The predecessor of the University of Railways and Communications in St. Petersburg was the “educational building” of the Department of Water Communications, organized in 1798. In 1809, the Institute of the Corps of Railway Engineers was opened on its basis. The creation of the university has become a vivid example of the orientation of the country's leadership to continue the technological race with the countries of Europe, begun by Peter the Great.
History of Creation
The huge continental empire, which was then Russia, required an extensive and high-quality network of communications. First of all, at the beginning of the XlX century, it was about the construction of roads, clearings and the arrangement of river highways.
To maintain, design and create such a network, a large number of well-trained specialists were required, since weather conditions created significant obstacles to transport. For example, shippingRussian rivers stopped in winter, and movement against the current required the help of barge haulers.
In the first years of its existence, the future University of Railways and Communications of St. Petersburg had the status of a cadet corps, that is, it was closely associated with such educational and scientific institutions as the Academy of Sciences, the Main Engineering School, as well as St. Petersburg University, created a little later.
Early structure of the institute
The first head of the newly created institute was Augustin Augustinovich Betancourt, who had the post of Inspector General. It was under him that the first mechanical laboratory was created at the educational institution and a museum was organized, known today as the Central Museum of Railway Transport.
Initially, the University of Railways and Communications in St. Petersburg was a closed educational institution with military discipline, and its graduates even received the rank of lieutenants and second lieutenants. The term of study under such a system, including gymnasium classes, reached eight years.
However, the ever-expanding network of transport routes required more service personnel and in 1820 a three-year school was established to train craftsmen and technicians. Thus, one can speak about the beginning of the process of specialization of education since 1820.
First railroads
In 1835, the scientific journal of the institute published an article "On the preparation of railways" authored by Professor Matvey Stepanovich Volkov. From thisFrom that moment on, regular training of engineers for the construction and regular operation of railways began at the educational institution.
All the lectures read at that time were divided into three parts: the superstructure of the railway track, locomotive traction, rolling stock of railways. There was also a course on drafting future railways at the institute. Thus, all the prerequisites for the active development of the road network were created.
The Institute has become a kind of platform for popularizing the idea of building a new type of transport infrastructure, as the most progressive researchers and engineers saw impressive prospects for the Russian economy in this technology. An example, of course, was Great Britain, which also actively built an extensive network of railways.
In addition to engineering research, academic theoretical science was also actively developing at the university. For example, the school of descriptive geometry formed at the university has long been one of the most influential in world science.
Current State
In the XXl century, the quality development and maintenance of transport routes have not lost their relevance. The more complex the technologies that ensure the transport connectivity of a huge country become, the more high-quality education is required from university graduates.
Currently, the following faculties of the University of Railways and Communications in St. Petersburg train specialists:
- Automation and Information Technology;
- Transport Construction Department;
- Transport and energy systems;
- Transport management and logistics;
- Industrial and civil construction;
- Economics and Management;
- Continuous forms of education;
- Pre-university training.
In addition to the actual educational activities, the university also conducts active scientific and research activities. The educational institution has several scientific laboratories, in which students from the first courses have the opportunity to join scientific activities.
In addition, the university actively cooperates with large Russian companies involved in the transportation of goods, which creates the necessary prerequisites for employment and involvement of graduates in active economic activity. St. Petersburg State Transport University is considered one of the best engineering universities in the country.
To this day, the university remains a broad-based educational institution that teaches various disciplines, and the possibility of interfaculty connections provides a truly university level of teaching.
