As part of the Week of Science and Professional Education in St Petersburg, the Expoforum hosts an international scientific and educational salon – the largest event demonstrating the educational, research and innovative activities of educational organizations of the Northern capital. Dean of the SPbGASU Faculty of Automobile and Road Building Andrey Zazykin spoke at the panel discussion “Horizons of Professional Training of Schoolchildren: New Approaches and Solutions” and shared successful experience in creating engineering classes in schools.

To clarify, engineering classes are specialized classes with in-depth study of engineering disciplines in the form of additional education or professional training, implemented jointly with educational organizations of higher education, secondary vocational education, comprehensive schools and industrial partners.

Andrey Zazykin emphasized that this program has proven its effectiveness. Last academic year, eight classes were opened in six schools in St Petersburg in the following areas: "Architecture", "Automotive transport industry: Ticket to the future", "Engineering graphics with elements of 3D modeling", "TIM class". They were attended by 173 schoolchildren. In the current academic year, 19 schools have already joined this program, and the number of classes has increased to 24. In addition, a class called "Construction and housing and utilities" has been opened.

"Engineering classes are primarily aimed at career guidance for schoolchildren, who are given the opportunity to decide on their future profession as early as possible and acquire their first working skills. This motivates them to study technical subjects in depth: mathematics, physics, drawing. As a result, the level of knowledge increases, and thus, the chances of entering a technical university and the desire to work in the acquired specialty increase. In this system, the interest of the school, university and partners is essential, because it requires both educational programs and the material and technical base of the classes. In addition, we are supported by specialized committees of the city government and industry organizations. In order to interest schoolchildren in the proposed areas, we conduct summer intensive courses, for example, in the programs "Robotics" and "Automotive mechanic", - explained Andrey Zazykin.

He noted that both schools and the university are developing measures to encourage students. For example, SPbGASU has a First-Year Student Grant, which considers individual student achievements in various areas before entering the university.

"Our university is currently considering the possibility of including a certificate of the first working profession in the list of individual achievements. But obtaining additional education in additional general education programs is valuable in itself. It is no secret that many first-year students are forced to work. Those who have completed engineering classes have a better chance of finding employment in their chosen field. Thus, in the first years of study at the university, they study general disciplines, and in specialized organizations they receive professional competencies. And this helps the educational process, motivates. And the motivational principle in education is a priority. At SPbGASU, additional education is conducted according to various programs and has proven its effectiveness," Andrey Zazykin summarized.