Current situation in personnel training
Specialists with higher education for the aluminium industry are prepared in the field of metallurgy, materials science and materials technology (according to bachelor's, master's and postgraduate programmes).
Today, 72 universities and 21 branches in 46 regions of Russia implement educational programmes in metallurgy, materials science and materials technologies (please see the Appendix). 15,720 students study in the framework of such programmes. Since 2015, the number of graduate metallurgists has increased by 25% and amounted to 4,062 persons in 2017.
The annual state task to higher education institutions for training of specialists takes into account the needs of regions and industries within a particular profile. The procedure for allocating budget places for higher education programmes prescribed by the Government of the Russian Federation provides for multi-stage coordination of the budget place volumes with the entities of the Russian Federation and with the so-called 'centres of responsibility' — representatives of industries. The centre of responsibility for allocating budget places for programmes in the field of metallurgy and materials technology is Non-Profit Partnership Materials and Technologies of Metallurgy Technological Platform. Every year, about 5,000 budget places are allocated for personnel training in the field of metallurgy and materials technology.
At the same time, it should be noted that production facilities of the aluminium industry should use more actively the mechanism of targeted personnel training for governmental authorities and organisations of various forms of ownership provided by Federal Law No 273-FZ dated December 29, 2012 'On Education in the Russian Federation'.
The targeted training mechanism involves obligatory employment of a graduate who was enrolled for training within the targeted programme or with whom a targeted training contract was signed during implementation of the educational programme.
A targeted training contract can be signed by organisations of various forms of ownership with a student of any year. This allows employers to sign targeted training contracts with the most prepared and motivated students, as well as to hire a skilled employee in a shorter period of time.
Currently, significant amendments have been made to the targeted training legislation which will take effect since January 1, 2019. The amendments are related to stricter responsibility of the customer and the student who is trained under the targeted contract: they prescribe the term of employment at the end of training — at least three years, increase financial responsibility of both the customer and the student in case of failure to perform their obligations.
According to the training programmes in metallurgy, materials science and technology materials, only 6% of students study under targeted training contracts (for example, 50% of medical personnel is educated under targeted contracts).
Special training programmes
Training programmes for metallurgists are implemented by 72 higher education establishments. Profile training of specialists for the aluminium industry is implemented in the major universities and institutes: Siberian Federal University, Saint Petersburg Mining University, Irkutsk National Research Technical University, and Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys (MISiS).
All these universities work closely with production facilities of the industry both during implementation of their training programmes and in scientific and technological projects. For example, MISiS together with United Company RUSAL created the Institute of Light Materials and Technologies which implements joint complex projects with the participation of teachers, students and researchers. For two years, they implemented projects for about USD 20 mln.
Wish to future specialists
I wish to all current students – future specialists not only in the aluminium industry, but also in other industries an active and exciting student life, teachers who are professional and interested in the success of their graduates, as well as a successful professional career. I believe that today the key learning outcome for students is a 'habit of learning', as the pace of technological change makes it necessary to constantly update their professional knowledge and skills in order to achieve success and have a good job.