Training of specialists in the field of automation of buildings and structures at MGSU
The history of training engineers for the automation of buildings and structures (gas stations) is relatively young.
As an independent specialty, “Automation of technological processes and production (in construction)” has existed for less than 50 years, and the specialization “Automation of engineering systems and equipment of buildings and structures” within this specialty has existed for only about a quarter of a century.
However, the first training programs, which can now be attributed to the specialization of gas stations, appeared much earlier.
Despite the fact that this specialization was formed in our country relatively recently, it is already firmly established in many civilian universities in Western Europe and North America.
Although this situation is typical for many other countries, we will consider the relevant range of issues mainly using the example of the Department of Automation of Engineering and Construction Technologies (AIST) MGSU.
Due to necessity, specialists from other fields were the first to begin professional activities in the field of gas stations, and the department for training automation engineers was formed only in 1960. Its creation was preceded by a lot of preparatory work, initiated by the Faculty of Heat and Gas Supply and Ventilation (HGV). At the end of the 50s of the last century, the faculty introduced two disciplines into the training program for civil and plumbing engineers: “Automation of heat and gas supply and ventilation systems” and “Instrumentation and automation.” The preparation and reading of these disciplines was carried out by teachers of the Department of Heating and Gas Supply and the Department of Heating and Ventilation. Professors of the first of them, Doctor of Technical Sciences. L.G. Skritsky, a specialist in the field of non-stationary and thermal modes of networks and their automation, can rightfully be considered the founder of a new graduating department. He became its first head, worked in this position until 1972 and for many years determined the main paths of its development.
Since the beginning of education at the department, primary attention has been paid to two main areas of activity: methodological support of taught disciplines and scientific research on the problems of automation of engineering systems and equipment of buildings and structures. In the first years of its work, the department relied mainly on the works of L.G. Skritsky, whose first book “Control and Automation of Heat Supply Systems” was published in 1948, and whose textbook “Automation in Heat and Gas Supply and Ventilation Systems” was published in 1957. A special role belongs to his textbook “Fundamentals of Automation and Automation of Heat, Gas Supply and Ventilation Systems,” published in 1968. The high scientific level of this work at that time largely determined the further development of gas station systems. At the same time, laboratories for technological measurements and instruments, automatic control, modeling and optimization of systems were created at the department.
Later, in 1986, students and followers of L.G. Skritsky, new textbooks for universities were written and published: “Automation and automation of heat and gas supply and ventilation systems” and “Automation of water supply and sanitation systems.” In 2005 for students of construction colleges and technical schools studying in the specialty “Installation and operation of internal plumbing devices and ventilation”, the textbook “Automatic regulation” was published, and in 2007. – textbook “Automation of water supply and sanitation systems” for the specialty “Water supply and sanitation”.
Over the years of its existence, the department has trained more than 500 engineers on gas station problems, including for a number of CIS countries, Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe Europe, many of whom have become leading specialists in their countries.
The department has always been characterized by high demands on the scientific level of work performed by its employees and graduate students. In 1992 on the initiative of the department, for the defense of candidate dissertations at MGSU, a dissertation council was organized in the specialty “Automation and control of technological processes and production (in construction)”, and since 1999. and to this day this specialty is represented in the doctoral dissertation council. Over the past few years, only on issues directly related to gas stations, the department has prepared and defended two doctoral and seven candidate dissertations.
Progress in the training of engineering and scientific personnel could have been more significant if this had not been hampered by certain reasons of an organizational and general methodological nature.
The main one of these reasons is due to the fact that in recent years two, to a certain extent opposite, trends have become clearly evident. One of them is associated with the transition from conducting research and practical development by groups formed from representatives of different specialties, to performing this work by specialists who are to a certain extent familiar with almost all aspects of the problems being analyzed. Another trend is associated with the emergence of specialists seeking to constantly deepen their knowledge in any one area, for example, in the automation of air conditioning and ventilation systems, systems analysis or mathematical modeling.
The first of these trends is supported by numerous customers of gas station systems, who believe that quickly obtaining an acceptable solution to a problem is more expedient than finding its optimal solution after a lengthy and detailed analysis. These customers prefer gas station specialists who know how to properly use already acquired knowledge and practical experience, rather than those whose inclinations and abilities are more focused on creative research, ensuring the expansion and deepening of existing knowledge.
Second trend is supported by the entire system of domestic higher education, which primarily encourages works and publications containing the results of research of a creative, exploratory nature.
The presence of these trends leads to a certain polarization of interests of gas station specialists, which complicates the solution of issues related to the training of widely sought-after professional personnel. Such polarization, expansion of the scope of application and deepening of knowledge, as well as the constant development and improvement of relevant curricula and programs lead to the need to consider the system of training gas station specialists in different aspects.
The author’s work experience in this area allows us to identify at least four main forms of training of specialists that are currently in demand.
The first of them involves the training of certified gas station specialists in universities and colleges, as well as training in special courses, the completion of which is certified by a corresponding diploma. The second form should include completing a rigorous training program in short courses (lasting from two to six to eight weeks) and attending popular lectures and practical classes organized in universities for non-students. Participants in such courses should not be subject to any mandatory requirements during the educational process, but they should receive special certificates of completion. The third form may include participation in conferences of professional societies, symposia and seminars, as well as familiarization with relevant literature. And finally, the last, fourth form of training is on-the-job training when performing specific work related to solving automation problems.
The training of specialists in the first, basic form at construction universities has a number of features associated, first of all, with the well-known conservatism of the system of higher professional education as a whole. Unfortunately, today faculties focused on promising information technologies are still only gaining strong positions in construction universities. It should be noted, however, that the curricula that form the basis for the professional training of specialists at such faculties represent a natural opportunity to extend their content to the training of engineering and scientific personnel in the field of gas stations, which has been implemented today at MGSU.
Analysis of the situation in The system of multi-level training of specialists would be incomplete without mentioning advanced training courses and subject-oriented courses for specialists engaged in regular work at gas stations. Due to the possible flexibility of constructing training programs within this area, this form of training should take its rightful place in the process of training specialists in the automation of buildings and structures in the very near future.
It should be noted with satisfaction that the existing educational and methodological and The research potential of the AIST Department of the Faculty of ISTAS MGSU is today able to satisfy the growing demand for educational services in the field of gas stations in the framework of any of the areas mentioned above.
Author:
Rulnov A .A.
Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Head. Department of AIST, Faculty of ISTAS MGSU