military operation participants, disabled people, etc. Here we have enrolled 174 applicants and two winners of school Olympiads, who have the right to enroll without entrance examinations.
Which faculties and areas were of the greatest interest this year? Where was the highest passing score?
– This year we see an increased interest of students in the chemical and biological direction and in the IT profile in the field of programming. Also the interest grew in such engineering specialties as aircraft control systems, where the passing score was 238, small arms and cannon weapons, missile weapons. For general medicine, our passing score was even higher - 253.
What is the proportion of those admitted in the ratio: natives of the Tula region, neighboring regions, and even other countries?
– Every year, the proportion of students from other regions grows by about 1-2%. In general, students from fifty regions of the Russian Federation come to us. Of course, mainly from the nearest ones - Kaluga, Moscow, Oryol.
What new specialties have appeared at the university? Which of them are in the greatest demand?
– This year we have a new specialty – photonics and optoinformatics, a direction that is developing very actively all over the world. This program was opened and fully agreed upon with the Instrument-making Design Bureau. We even chose the equipment with them that is necessary for equipping the Advanced Engineering School of Tula State University. We also added directions related to the automation of technological processes in production – in accordance with the requests of our enterprises.
Tula State University is a recognized source of personnel for the defense industry. How many targeted students are currently studying at the university, with which enterprises have contracts been concluded?
– Of the 281 people, 150 students were accepted as part of the targeted admission in the defense sector. In 2024, there were much fewer - 135. The main customers are two holdings – “High-Precision Complexes” and “Tehnodinamika”.
If we talk about specific enterprises, then in first place is the Instrument Design Bureau. Every year, there are about 50 people, who decide to link their fate with IDB four years before graduation. This suggests that the enterprise also works well in this direction. There are also a fairly large number of "targeted students" from “NPO SPLAV”, “TsKBA”, “Strela”. There are also a number of enterprises from other regions - Moscow, Kaluga, Vladimir, Sverdlovsk Regions.
Today, the level of the teaching staff at the university is very high. Many continue to engage in scientific work. In what areas do your teachers excel?
– Currently, Tula State University conducts scientific research in seven priority areas of scientific and technological development. The university has developed scientific schools in the field of weapons and military equipment for the near tactical combat zone, composite materials and technologies for their production. Of course, there is also a humanitarian education – in the field of sociology and political science, for example.
You yourself are related to science, you also have your own developments. Tell us about them.
- Unfortunately, now I have to devote less and less time to science. Although I have been doing research work related to the creation of simulators for the Cosmonaut Training Center for many years. In particular, one of such serious developments, which formed the basis of my doctoral dissertation, is a simulator for training cosmonauts for spacewalks. I came up with the idea of the control system and drives of the mobility system. This is a stand for the weight removal system of training spacesuits, through which all cosmonauts pass, because they practice the airlock cyclogram on it - putting on a spacesuit, going out into space. This is a mandatory element of training for all the students. I have students who continue to work in this direction today. In addition, there were a number of other interesting government contract works.
The level of education in any university is assessed by the achievements of its students. Where have your students distinguished themselves? At what scientific sites, competitions?
– In 2024, about three and a half thousand of our students took part in international, all-Russian, regional and other events. About three thousand made presentations at conferences. We try to actively hold these conferences within the walls of Tula State University itself. By the way, taking this opportunity, I would like to announce that a very serious multi-conference related to the development of control systems will be held on September 15. Academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences will come to us, a total of more than 400 people from different regions.
The guys also actively publish their works in journals and foreign publications, including the Higher Attestation Commission. Last year alone, there were more than 2,600 of them. Our students were awarded 20 medals and 444 diplomas. 54 people receive personal scholarships, four of which are scholarships from the President of the Russian Federation, three from the Government of the Russian Federation.
Our students, under the supervision of postgraduates, took part in the scientific and educational intensive course "Archipelago", which is held in Skolkovo in the direction of unmanned aircraft systems. These are guys who have been working in student design bureaus for a year and they returned with a good result. Two TulSU teams are taking part in a large and significant event.
Participation in the engineering competitions "Hello, Pioneer!" brought us victory - 1st and 3rd places!
In what other areas, besides scientific work, do your students show themselves?
– We have a huge number of extracurricular activities. This is put into action by the student club, which works in 14 areas – creative, patriotic, sports. There is even an opportunity to show yourself in parliamentary debates under the guidance of experienced political scientists.
We have an educational and health complex "Polytechnic", which is visited by hundreds of our students every summer. Here, a specialized trade union shift takes place, where you can pump up your leadership skills, participate in master classes and creative projects.
In what other areas, besides scientific work, do your students show themselves?
– We have a huge number of extracurricular activities. This is done by the student club, which works in 14 areas – creative, patriotic, sports. There is even an opportunity to show yourself in parliamentary debates under the guidance of experienced political scientists.
We have an educational and health complex "Polytechnic", which is visited by hundreds of our students every summer. Here, a specialized trade union shift takes place, where you can pump up your leadership skills, participate in master classes and creative projects.
Your parting words to first-year students.
– Dear students, I congratulate you all on entering Tula State University! This is a huge team of many thousands, which has graduated many highly qualified specialists. I would like to wish that you find it interesting to study, that every minute, every day spent at the university, you strive to learn something new. I am sure that the teachers of Tula State University will do everything to make you highly qualified specialists. Student years are always the most wonderful, because you are young, you make new friends. Many of them will become friends for life. Maybe one of you will find your other half here, start a family – the university has all the conditions for this. Therefore, I would like to wish you to spend these years in a way that you will remember forever.
Photo by Mikhail Gindin
