Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the fifth International Polytechnic Winter School has begun. All programs of one of the largest international projects of Polytechnic University will take place entirely online. This year more than 150 international students from more than 20 countries will take part in the school.
Until the end of January, SPbPU will run 21 programs in six areas. Participants will begin studying engineering and natural sciences, information and digital technologies, civil engineering, energy, business and management, the Russian language and culture. The successful completion of the courses will result in certificates of international standard with ECTS credits, which participants will be able to use in their home universities.
The “Space Technologies: fundamentals” module was specially adapted for the International Polytechnic Winter School. Course leader, director of the Higher School of Applied Physics and Space Technologies Elena Velichko emphasized that the program was created so that students of all levels of training could take part in it.
“The summer school module, which traditionally takes place in July, focuses on more complex issues of space technology. However, we received so many requests from students with no basic knowledge of the field that we decided to create a special module as part of the International Polytechnic Winter School. Despite the lack of entry knowledge requirements, we managed to maintain the practical focus of the winter school and the implementation of student projects on nanosatellite development. Thus, the participants will get practical skills of operating real small spacecrafts and knowledge of various physical fundamentals and technical principles of the equipment in space,” noted Elena Velichko.
In 2021, as part of the International Polytechnic Winter School two courses will be held jointly with foreign partners: together with SOKENDAI University Polytechnic will hold the program of “Plasma physics and controlled fusion”, and together with the University of Lorraine and the International Network in Sport and Health Sciencethe module of “Sports Management and Marketing.”
And, of course, the organizers of the International Polytechnic Winter School have prepared a rich cultural program, which will also be held online. Participants will enjoy an interactive tour of the SPbPU campus, an online quiz on Russian history, and a virtual tour of the Hermitage.