As part of the working trip to Chelyabinsk, Vladimir Putin visited enterprises of the KONAR Industrial Group. The President was taken on a tour around the production complex, primarily of defence significance, and then presented the plans for strategic development.
Special attention was paid to the “Best Department of Foundry in the World” scientific and educational project, being implemented jointly with South Ural State University. Starting from 2023, 13 high-scoring students have begun studying in the System Engineering in Metallurgical Technologies programme at SUSU. Representatives of KONAR participate in all stages of the educational process, starting with the selection of applicants. The industrial group organizes the payment of a special scholarship to students and compensates for the cost of renting the housing.
By 2030, the creators of the project expect to employ at least 50 highly qualified specialists at the KONAR Industrial Group enterprises. To achieve this, re-equipment of our university’s material and technical resources base (updating classrooms and opening new laboratories) has already begun. In the future, advanced training will be organized for university teachers, and students will take internships at leading metallurgical enterprises around the world.
In 2024, the Faculty of the KONAR Industrial Group will open at SUSU. The educational division will implement educational programmes that are completely restructured to solve the production problems of the industrial partner. Four Bachelor’s and one Master’s groups will be selected from the winners and finalists of the Zvezda Olympiad and graduates of the Governor’s engineering classes.
Future metallurgists will not only be offered project-based learning and “seamless” employment (1st-year students will combine university studies with practical classes at the enterprise sites), but also a large block of language training: studying technical English and Chinese for better integration in international industrial relations.
The scientific component will also not be neglected. The company is planning to participate, including financially, in the university’s advanced research in the field of metallurgy and engineering. And future graduates will be involved in the introduction of innovative developments into mass production.
The implementation of the project will provide an integrated approach to solving problems that our university and enterprises of our region are facing in the field of import substitution and ensuring the technological sovereignty.