1.

INTRODUCTION

Preparation of specialists in higher education directed to getting by students not only theoretical knowledge but also practical experience and skills necessary for further successful work in the chosen direction.

To a large extent, the possible forms of collaboration with leading industry organizations are determined research areas, developing in the department, and in particular the university as a whole.

ITMO University is one Russia’s leading higher education and research institutions, specializing in Information Technology, Optical Design and Engineering. Founded in 1900, today it is home to over 13,000 students and has earned its name “National Research University,” blending the culture of innovation and discovery with world-class education. Departments offer an extensive curriculum in fundamental and applied disciplines, with an emphasis on graduate education and multidisciplinary approach. Focus is on preparing elite scientists, engineers and programmers, notably in the areas of Photonics and Optics, Intelligent Technology and Robotics, Computer Science and Information Technology, Life Sciences, Natural sciences, Smart- and Nano- materials and Technology [1].

MAIN RESEARCH AREAS OF APPLIED AND COMPUTER OPTICS DEPARTMENT

Department of Applied and computer optics is the successor of the oldest Russian optical departments - the Department of the theory of optical devices, of physiological optics, of optical devices, of laboratory, and then opto-mechanical devices. Briefly basic scientific directions of Applied and computer optics department and tasks that are solved in accordance with the direction possible to determine as follows [2]:

COLLABORATION FORMS ACO DEPARTMENT WITH INDUSTRY COMPANIES

Historically Applied and computer optics department of ITMO University maintains contacts with leading optical and opto-mechanical manufacture of Russia.

The collaboration possibility of the Department with the leading companies of optoelectronic instrument engineering caused including those the fact that most of the scientific and production departments in the field of applied optics in Russia, as well as many in the United States, Israel and China, are led by graduates of our scientific school [2].

Collaboration is carried out on various directions:

All of this allows students and faculty of the department to obtain the most topical information on current trends in the field of optical and optoelectronic instrumentation, organize educational process with examples of actual problems of optical engineering solutions, consider the requirements of potential employers to the scope and content of the curriculum.

ORGANIZATION OF GRADUATION PRACTICAL TRAINING AT THE COMPANIES

Special attention is given to graduation practice and writing final qualifying works both in a bachelor degree education, and a master’s degree education.

Currently, more than 70% of the students and masters graduation works at the department is carried out in collaboration with companies in the sector.

In particular, students do their practical work, that provided by the department curriculum, on the basis of such large enterprises as:

During practical training, students get to know to the structure of the company, organization of the working process for finding a solution to get specific tasks connected with the current project, developed by the company.

Each student is assigned a practice leader at the company and the curator practice from the staff of the department.

At the end of practice the student must prepare a report and a presentation about the work done, which should include the following items: the tasks for a work, the main stages of the work, methods and ways of solving the problem, results of the work, the conclusions of the work done. The report should be submitted to the department.

Often, tasks which was solved during the period of practice, become the basis for further work and determine the direction and theme of final qualifying work.

COLLABORATION WITH THE COMPANY DURING THE PREPARATION OF FINAL QUALIFYING WORKS

As already noted, often final qualifying work becomes an extension of problem solving, acquaintance with which was during the practical training at one of the industry company.

It should be noted quite a wide range of problems solved by students when writing final papers due to the specializations of the Bachelor and Masters programs at the department and with the directions of enterprise activity: development of algorithms and the creation of software systems designed to solve various problems of the optical orientation, development and modeling environments in automated design of optics optical systems for various applications, automation of designing optical elements and systems and etc.

Over the years these final qualifying work is deservedly are marked as one of the best when defence of thesis, thanks to the complex combination of theoretical and practical knowledge acquired by students in the learning process and practical training on the basis of leading companies

Commission for the defence of thesis, in accordance with state educational standards, is formed so that one of the leading experts of the industry in the composition of the commission is not less than 20%. This allows more objectively evaluate the student’s work done and its relevance, conformity with modern trends of development of optoelectronics.

Final qualifying work necessarily peer reviewed by leading experts optoelectronics companies of St. Petersburg, which are selected supervisors together with the head of the Department of Applied and computer optics depending on the focus theme of final qualifying work.

Thus, the preparing and the final defense of the final qualification works is also one of the most important forms of collaboration of the Department of Applied and computer optics with the leading companies of the industry.

CONCLUSION

Cooperation between the department and industry leaders can be carried in different ways, but it should be complex and include not only educational, but also organizational and scientific process.

Only in this case, the close connection between the educational institution and the company is formed, which allows the company to get oriented young professionals, and the university to adjust educational programs and content of courses in accordance with the current issues of the industry.