Industrial partnership in the concept of the triangle of knowledge at the Department of Software Tools of ZNTU

The software tools department of the Zaporizhzhia National Technical University (ZNTU) actively implements the concept of the knowledge triangle «science-education-production» for the training of students within the framework of the implementation of the international projects «Internet of things: a new curriculum for the needs of industry and society» (ALIOT, registration number 573818-EPP-1-2016-1-UK-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP) and «Innovative multidisciplinary training program for bachelors and masters in artificial implants for bioengineering» (BIOART, reg. no. 586114-EPP-1-2017-1-ES-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP) of the Erasmus+ program of the European Union and dissemination of the results of the project «Centers of Excellence for Young Scientists» (CERES, reg. no. 544137-TEMPUS-1-2013-1-SK-TEMPUS-JPHE) of the Tempus program of the European Union.

A key element of work within the knowledge triangle is industrial partnership. The activation of the department’s cooperation with enterprises is stimulated both by the great demand for graduates of the department’s specialties and by the goals of international projects in which the department participates. Thanks to international projects, the teachers of the department adopt the experience of the best foreign universities regarding cooperation with enterprises.

The department has established and maintains connections with the leading IT companies of Zaporizhzhia. Every year, the department organizes meetings of students with representatives of companies, and also ensures the participation of students in the city IT forum. This enables students to find a place for an internship, practice, additional income and, as a result, even before the end of their studies, confidently navigate the labor market and find a pleasant, interesting and highly paid job.

At the expense of European Union projects, the department constantly updates its material and technical base (in particular, in 2017, a new computer laboratory of the department was created in room 49, which is equipped with equipment purchased thanks to the CERES project). But also cooperation with companies allows to develop and improve the material and technical base as well.

The Light IT company provided the department with a multimedia projector, which allows for lectures and mass events accompanied by computer presentations.

The company Livestream, which is part of Vimeo, provided the department with two laptops and four tablets for support.

The Freshcode company helped the Department of Software Tools of ZNTU to ensure the connection of the new computer laboratory (room 49) to the Internet and the university-wide network, for which it donated a network cable.

Previously, the Freshcode company provided the department with software tools and a router for organizing wireless access of students and teachers of the department to the Internet. The use of Wi-Fi is now possible both for the students’ own needs during breaks and classes, as well as for the organization of virtual laboratories in the lecture halls of the department and faculty. This allows you to hold interesting master classes and other mass events for students, where you need to use computer equipment with Internet access.

The non-governmental organization «ZNSO» with the assistance of the Canadian company Fintegro presented the department of software with three air conditioners, a lamp for a multimedia projector, and a powerful computer for the teaching staff.

The public organization «Ekosens» provides the department with sets of Lego constructors for creating robots and fees for classes on embedded systems.

Also, the companies Freshcode, Light IT, Livestream and SQURO help the department in the production of campaign booklets and banners to attract applicants.

An important element of the department’s cooperation with leading IT companies is the organization and holding of master classes.

In April 2018, a cycle of three master classes by the Freshcode company took place at the Department of Software Tools of ZNTU. Students of the Faculty of Computer Sciences had the opportunity to gain experience in solving real problems for free, to communicate with practical specialists, to expand their horizons and to get employment prospects in the leading IT company of the region. The students’ participation in the master classes was marked by the Freshcode company’s name certificates, which will be useful in the future employment of the students. The souvenirs from the Freshcode company, which were presented to them together with the diplomas, turned out to be pleasant and useful for the participants of the master classes. Cooperation between the Freshcode company and the Department of Software Tools of ZNTU allows the department to develop the material and technical base and provide comfortable learning conditions for students.

Also on 05/08/2018, the department of software tools of ZNTU hosted a master class of the department’s partner – the company LIGHT IT on the Python programming language. Students who have previously studied or are currently studying Python learned about the possible areas of practical application of the knowledge gained at the department, and also had the opportunity to find a place for potential employment and internship. The students of the department showed considerable interest in the pre-diploma internship at the LIGHT IT company, where the department sent more than 50 students.

GO «ZNSO» traditionally supports the holding of the cathedral section of the students’ scientific conference «Science Week». On April 20, 2018, a meeting of the «Software» departmental section of the annual scientific conference «Science Week» was held at the Department of Software Tools of ZNTU, which was held with the support of international projects of the Erasmus+ program BIOART and ALIOT and as a continuation of the previously implemented Tempus CERES project. The teachers and students submitted a record number of report abstracts – more than 70. During the section meeting, the speakers presented interesting reports about the scientific research and engineering developments of the department. According to the results of the work of the section, the best reports were awarded. The partner of the department – the representative of the NGO «ZNSO» and Real IT School Yu. Oliynyk awarded the authors of the best reports with certificates worth 500 hryvnias. Such support has already become traditional. Students of the Department of Software Tools of ZNTU are the only ones in the university to receive valuable awards from sponsors for the second year in a row as a result of the Science Week section.

The Livestream (Vimeo) company traditionally supports the regional tour of the All-Ukrainian Student Olympiad in ACM Programming. On April 11, 2018, the department of software tools hosted the participants of the Zaporizhzhia regional tour of the All-Ukrainian Programming Olympiad, for whom a trial tour was organized. First, for the participants of the trial tour, associate professor N.O. Mironova and student E. Tverdokhlib conducted a master class on working with the ejudge system for novice teams. After that, a trial tour was held in the form of a competition. The event was supported by ACM, IBM and Vimeo. On April 21, 2018, ZNTU hosted the first stage of the All-Ukrainian Programming Olympiad under the auspices of ACM. The organization and holding of the Olympiad was carried out on the basis of the department of software tools, the department of computer systems and networks, the department of information protection and the department of information technologies of electronic means. 34 teams in the student division took part in the Olympiad (22 teams of ZNTU, 6 teams of ZDIA, 2 teams of BDPU, 2 teams of TDAU, 1 team of MDPU, 1 team of ZNU), 4 college teams (2 teams of EPK of ZNU, 1 team of ZAK, 1 team of KPU college), 11 school teams (4 teams of gymnasium 28, one team of gymnasium 31, three teams lyceum 62, 2 teams of lyceum 99, one team of secondary school 16 Berdyansk). Video broadcasting of the event on the Internet, souvenirs for participants and food was provided by Livestream (Vimeo).

Thanks to cooperation with the industry, the department provides students with the opportunity to acquire professional knowledge, skills and abilities, which are a significant need for the industry, and therefore are a guarantee of their secure future.

Head of the Department of Software
S.O. Saturday