Is Our Educational System Flexible Enough? YUKOS Students: A Case of Inquiry-Centered Approach (GGD NSU) <p> HR: <span class="hr"> 1330h<br></span> AN: <span class="an"> ED13C-03 <a href="../absbook/sm05_ED13C.html">[Abstracts]</a><br></span> TI: <span class="ti"> Is Our Educational System Flexible Enough? YUKOS Students: A Case of Inquiry-Centered Approach (GGD NSU) <br></span> AU: <span class="au"> * Rakhmenkulova, I <br></span> EM: <span class="em"> iraida0205@yahoo.com<br></span> AF: <span class="af"> Novosibirsk State University, 2 Pyrogova Street, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russian Federation <br></span> AU: <span class="au"> Gorshkalev, S <br></span> AF: <span class="af"> Institute of Geophysics, 3 Koptyug Pr., Novosibirsk, 630090 Russian Federation <br></span> AB: <span class="ab"> At present the educational system in earth science should be flexible enough. On the one hand, universities and educators should take into account the employer requirements. On the other hand, the university system should be student-centered in order to be competitive enough. Since PERESTROYKA much has been done in Russian educational system: - New modern specialties as well as universities and colleges have appeared. - The 4+2 (Bachelor + Master) university system, flexible enough have been introduced (when a student can choose both the elective and a lecturer). - The country became more open to the world community. However, education in Russia still needs new reforms and improvements. This paper describes a new approach in Russian educational system. This approach is both student-centered and employer-centered. Both the university, and professors and lecturers can benefit from this way of study. This type of education is also very attractive for students, because it is free and allows them a good career possibility in an oil company. Since September 2003 at GGD NSU (Geology and Geophysics Department of Novosibirsk State University) there is a special YUKOS group of students earning their Master's Degree in Geophysics. 1. Only graduates of Physics or Mathematics Departments can study in this special YUKOS group (in this way the company can be sure that only the students with very good mathematical and physical background are chosen). 2. Only the students with very high scores are eligible. However the entrance exams are based on free competition. 3. The YUKOS students study general courses of geology at GGD NSU. Each student also has a scientific advisor of very high qualification in Geophysics. 4. During a year of study the students are supposed to earn their Master's Degree in Geophysics (they already have their MSD either in Physics or in Mathematics). 5. The graduates are supposed to continue their education in YUKOS center in Tomsk (for a year) and earn their Master's Degrees in Petroleum Engineering. 6. All education is free for students. 7. Both the university and professors and lecturers can benefit form this project, because all the work of teachers and professors is sponsored by YUKOS Company. The salaries for professors and lecturers teaching the YUKOS group are very high (as compared to other groups). 8. The employers save their own funds, because they will not have to hire the staff. 9. The university benefits from this Project financially, as well as the teachers and instructors will have to be competitive enough, and to raise their qualification level. To conclude, at present oil companies in Russia are interested only in very high-qualified specialists with both good mathematical, physical and geologic background. That is why the companies are ready to invest their funds to universities. Universities in turn can benefit from cooperation with commercial companies. However for students this high-quality education is free and gives them possibility to start a very successful career. <br></span> DE: <span class="de"> 0800 EDUCATION<br></span> SC: <span class="sc"> Education and Human Resources [ED]<br></span> MN: <span class="mn"> 2005 Joint Assembly<br></span></p></body></html>