Relations with foreign universities
Partnership with international companies
Double diplomas and study abroad
The Department of Power Systems Automation has scientific and academic ties with higher education institutions in Europe, the United States and Canada. The best students of our department have the opportunity to study abroad and participate in the double degree program in cooperation with the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD, Erasmus+ credit mobility programme, the Fulbright academic exchanges programme.
German Academic Exchange Service DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst)
The German Academic Exchange Service DAAD is an intermediary organization of foreign cultural policy, educational and scientific policy, as well as the development of cooperation in the field of higher education.
The DAAD General Directorate is located in Bonn, it is the center of management for all domestic and international DAAD activities. The Berlin office in the Gendarmenmarkt Science Forum is the second largest DAAD office in Germany. Abroad, DAAD is represented by a wide network of offices, associate professors and associations of former scholarship holders and offers on-site information and advice: branches and information centers (ICs) around the world provide contact with partners, as well as effective communication, programs and on-site consultations.
Even a quick glance at history shows that the DAAD unites people and science. The service, founded in 1925 in Heidelberg on the initiative of individual students, is now one of the most important organizations for promoting international exchange of students and scholars.
Since its inception, DAAD has provided support to around 2 million people from Germany and abroad. The German Academic Exchange Service is an association of German universities and student organizations. Her activities go far beyond scholarship programs: DAAD contributes to the internationalization of German universities, the strengthening of German studies and the German language abroad, supports developing countries in the process of building strong universities and advises responsible specialists in the field of educational policy, research abroad and developing countries policy.
The budget for the scholarships comes primarily from federal funds from various ministries, primarily the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and enterprises, organizations and foreign governments.
The basis of DAAD’s activities is a deep and detailed knowledge of interuniversity cooperation structures and scientific systems around the world. In doing so, DAAD can rely on the professional experience of its employees and on the worldwide network of offices, information centers and lecturers. This knowledge is constantly updated and offered for making strategic decisions by the participants. Based on this knowledge, DAAD will be able to more effectively carry out its function of initiating the internationalization of the scientific system.
On February 5, 1998, a “Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Education of Ukraine and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)” was signed in Kyiv, envisaging the opening of a DAAD office in Kyiv. The office opened on April 16, 1998. It is located on the territory of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” (building 6, room 31).
The tasks of the office primarily include:
- informing and consulting about the system of higher education in Germany, about opportunities to study in Germany and receive a scholarship;
- organizing and conducting a competition for DAAD scholarships;
- maintaining contacts with former DAAD fellows (informing, inviting fellows to a meeting, etc.);
- consulting the representatives of German universities who study or conduct research in Ukraine;
- maintaining contacts with German and Ukrainian universities, faculties and others (for example: information reports at universities, consultations within the framework of interuniversity partnerships);
- cooperation with the Ministry of Education of Ukraine, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and others;
- cooperation with other representatives of German organizations in the field of education (Goethe Institute, CFA and others);
- cooperation with DAAD lecturers working in Ukraine.
Erasmus+ credit mobility program
1 January 2014 is the date of the start of new programme of the European Union named “Erasmus+” for development of skills and workability in the spheres of education, youth and sports. During the period from 2014 to 2020 programme has supplied more than 4 millions europeans with opportunities to study, get the professional skills, receive the work experience or become the volunteer abroad. The initiative of the programme “Erasmus+” in the fields of education and professional training is well-known because of opportunities that it provides for students to study abroad and because of those possibilities it gives for the staff of higher educational institutions. 14.7 billion euro was allocated for the programme spendings.
“Erasmus+” programme combines in one the uninterrupted educational EU programme, EU programme “Youth in action”, and also 5 previous programmes in the field of higher education for non-EU countries (Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Alfa, Edulink and Cooperation programme with developped countries). As “Erasmus+” programme is based on the previous programmes, the most successful aspects and proved concepts of predecessors were used. Therewith the programme integrates now the fundings in the field of sports.
“Erasmus+” activates three different directions in the fields of education, youth and sports:
- credit mobility – Educational mobility for people of all the spheres of general and professional education;
- cooperation projects – Strategic partnership with scientific institutions “Sector Skills Alliances”, IT-platforms including partnerships via eTwinning between educational institutions from EU-countries and partner countries;
- reforms support – Support of modernization of higer education in all fields of general and professional education, development and implementation of recognized EU instruments of transparency. Creation of the expert network on reformation of the higher education as well as support of the dialogue about educational policy.
The goal of “Erasmus+” programme for the higher education is the modernization and improvement of education in European and world higher educational institutions. It provides the opportunities for students and staff to develop their skills and improve their career prospectives.
Advantages of participation in exchange programmes “Erasmus+”:
- educational – opportunity to compare the quality of education, methods and methodics of teaching as well as the operation of higher educational institutions abroad;
- linguistic – a chance to learn the foreign language and terminology common for the exact field of knowledge;
- cultural – meeting with the culture of the country, way of life of its citizens and students;
- life experience – perspectives to become independent and develop the skill to combat unexpected situations.
The participation in the student’s mobility could become the priceless experience because students are inspired to meet the challenge and take the opportunity provided by the European Union – to study abroad.
The Fulbright academic exchanges programme
Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program is the oldest and most prestigious international program for exchange of scholars and students funded by the United States government. Today it supports academic exchanges with 155 countries of the world. However, it was not always so, especially within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Initially, the USSR did not participate in the Fulbright Program or any other exchange programs with the U.S. Only in 1958 President Dwight Eisenhower and Premier Nikita Khrushchev signed the General Exchanges Agreement, establishing U.S. – USSR exchanges. In 1968 the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) was created to administer these academic exchanges.
However, it was not until the 1973-74 academic year that the Fulbright Program was finally established in the USSR. During the ensuing two decades only a small number of American scholars were able to visit Ukraine under these programs, and very few scholars from Ukraine became Fulbright and IREX scholars and studied in the U.S.
Following Ukraine’s attainment of independence in 1991, the country became much more open to international educational exchange programs. The Fulbright Program was opened in Ukraine at the beginning of 1992. Its goal was and remains to increase the mutual understanding between people of the United States and Ukraine through scholarly and research exchanges. Originally, the Fulbright Program was managed by the United States Information Agency (USIA) through the United States Embassy. A Fulbright office separate from the embassy was established in Kyiv in 1998.
Since the inception of the Fulbright Program in Ukraine, nearly 1000 Ukrainian scholars, students, and professionals have traveled to the United States for research or study in U.S. institutions of higher education. During the same period, more than 650 U.S scholars, students, and professionals have participated in the Fulbright Program in Ukraine as university lecturers, researchers, and consultants. Fulbright alumni in the United States are active citizens and make up a significant lobby which doesn’t let the U.S. Congress forget about supporting educational programs. Funding for the Fulbright Program is designated every year by the U.S. Congress as part of the annual budget.
Alumni of Ukrainian Fulbright programs established an alumni association in 1999. The Ukrainian Fulbright Association and its members play an active role in Ukraine’s intellectual and civic communities, developing and sustaining academic and educational programs at institutions of higher education throughout Ukraine. Through a Small Grants Program, Ukrainian Fulbright alumni are able to receive support for conferences, seminars, roundtable discussions, and other programs which they organize; for participation in academic events in Ukraine and around the world; and for publishing individual research as articles or monographs.
Relations with foreign universities
Higher Technical School of Central Hesse. University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
The German University of Applied Sciences Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen – University of Applied Sciences was founded in 1971. It has branches in Giessen, Friedberg and Wetzlar. Today, the University has about 16,000 students.
At the beginning of June 2016, negotiations were held on the creation of a double master’s degree program between Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences.
In October 2017, a working group of specialists from the Department of Power Systems Automation and the Department of Automation of Electromechanical Systems and Electric Drive of the Faculty of Electric Power Engineering and Automatics visited Germany as part of the project “Partnership with Developing Countries in 2017”, which is funded by the DAAD world organization. At the meeting of the working group with THM representatives, the current problems of cooperation were discussed, the main of which is the creation of an international office at our university for joint research, projects and training of masters under the Double Diploma program, thanks to which students of our department will be able to study part of the master’s cycle disciplines in Germany. A number of important issues were discussed at the meeting, special attention was paid to the master’s program, which will begin in autumn 2018. Curricula were agreed upon, research areas were discussed and the terms of students’ stay at the University of Applied Sciences in Germany were determined.
In autumn 2017 four FEPEA students were sent to THM in Germany for five months to study and participate in the development of an electric car for the international student competition Carolo-Cup 2018, as well as in projects to develop tools for monitoring transients in the electric power system and to study the modes of electric networks in integration of electric vehicles.
In September 2018, the next visit of the department and faculty specialists to German partners took place. At the meeting with the representatives of THM, the current tasks of cooperation were discussed: implementation of joint research, projects and training of masters under the Double Diploma program. Curricula were agreed upon, research areas were discussed and the terms of students’ stay at the University of Applied Sciences in Germany were determined. Soon, four FEPEA students were sent to TNM in Germany for studying.
During their stay in Germany, our teachers got acquainted with TNM laboratories and took part in the annual Workshop, dedicated to the discussion of the latest developments and research in the field of energy, electromechanics and electric drive. The event was also attended by scientists from the University of Applied Sciences and professors from other universities in Germany. Assistant of the Department of Power Systems Automation Ganna Trunina and Associate Professor of the Department of Automation of Electromechanical Systems and Electric Drive Sergey Kovbasa, Ph.D., made reports in which they talked about actual researches which are carried out at the departments of our faculty.
At the beginning of 2019, in accordance with the decision of the Academic Council of Igor Sikorsky KPI dated 11.02.2019 (Protocol No.2), the “Ukrainian-German Training and Research Center of Power Engineering and Electromechanics at Igor Sikorsky KPI” was founded (Order No.7/27 dated February 22, 2019). The main goal of the Center is to support international cooperation, exchange educational, scientific and technical experience, participate in international scientific and educational programs, develop academic and cultural ties between Igor Sikorsky KPI and the Technical Higher School – the University of Applied Sciences (Hesse, Germany). The center provides information support and coordinates internships for students and postgraduates of the FEPEA of Igor Sikorsky KPI at the Technical High School – University of Applied Sciences in Germany. The center is located in room No.328 of the building No.20.
The University of Warwick (United Kingdom)
Undergraduate and graduate students and the lecturers of the PSA Department are doing collaborative research and are actively participating in an international exchange program with The University of Warwick, located near Coventry, UK.
The University of Warwick is one of the top ten universities in the UK. About 50,000 students study in it, among them there are many foreign students from the EU countries, China, Japan, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Russia. The University takes an active part in many exchange programs for students as well as graduate students and lecturers.
University of Warwick Administrative Building
From March 9 to July 2, 2020, Volodymyr Guliy, an assistant of the Department of Power Systems Automation, underwent an internship at the School of Engineering at the University of Warwick (Coventry, UK) under the Erasmus+ program.
University of Warwick School of Engineering
Under the internship program in the laboratories of the Department of the School of Engineering, a number of experimental studies were carried out with an air energy storage system and the necessary operating characteristics of the equipment were obtained for their subsequent use in creating simulation models that will be used in subsequent studies in this area. The problem of energy efficiency is relevant today and therefore the use of air energy storage systems will increase the efficiency of the energy system and energy saving. The laboratories of the Department of the School of Engineering are equipped with modern high-tech equipment, the use of which allows conducting modern research in many areas of the energy sector at a high level. Also during the internship a number of meetings and seminars were held to discuss important issues in various areas of research.
Experimental installation of an air energy storage system
The gained experience and knowledge will allow in the future to conduct a number of studies in energy efficiency and energy saving at a higher scientific level.
Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg (Germany)
Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg was founded in 1993. It was created by merging the existing Technical University, the Higher School of Education and the Magdeburg Medical Academy. Today, the University has 9 faculties and almost 14,000 students, becoming more and more important as an educational and research center every year. It plays an important role in the life of the capital of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg, which is gradually becoming a center of business, education and culture.
In September 2015, a working meeting was held between Igor Sikorsky KPI top management and the head of the Institute of Materials Science of Otto von Guericke University (Magdeburg), Professor Michael Scheffler. The Faculty of Electric Power Engineering and Automatics at the meeting was presented by the Dean of FEPEA O.S.Yandulskiy and the Deputy Dean of FEPEA V.I.Teryaev.
The The meeting participants discussed a number of issues related to the organization of the Interuniversity International Complex “Mechanical Engineering and Energy” in accordance with the tripartite Memorandum between the Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, Wroclaw University of Technology and the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”.
The best students of our department have the opportunity to spend a semester at the University of Magdeburg and receive a double diploma in the relevant program.
Other foreign universities
The Department of Power Systems Automation also has creative ties with Brno University of Technology (Czech Republic), Kielce University of Technology (Poland), Chemnitz University of Technology (Germany) and other foreign universities. In recent years, Indian students from the Vishwaniketan Institute (Mumbai, India) have been doing regular internships at the Department of PSA. For example, in the summer of 2018, the internship program addressed the issues of connecting renewable energy sources to electric networks.
Partnership with international companies
The Department of Power Systems Automation has established cooperation with all the world’s largest manufacturers in the field of electric power, so our students have the opportunity to learn and gain working skills on modern electric power equipment.
Since 2006, an authorized training center of “Schneider Electric Ukraine” company has been operating on the basis of the PSA Department. It is equipped with the most modern hardware and software tools that allows to conduct classes on low and medium voltage equipment, industrial control equipment and automation tools.
The Schneider Electric Center conducts courses to improve the quality of training and retraining of students and engineers, providing an opportunity to gain best practices in the design, implementation and operation of modern equipment for low and medium voltage networks.
In 2013, the Faculty of Electric Power Engineering and Automatics hosted the grand opening of the training and technical center of “ABB in Ukraine” company. As part of the implementation of the strategic program on corporate social responsibility and promotion of Ukrainian energy and industry, ABB in Ukraine provided modern equipment for four educational and research laboratories at the FEPEA.
Thanks to this, students of the PSA Department have the opportunity to study and gain working skills on modern equipment in the laboratory of ABB SCADA and telemechanics systems and in the specialized laboratory of ABB relay protection and automation.
Since 2011, on the basis of the Faculty of Electric Power Engineering and Automatics, the “Siemens Ukraine” corporate program “Science to Business” (S2B) has been implemented. Within the framework of this cooperation, the Industrial Automation and Drive Technologies and Power Transmission and Distribution divisions of Siemens Ukraine support the departments of our faculty in training of world-class technical specialists.