Educational technologies in Russian universities: the results of an international study of the quality of engineering education
The introduction of a competence-based approach requires the reorganization of all components of the educational process: goals and content, organizational formalities and technologies. Today, emphasis is placed on improving educational technologies, which include pedagogical, socio-psychological, organizational and information technologies. The rapid development and dissemination of educational technologies requires the development of a strategic university policy for the development and introduction of new technologies, their compatibility with the goals and objectives of various academic disciplines, the organization of a system of advanced training for teachers and the training of teaching staff. In February - March 2018, a study was conducted, including two phases. Stage I: "Development and deployment of educational technology policies"; Stage II: "Monitoring the effectiveness of the use of educational technologies." Four Russian universities took part in the work. For the first stage, a self-assessment methodology was used, including five levels of maturity in 10 key elements. Representatives of higher (vice-rector) and middle managers (deans, heads of departments, heads of departments) of universities answered questions from the questionnaires. For the II stage, a sociological survey of teachers, graduate students and students was used. The results of the study show that the weak point in the overall development policy and the introduction of modern educational technologies is the stage of technology introduction. Among the pedagogical technologies are active teaching methods, design and practice-oriented learning. To introduce these technologies, a comprehensive system of advanced training for teachers in the field of pedagogy, the creation of an appropriate educational environment and the readiness of teachers to introduce new technologies in the educational process is necessary. The introduction of modern information and communication technologies is hampered by the lack of appropriate equipment and the lack of free access to existing equipment and facilities necessary for the application of information and communication technologies. The study was conducted as part of the project 586060-EPP-1-2017-1-RO-EP-PKA2-CBHE-JP "Improving the quality of engineering education through teacher training and new pedagogical approaches in Russia and Tajikistan."