Last April, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Valery Nikolaevich Falkov, announced the ministry's intention to strengthen cooperation between universities, science, and industry. He emphasized that at the new stage of implementing flagship programs and the full range of government support instruments, key attention will be paid to creating major partnerships and consortia tailored to specific objectives.

Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI" is expanding its partnerships not only within Russia but also in friendly countries, including through the creation and implementation of joint educational programs. This increases the number of effective venues with technically equipped laboratories and a strong research base where students gain international experience.

In April, six LETI Master’s students completed a two-week internship at the Malaysian University of Technology (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM) under the English-taught master's program "Quantum Photonics and Quantum Technologies." This program was developed and is being implemented with the support of the Rosatom State Corporation as part of the "Obninsk Tech" project.

During the internship, students became acquainted with advanced methods of developing and implementing optical communication systems, photonic devices, materials, and components. In turn, the Malaysian university developed a special educational module for them, covering disciplines such as "Optical Communications," "Optical Materials," and "Optical Sensors." In addition to lectures and practical sessions, the students visited UTM laboratories and presented reports on their own research to the university's students and faculty.

«The English-taught master's program 'Quantum Photonics and Quantum Technologies' focuses on the study of classical and quantum optics, electronics and materials science, materials and communications, the development of integrated and fiber optics components, the creation of photonic integrated circuits, and work with laser systems and 3D scanners. A key feature of the program is its applied orientation: students conduct scientific research and participate in development projects at ETU 'LETI' laboratories and at experimental sites of partner enterprises and universities. This program is part of the 'Obninsk Tech' project portfolio, and students also undergo internships at enterprises in Obninsk. The Universiti Teknologi Malaysia is a long-standing and reliable partner of LETI, possessing excellent laboratory equipment and a research base for gaining international experience».

Vice-Rector for International Affairs at ETU "LETI", Head of the "Obninsk Tech" project Anastasia Andreevna Minina

The internship continued the series of educational projects carried out in cooperation with the Malaysian university and became another step towards expanding partnerships with universities in friendly countries. Last year, an electronics lecturer from UTM participated in the "Summer Institute" program conducted by ETU "LETI" with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

«Academic dialogue in modern education and science is a driver for the advancement of knowledge. This is particularly valuable in the quantum field: there are many individual training courses, and we are working to ensure that quantum technologies become an important component of Rosatom's overall educational ecosystem. Combining the experience of different universities and countries is one of the tasks we intend to accomplish within the framework of the networked Quantum University. The Russian-Malaysian experience of educational cooperation at 'LETI' will enrich the repository of approaches for training personnel for the future quantum industry».

Director of the Department for Human Resources Development and Educational Ecosystem at Rosatom Quantum Technologies Roman Andreevich Ilyin

 

Abbas Taimur, a 2nd-year master's student at the Faculty of Electronics (FEL), noted that the internship provided an opportunity to get acquainted with the advanced developments of Malaysian scientists in the field of photonics. He also emphasized that working in a different cultural environment allowed him to gain not only professional knowledge but also the skills required to collaborate with people from other academic traditions.

Another internship participant, 2nd-year FEL Master’s student Amir Sohail, called the internship a unique chance to acquire the qualities necessary for a modern scientist: experience in participating in academic mobility programs, the ability to utilize technologies of foreign colleagues in his work, including in the fields of optical communications, materials, and sensors, as well as to compare different research approaches and select the most effective one.

Olga Gribovskaya, also a 2nd-year master's student at FEL, noted the program's intensity. She considers the experience of working with foreign industrial partners to be the most valuable for herself. She emphasizes that this is an opportunity to stand out among other job market applicants and serves as the foundation for a successful career.