Polytech and KRSU: from a pilot program on AI to a network laboratory and new educational areas

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University are consistently implementing strategic agreements in the field of development of engineering education and additional professional education.The work is being carried out within the framework of the «Roadmap» for the development of engineering education between universities. In June 2025, an assessment of the potential of the market for additional vocational education in the Kyrgyz Republic was carried out, as a result of which the parties moved on to the practical implementation of joint projects. Since autumn 2025, the first joint DPO programs have started.The pilot project of the engineering track SPbPU—KRSU was the advanced training program «Using artificial intelligence to solve professional problems of a teacher», developed and implemented by St. Petersburg Polytechnic University together with KRSU. The program was focused on developing practical skills in the use of artificial intelligence tools in professional activities, including issues of ethics and responsible use of digital technologies.During the training, students mastered applied approaches to integrating AI tools into the educational process and everyday professional practice. Following the successful completion of the program, participants were awarded certificates of advanced training and certificates.KRSU Vice-Rector for Pre-University and Additional Education Elena Averkova emphasized that additional professional education is becoming a key tool for updating competencies in the context of the rapid transformation of the educational environment and technological changes. According to her, modern DPO formats allow specialists to quickly master new tools and expand professional capabilities.Director of the International Institute of Further Education and Personnel Engineering KRSU Zhanna Kaunash noted the practical orientation of the program and the importance of the partnership with the Polytechnic University, emphasizing that the acquired knowledge is focused on direct application in professional activities.Currently, professional retraining programs are under implementation «Industrial safety, labor and environmental protection at hazardous production facilities», as well as «Specialist in working with artificial intelligence systems». Their development is carried out taking into account current needs of the labor market and is focused on the formation of applied engineering competencies.In parallel, on the basis of the International Institute of Further Education and Personnel Engineering KRSU, the launch of new further education programs is being prepared, integrated with the main educational trajectories of higher and secondary vocational education. The start of their implementation is scheduled for 2026. The programs cover the areas of graphic design, training in blue-collar engineering professions and the use of unmanned aircraft systems.At the same time, systematic work is underway to form a unified educational ecosystem of the engineering track. Internal regulations are being developed to ensure standardization of the design, implementation and evaluation of additional vocational education programs, as well as methodological support with the introduction of practice-oriented modules, industrial cases and digital educational solutions.Vice-Rector for Additional and Pre-University Education of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University Dmitry Tikhonov noted that joint projects reflect the transition from individual pilot initiatives to the formation of a sustainable system of additional professional education. According to him, the engineering track is considered as the basis for scaling programs and integrating additional vocational education with higher and secondary vocational education.Among the key study programs for the further development of the partnership is the creation of a joint network laboratory of applied engineering competencies on the basis of KRSU, as well as the implementation of advanced training programs for teaching staff of educational organizations of the Republic of Tajikistan within the framework of a separate engineering and pedagogical track.