Digital transformation of NU «Zaporizka Polytechnic»

Wed, 10/08/2022 – 17:25| 

According to the current models of higher education development for the next 10-15 years, a modern university is not only a physical space, but also a digital one. The traditional form of knowledge transfer is undergoing significant changes. Quite successful cases of using digital tools are already being used in leading universities both in the traditional educational process, and new digital learning models are emerging. Leading universities try to be competitive and modern, to keep up with the times, therefore they deliberately undergo a deep digital transformation of all structures in order to move to a qualitatively new level of scientific, educational, management and communication processes. The Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic does not remain aloof.

Thanks to the Erasmus+ project 619034-EPP-1-2020-1-UA-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP «Cross-domain competencies for healthy and safe work in the 21st century» [WORK4CE], as part of the development of the digital information ecosystem and the university’s development strategy for «Zaporizka Polytechnic» NU purchased the software complex «Automated educational institution management system» (ASU) from the company «MKR» of Kharkiv.

The system was chosen as the best among several offers of similar software products that are currently on the Ukrainian market. The experience of its implementation in more than forty educational institutions of Ukraine was also taken into account.

The ACS is a set of interconnected programs that provide management of the university in a single information space and contains modules that work in the Windows environment (educational module, dean’s office, applicant, methodical module, university workload, electronic magazine, personnel department, etc.), and a WEB portal (displaying the schedule of classes, the success rate of students, educational plans, tuition fees, control of tuition fees and dormitories, etc.). All information is stored in a single common database.

The main distinctive features of the complex are the availability of a tool for independent creation of various printed forms and statistical screen forms, which makes the automated management system of the educational institution almost independent of developers. Current functional capabilities, as the analysis showed, make it possible to cover virtually all individual features of the university without software modification of the code.

ASU has a mobile application «Schedule» developed for Android and the App Store. The «Document circulation» and «Management control» systems are functioning. Also, the «Individual plan of the teacher» system operates in the ACS, where the planned types of work are indicated and a report on their implementation is made.

The complex allows you to create and take into account individual learning trajectories of applicants. This opportunity is realized through the formation of various catalogs of educational components with the indication of credits, types of control and semesters. In the personal account of the WEB-portal, applicants choose educational components and add them to an individual study plan.

Among the numerous advantages of the acquired ACS is also a system of anonymous survey of applicants, order of references by applicants, informer for applicants and teachers, system of rating of teachers, etc.

Currently, the process of filling databases for ACS modules has been started, in particular, information about the university’s classroom fund, scientific and pedagogical staff, educational components, study plans, education seekers, etc. is added to the system. In parallel, under the guidance of the developers, the training of the employees of the educational department takes place, who will later share their experience of working with the system with other employees of the university.

After the implementation of ACS in Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic University, it is planned to launch it in separate structural units of the university – colleges, which will allow to create a unified management complex of Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic University.

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