Edward Crawley, Professor of MIT, Visits ASU

On May 25, 2016, Edward F. Crawley, Professor of Aeronautics, Astronautics, and Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, President of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology of the Skolkovo Innovation Center, visited Astrakhan State University.

The distinguished guest’s visit began with the Technopark of our University: he watched our students’ defenses of their bachelor papers in Genetics, Zoological Engineering, etc. After talking with our students, Prof. Crawley said that he was satisfied with the quality of their education.

After visiting our Technopark, Prof. Crawley met our University Administration at our Assembly Hall. President of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology gave a report related to introduction of the CDIO World Initiative in Russia and enhancement of educating students in engineering and other fields of knowledge. He pointed out that he has never seen a university so committed to the CDIO principles as Astrakhan State University. In his speech, Prof. Crawley emphasized leadership technologies that the MIT applies in its educational activities. As a rule, its syllabi have no special discipline aiming to develop this essential competence, so other disciplines are supposed to develop students’ leadership qualities. He also told much about the educational process at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, where young people, who already got a higher education in technology, enhance their knowledge and skills by plunging into engineering activities deeply.

Prof. Crawley’s speech was followed with a discussion: the distinguished guest answered his audience’s questions about activities that the Leadership Lab performs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, about improvement of students’ teamwork, about special assignments for students to develop their leadership qualities, about experience of student communication at different levels, etc.

Prof. Alexander Lunyov, Acting Rector of ASU, thanked Prof. Edward Crawley for his interesting and valuable report, which made it possible to take a new look at the current issues of engineering education. In his turn, the US guest said that his visit to ASU was a real surprise for him; he was delighted to see a high level of education at ASU and intense activities of its faculty in engineering. He added that after visiting Astrakhan State University, he got another real proof that education in Russia is one of the best in the world.