Development trends for engineering education in the sphere of Smart grids: interdisciplinary approach

Abstract

The experience in the creation of modern educational programs for engineers in the field of smart grids at National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University for the past three years has shown the need for upgrading a basic technical education through the initiation of interdisciplinary courses such as Systems Engineering, Policy Analysis and Management. Another way is the organization of Master Program for Systems Engineering for all students, graduated from technical baccalaureate programs. The latter initiative has been developed in the elaboration of master's program "System analysis and management" (according to the Russian education standard), which was agreed with the standards of international SEPAM program (Systems Engineering, Policy Analysis and Management). The project have been presented at the annual forum where top managers of large and medium-sized Russian companies were interviewed about present-day engineer priority qualities. The results showed that the leaders of the industry share the view that in order to overcome the economic stagnation the technical education should combine competencies of systems thinking and multidisciplinary approach. These contributions are valid for the training of engineers for smart grids. It requires the further research for other sectors of the economy and industry in the Russian Federation.