Reality and prospects of KBSU. Yuri Altudov’s dialogue with the media
December 27, 2022 Acting Rector of Kabardino-Balkarian State University Yuri Altudov met with media representatives, bloggers, journalism students and university ambassadors at a briefing, which took place in the assembly hall of the Faculty of Medicine.
In his report, Yuri Altudov spoke about the results of the work of KBSU for 2022, plans for the future and answered journalists’ questions. Media representatives were especially interested in the implementation of the Priority 2030 program, the training of foreign students and the construction of an IT park.
On the development of the university
The university development program is synchronized with the strategy of social and economic development of Kabardino-Balkaria. It is aimed at overcoming regional challenges associated with the level of socio-economic development, the indicators of which lag behind the Russian average by up to 2 times.
A set of measures is being taken to modernize the educational process and research activities, informatization, training of qualified personnel in areas that ensure the development of the economy and social sphere of the KBR and the North Caucasus Federal District.
On the current structure and composition of KBSU
Today, KBSU has 10 institutes, 1 faculty and 4 colleges. More than 18 thousand students study within the walls of the university. Training of specialists is carried out according to 320 educational programs and more than 1300 programs of further vocational education that are in demand on the labor market. The number of university employees is more than 2 thousand people, the educational process is provided by more than 800 scientific and pedagogical workers, including 130 doctors of science and more than 440 candidates of science. There are 6 dissertation councils in 9 specialties and 6 directions. The university publishes 6 scientific journals, 2 of which are included in the list of HAC.
On the effectiveness of KBSU
KBSU has confidently overcome the threshold values for monitoring the effectiveness of universities, conducted annually by the founder of the university — the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. There is a positive trend in almost all indicators, than the university once again confirmed its high status as one of the leaders in the North Caucasus Federal District. For three years, KBSU has been holding 55th place in the national ranking of universities according to Interfax, and 95th in the ranking of the best universities in Russia — 2022 according to RAEX.
In 2022, for a number of indicators, KBSU strengthened its position in the rankings of the best universities in the world and for the first time entered two international rankings: the Moscow International Ranking «Three Missions of the University» and The Times Higer Education (THE) Ranking, which evaluates universities according to the UN sustainable development goals.
At the end of 2022, the RUR subject ranking data was published, in which the university is represented in all 6 directions. The results of the international ranking of «Green» universities of the planet «Green Metric 2022» have also been published, in which KBSU is in the TOP-50 Russian universities, and ranks 952 in the world.
On supporting human capital
In the region, KBSU conducts a wide range of activities to support human capital. The range of educational programs in the IT field has been expanded, the level of digital maturity at the university has increased by 10%. Among the 18 thousand students are residents of more than 50 regions of the Russian Federation and 48 foreign countries.
The share of students from other regions reached 15%, foreigners 11%. The number of project-oriented programs, the number of students and the proportion of contract students have increased. With the start of using the Facultetus platform, work on the employment of graduates has intensified and increased in 2021, the figure reached 78%. 2,000 people trained in digital competencies in medicine, education, agriculture and entrepreneurship. The Entrepreneurial Boiling Point is open.
On the admission campaign in 2022 compared to 2021
In 2022, 21,024 applications from 7,759 applicants were submitted for all areas of training and specialties of SVE and HE (in 2021, there were 15,393 applications from 6,037 applicants). The average competition was 2.6 people per seat. During the period of work of the admission committee of KBSU in 2022, 6006 people were enrolled, an increase of 35.7% of the number accepted in 2021. The average score of those enrolled in state-funded places in 2022 was 66.4 (which is 3.8% lower than in 2021), for places under contracts for the provision of paid educational services — 62, for all conditions of admission («budget + contract») — 64.1 points.
653 foreign citizens were admitted to places under contracts for the provision of paid educational services.
On the scientific activity of KBSU
Scientific activity is also being transformed. Strengthened positions in the field of new materials, artificial intelligence, ecology, medicine, genetics. A new method of combating ragweed and hogweed has been proposed, and we have positive results in binding pollen and turning it into smart fertilizers. 5 new research centers and 8 youth laboratories have been created. The focus on applied work allowed to increase the volume of economic contracts. A large-scale project was launched to create a Center for Microelectronics and Nanotechnologies jointly with JSC NPP Radiy (Moscow), which will expand the possibilities of technology transfer, including for the needs of the military-industrial complex.
On educational work
One of the priority activities of the university is educational work, which is carried out continuously both in the course of study and outside of school hours. In order to increase the social and social activity of students, as well as the formation of a corporate spirit among the students, more than 250 events were organized during the year. More than 35% of full-time students, more than 4% of KBR youth (aged 18 to 25 years) are involved in the activities of student associations and volunteer movements. On the basis of the Center for Support of Student Associations, Youth Programs and Projects, 20 club formations continued their work.
On the staff of KBSU
Currently, more than 1,900 full-time employees work at the university, of which more than 800 are teaching staff of HE and SVE. The number of young employees up to 39 years old in a short period of time has been increased to 172 people, which is about 30% of the total number of teaching staff, while the plan for the development program of the university is 28.5%. On the finances of KBSU In 2022, there is a positive trend in all the main financial indicators of KBSU. For 2022, the consolidated budget of the university will be 114% of the same indicator for 2021. Income from paid educational services is also growing, which in 2022 was planned at the level of 105% compared to 2021.
Work continues to increase the average wages of KBSU employees. Thus, the average salary was: for the teaching staff — 238% of the average salary in the region, or 112% compared to the same period in 2021; for teachers of secondary vocational education -142% of the average salary in the region or 115% compared to the same period in 2021; for researchers — 296% of the average salary in the region, or 120% compared to the same period in 2021; for administrative and managerial and support personnel — 145% of the average salary in the region or 105% in relation to 2021.
On the program «Priority 2030»
In the Parliament of the KBR, as part of the «Hour of the Committee», the topic «The role of the university in the development of the region (on the example of KBSU)» was discussed. November 26, 2022 the team of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after. HM. Berbekova presented the results of the work on the Priority 2030 program at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The commission of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science for selection to the Priority 2030 program has been hearing reports from universities on the work done and the results achieved for 2021-2022 for several days. In order to evaluate the work of participating universities, 30 experts were selected — these are rectors, their deputies, professors and scientists from universities. During the year, they visited universities and provided the teams with recommendations to help implement their development programs.
A decision was made to co-finance the program for the development of the university by the region from 2023. Within the framework of the program «KBSU — an integrator of the development of polymer additive technologies», the park of additive equipment was re-equipped, a full cycle of import-substituting technologies was created, starting from the synthesis of material. An engineering center was opened with the involvement of 30 young scientists, new products (powders and filaments) and products (implants) were developed, 5 educational programs were developed at the level of FPE.
The country’s first pilot production of heat-resistant polymers and composites for 3D printing was created, aimed at ensuring the technological sovereignty of the country. The industrial partner of KBSU is JSC «Composite» of the State Corporation Roscosmos. The University is a member of the Advanced Engineering School (PIS) program with St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. A network laboratory was created jointly with Tula State University, KBSU plans to become a resident of the Composite Valley.
On the cultural, tourism and environmental development of the university and the region
Large-scale institutional changes are caused not only by breakthrough technologies, but also by events in the field of culture. A significant event in the South of Russia was the Hermitage-Caucasus Center on the basis of KBSU. The country’s first Hermitage class was opened, the first Restoration educational program in the North Caucasus was opened, and a platform for international cooperation in heraldry was created. In October 2022, more than 1,500 people, representatives of 10 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Abkhazia, became participants in the Days of the Hermitage in Nalchik.
Activities under the strategic project «Water well-being and green economy» are aimed at research of the potential of water resources of the KBR and the transition of the region’s economy to a model of sustainable development (social and environmental well-being). A model of the hydrogeological architecture of the region and the ecosystem of the Terek river basin has been developed. A scientific base has been formed for solving the problems of biodiversity conservation. 360 plants of rare endangered species have been planted. Another strategic project is aimed at rebooting the resort and tourism industry — «Kabardino-Balkaria — the territory of resorts and tourism: a new paradigm of treatment, rehabilitation and medical tourism.»
New methods of sanatorium treatment and rehabilitation have been developed. More than 150 specialists received additional education, a new educational program on the use of genetic methods in medicine has been developed. As part of the program of support and updating of competencies for the development of the economy of Kabardino-Balkaria and the North Caucasus macro-region, more than 13,000 people received additional professional education, of which 1,200 residents of the KBR and the Krasnodar Territory confirmed their employment with 200 employers.
On digital development
More than 2,000 people have been trained in digital competencies in the field of medicine, education, agriculture and entrepreneurship. Acceleration programs have been launched as part of the federal project «University Technological Entrepreneurship Platform». Particular attention is drawn to new consortiums that are important for KBSU and the region in the future: the creation of an IT park together with the Government of the KBR and Kavkaz.RF JSC is one of the five breakthrough projects of the republic, within which it is planned to create 450 new jobs.
Rector of KBSU Yuri Altudov summed up the briefing: Today, a person, his health, is especially important. Therefore, the tasks that are formed in terms of providing comfort are decisive. It is very important for each person to understand what he is interested in. You need intrinsic motivation. But the tools to convey this idea to everyone are the media. Man is at the head of everything, and you need to study him, you need to communicate with him. It is simply impossible to individualize the learning path, and digitalization is a tool for everyone to perceive information.
You can argue the positive or negative impact of the abundance of gadgets, it is impossible to fight it, you need to be able to use it. I have invited you today to be the guides of every young person, the guides of what we all want to see in the future. And we want to see well-being, good relationships, peace and joy. It is good that the dialogue is going on, it gives us confidence that we are doing the right thing.