Faculty of Transport

History of the Faculty of Transport

The Faculty of Transport (and earlier Automobile, Automechanics) is one of the oldest faculties of the National University «Zaporizhia Polytechnic». His appearance at the university dates back to the post-war years, when the city of Zaporizhia became the most important industrial center of the country and there was an urgent need for specialists, especially in the field of domestic transport engineering.

The Automobile Faculty was established at the Zaporizhia Mechanical Engineering Institute by order of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education of the Ukrainian SSR on May 10, 1961, as a part of the departments: «Resistance of Materials» (head of the department Assoc. G. A. Ovanesov), «Theoretical Mechanics and Theory of Mechanisms and Machines» (head of the Department Assoc. I. I. Ivakhnin), «Heat Engineering and Hydraulics» (head of the department Assoc. V. D. Olyak) and «Sketch geometry and drawing» (head of the department P. F. Bulat).   The need to open the faculty was determined by the rapid development of the automobile and aviation industry in those years. In different years of the faculty’s existence, it was headed by Assoc. Boris Petorvych Borisov (1961 – 1985), Assoc. Volodymyr Khomych Kozyrev (1985 – 1998, 2000 – 2016), Assoc. Oleksandr Viktorovich Yavtushenko (1998 – 2000). Since 2016, the faculty has been headed by prof. Oleksiy Feliksovich Kuzkin.   In 1964, the Department of «Automobiles» was separated from the Department of «Thermal Engineering and Hydraulics» of the Zaporizhzhya Mechanical Engineering Institute, the first head of which was appointed Assoc. A. M. Holomidov. A year after the establishment of the «Industrial Transport» department at the institute in 1972, which was headed by Assoc. I. P. Zavhorodniy, the specialty «Industrial transport» was transferred from machine-building to the automotive faculty, and in 1974 the automotive faculty included the departments «Automobiles» (head of Assoc. A.M. Holomidov), «Industrial Transport» (head of Assoc. G.F. Babushkin), «Thermal engineering and hydraulics» (head of Assoc. V. D. Olyak), «Theory of mechanisms and machines and theoretical mechanics» (head of Assoc. I. I. Ivakhnin), «Resistance of materials» (head of Prof. V. V. Abramov), «Sketch geometry and drawing» (head of Assoc. Yu. O. Vinogradov). The latter in 1980 became part of the mechanical and technological faculty formed at the institute.   In 1994, the automotive faculty was renamed to automechanics, the department «Sketch geometry and drawing» returned to its composition, and the department «Automation of forging and stamping production» (head Prof. V.I. Dubina) was included. On the basis of the Department «Automobiles» the training of specialists in the specialty «Internal Combustion Engines» was started.   In 1999, the «Industrial Transport» department was renamed «Transport Technologies», and in 2014, the «Thermal Engineering and Hydraulics» department became a graduation department specializing in «Internal Combustion Engines» and received the same name. In 2017, the «Mechanics» department became part of the newly formed Faculty of Construction, Architecture and Design.

After the reorganization of 2024, the department of «Automobiles, heat engines and hybrid power plants» was formed at the transport faculty by merging the departments «Automobiles» and «Internal combustion engines» (acting head associate professor O. M. Artyukh). In addition to the aforementioned department, the faculty currently includes Department «Transport Technologies» (head Prof. S.M. Turpak) and Department of «Theoretical and Applied Mechanics» (Head Associate Professor V. G. Shevchenko).   In different years, the faculty trained specialists in the following specialties: «Cars and tractors» and «Aviation engines» (since 1961), «Industrial transport» (since 1972), «Wheel and tracked vehicles» (since 1995), «Organization of transportation and transport management» and «Pressure processing of metals» (since 1994), «Internal combustion engines» (since 2000), «Organization and regulation of traffic» (since 2001), «Transport systems» (since 2005). In 2024, on the basis of Department «Transport Technologies», the training of bachelors under the educational program «Flight operation of aircraft» specialty 272 «Aviation transport» was launched.   From the first years of its existence, the team of the Faculty of Transport has developed extensive scientific and research work. Back in those years, the main directions of fundamental and applied research were defined, on which the faculty’s employees are still conducting significant work. Scientific and research laboratories for high-speed separation of grain piles, research of metal constructions of cargo lifting cranes, development of pressing and stamping technology of non-ferrous and liquid powdered metals functioned at the faultet.   Starting from 1962, great attention was paid to the involvement of faculty students in research work. The main forms for junior year students were essays, translation of scientific articles from foreign languages, participation in student scientific creative circles, Olympiads; for senior year students – performance of laboratory work on the subject of faculty research, participation in research works on non-budgetary topics, performance of real course and diploma projects on the subject proposed by enterprises or related to scientific developments of the departments, participation in competitions of student scientific works. In 1975, a council for scientific research work of students was created at the faculty, which was headed by the dean of the faculty, Assoc. B. P. Borisov.   A significant achievement of the faculty was the creation in 1972 of the children’s microcar «Pioneer» by students V. Myagkov, V. Kostychev, S. Tytov and S. Korzh under the leadership of senior teacher H. Borysenko. The students independently developed the project, made most of the parts and components by themselves, and submitted the assembled and road-tested car for consideration by the state examination commission. The microcar was demonstrated at the exhibition of achievements of the national economy of Ukraine and was recommended for serial production.   A group of students under the leadership of the head of the «Automobiles» department A. M. Holomydov created a light, maneuverable sports car «Buggy», which proved itself promising at the first demonstration competitions. A major contribution to the development of motor sports on «Buggy» cars was made by the student Yu. V. Avalyani, for whom he still creates sports cars.   An important step towards the further improvement of scientific research, which was conducted by scientists of the faculty, together with specialists of the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant «Komunar», was the publication in 1970 of a collection of scientific works «Calculation, design and research of the Zaporozhets car».   In the 80s of the last century, with the direct participation of the team of the «Automobiles» department, recommendations were developed and implemented regarding the parameters of the installation of steering wheels of the VAZ-2108 and ZAZ-1102 «Tavria» cars, the design features of the front and rear suspensions, and the recommendations regarding the design features of radial car tires with a metal cord were implemented at the «Bobruiskshina» Higher Education Institution.   In the second half of 1984, the construction of student dormitory No. 5 and an extension to the main building of the university began. Nineteen students of groups A-113 and A-123 of the automotive faculty worked in construction in three shifts and studied in two shifts. Thanks to the excellent work of the students, the construction work was completed in May 1986, and on the wall of the dormitory No. 5 you can still see the abbreviations of the groups, which confirm the active participation of the students of the faculty in intra-university construction.    Under the leadership of the dean of the faculty, candidate technical of Sciences, associate professor, academician of the Transport Academy of Ukraine Volodymyr Khomych Kozyrev since the mid-80s of the last century, the faculty has become a powerful educational and research complex. Scientific schools were created in it in the fields of general issues of vehicle design, controllability and stability of vehicles, wheeled vehicles, heat engineering, mechanics of dynamic systems.   In 1987, by order of the director of the Komunar automobile plant, S. I. Kravchun, a branch of the «Automobiles» department was created at the enterprise, which later became a branch of the transport faculty. Over the years of cooperation between PJSC «ZAZ» and National University «Zaporizh Polytechnic», a large number of specialists were trained who worked and are working at the enterprise in various areas of production, including in managerial positions. In 2017, for the 30th anniversary of the formation of the branch of the transport faculty at ZAZ PJSC, Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University received from the graduates of the «machines» – the Kravchuns family, a valuable gift – a ZAZ-965 «Zaporozhets» car in fully working condition, which became the central exhibit of the revived museum of the history of technical progress at the university.    In 1998, a university school for training drivers was opened at the «Automobile» department of the transport faculty, which over the 13 years of its existence trained more than 900 «B» category drivers.   In the autumn of 2003, with the support of the university management and the transport faculty, the team of the «Automobiles» department carried out reconstruction of the territory around its educational building. Graduates of the faculty of past years took part in the planting of young chestnuts and birch trees, dedicated to the anniversary of the university’s establishment, and planted their trees: the mayor of Zaporizhia Ye. G. Kartashov, the rector of the university SB Belikov, the first dean of the faculty BP Borysov and others.   Together with the Zaporizhia Institute of Teacher Improvement, since 1978, the Department of Sketch Geometry, Engineering and Computer Graphics of the Zaporizhia National Technical University has held an annual regional Olympiad for schoolchildren in technical drawing. In 2017, this Olympiad was held for the last, fortieth time. It was attended by 54 participants of grades 8-11 of educational institutions of the city of Zaporizhia and the Zaporizhia region.   In 2007-2016, the All-Ukrainian student Olympiad in the specialty «Organization and regulation of traffic» was founded and held for the first time on the basis of the Department of Transport Technologies. The Olympiad was attended by students of the leading transport universities of Ukraine: National Transport University (Kyiv), Kharkiv National Automobile and Road University, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv State University of Life Safety, Kharkiv National University of Urban Economy, Automobile and Road Institute of Donetsk National Technical University (Horlivka), Donetsk Academy of Automobile Transport, Kremenchug National University named after M. Ostrogradskyi. Conducting similar events at Zaporizhia Polytechnic National University contributed to the establishment and strengthening of creative and scientific ties between related departments of the participating universities, and to the improvement of the quality of training of specialists for the transport industry.   Student life is not limited to studies and scientific work. Scientists, teachers, employees and students were engaged in sports, artistic creativity, took an active part in the life of the faculty, university, city and country.   For many years, the faculty’s national teams from various sports became the champions of the university sports day. Every year, the number of participants in the «For cheerfulness and health» university sports competition increased, the faculty team constantly took part in inter-faculty competitions.   Today, the faculty of transport includes three departments: two profiling departments («Cars, heat engines and hybrid power plants», acting head associate professor O. M. Artyukh; «Transport technologies», head Prof. S.M. Turpak, and the head of the «Theoretical and Applied Mechanics» Department Assoc. V.G. Shevchenko.  For more than 60 years of its existence, the faculty has trained about 15,000 specialists for the transport industry. The contingent of students in 2024 includes more than 800 full-time, part-time and dual study students.   Today, the Faculty of Transport not only relies on the rich experience of traditions, but also constantly improves along with the latest trends in the engineering and transport industries. The consensus of teachers of different age groups – the «old» school, the first specialists in the field in independent Ukraine, and the new young generation of teachers and researchers makes it possible to use the potential of scientific creativity and teaching-educational activities to the fullest. The quality of training of specialists is ensured by the teaching staff, which includes 9 doctors of science, professors; 17 candidates of sciences, associate professors; highly qualified and experienced senior teachers, assistants and educational support staff.    The department of the faculty operates educational laboratories for testing internal combustion engines, thermal engineering and hydraulics, operation and repair of wheeled and tracked vehicles, electrical and electronic equipment of cars, testing and diagnostics of cars, organization of traffic on road transport, logistics on road and railway transport, rolling stock of transport, mechanical tests, educational and production workshop.

The faculty maintains creative, scientific and industrial relations with a number of industrial enterprises, scientific and educational institutions, including: JSC «Motor-Sich», PJSC «ZAZ», Melitopol Motor Plant, ZMKB «Progress», Zaporizhzhia State Medical University, Eastern Research Center of the Transport Academy of Ukraine, National Transport University, Kharkiv National Automobile and Road University, NTU «Kyiv» Polytechnic Institute, NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute», Kharkiv National University of Urban Economy, National University «Lviv Polytechnic», PJSC «Zaporizhstal», PJSC «Dniprospetsstal», Zaporizhia River Port and others.   A significant contribution to the formation and development of the material and technical base of the faculty’s departments, scientific research and training of scientific personnel, education of the growing generation of specialists was made by: the rector of Zaporizhzhya Machine-Building Institute prof. P. A. Mykhaylov; chief designer of Zaporizhzhya Automobile Plant V. P. Steshenko; deans B. P. Borysov, V. F. Kozyrev and O. V. Yavtushenko; Honored Worker of the Higher School of the Ukrainian SSR Prof. V. V. Abramov; professors M. G. Garmash, V. I. Dubina, G. F. Babushkin, G. I. Slynko; Laureates of the State Prize Assoc. S. Z. Yudovych and I. P. Zavhorodniy; associate professors P. M. Kichaev, A. M. Holomidov, V. D. Olyak, V. I. Dechev, G. M. Kidina, I. I. Ivakhnin, Yu. O. Vinogradov, V. P. Yudin, I. D. Bulavchenko, Yu. I. Tyshchenko, V. V. Brylov, E. V. Gavrov, G. O. Pugachev, V. I. Sumskyi, V. G. Shevchenko; teachers P. F. Bulat, V. K. Lyakh and many others.   The Faculty is proud of its graduates who have worked and will continue to work in various positions, performing research, engineering, technological, teaching and management functions. Among the most famous graduates of the Faculty of Transport is the long-term rector of Zaporizhzhya Polytechnic National University, prof. S. B. Belikov; Kand Philos. Sciences, former head of the Zaporizhia Regional State Administration and mayor E. G. Kartashov; People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the 6th convocation, head of the Zaporizhia Regional State Administration in 2010-2011 B. F. Petrov; O. Kh. Papashev, vice president of the «Ukravto» corporation; P. M. Prusov, leading design engineer of PJSC «AvtoVAZ»; Chairman of the Supervisory Board of PJSC «AvtoKrAZ» S. V. Sazonov; chairman of the supervisory board of PJSC «Zaporizhaluminbud Trust» Yu. P. Yakovenko; People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the 2nd and 3rd convocations Assoc. V. I. Ponedilko; president of the «Zaporizhobalavtotrans» association Ye. I. Ivanov; in the past general director of KPMET «Zaporizhelectrotrans», and now – director of the Zaporizhzhia Vocational Lyceum of Motor Vehicles M. V. Ryzhenkykh; director of TPU JSC Motor-Sich, chairman of JSC Molochniy Vovchenko, former head of the Zaporizhzhya city council, candidate of technical sciences, V. I. Pylypenko; href=«https://zp.edu.ua/faculty/mashinobudivnij-fakultet/»>engineering and humanities faculties docents V. I. Hlushko and M. V. Dyedkov and others.