Meeting with leading institutions of higher education took place in MEPhI, on which there was discussion of results and prospects of implementation of projects of city department of education of Moscow, directed on pre-professional formation of senior pupils - «engineering class in Moscow school» and «Moscow pre-university».

The working meeting was led by minister of Moscow government, head of the department of education of Moscow city I. I. Kalina. Deputy head of department T. V. Vasilieva and M. V. Smirnitskaya, and leading 27 universities of Moscow took part in the event. City educational project «engineering class in Moscow school» started on September, 1, 2015 as a new model of additional engineering education for schoolboys on programs of general education items. The project brings together efforts of teachers of Moscow schools, resources of network institutions of city department of education of Moscow, centers of technological support of education and best specialists of universities of engineering profile.

In introductory word I. I. Kalina thanked participants of project for fruitful work, in result of which it successfully develops, especially stressing, that purpose is not in the increase of quantity participants, but in ensuring high quality of training for schoolchildren. Results of implementation of the project «engineering class in Moscow school» in 2016/2017 school year and its prospects were reported by deputy head of city department of education of Moscow T. Vasilieva. She noted that for three years the project from «a risky startup» changed into a successful project, which is popular among teachers, parents, and among students. At this moment the project brings together 50 metropolitan schools, 17 federal universities and more than 100 high-tech enterprises. 98 schools are candidates for participation in the project.

Intellectual success of the project is confirmed by high results of pre-professional examination, which was proposed for schoolchildren to be taken voluntarily - theoretical and practical part of 89 participant was from 81 to 100 points. 13 universities took part in it,  including MEPhI. Experts of universities have developed control-measuring materials for theoretical part of examination, methodical materials (work, criteria evaluation, technical work) for practical part, besides in framework of major career events workshops were carried out on preparation to exam. The results of examination take as criteria of evaluation participation of schools in project. Rating points assigned results of Olympiad, participation in conference «engineers of the future» and independent diagnostics on profile subjects. Among leaders are school №1547 and school №1534, partner of which is MEPhI. MEPhI is responsible for 9 engineering classes (high schools of pre-university) in framework of the project of city department of education of Moscow «engineering class in Moscow school». Today in engineering classes of university there are 542 schoolchildren. This year seven universities have considered outcome of studies in engineering classes at admission to university. In particular, rules of admission to MEPhI provided 10 additional points for individual achievements. As T. V. Vasilieva said, this enhances trust of parents and students to high school, increases interest in training in engineering classes.

In course of discussions participants made concrete suggestions, contributing to successful development of the project. MEPhI rector M. N. Strikhanov proposed to develop network of master's programs, together with engineering and teaching institutions of higher education, for example, for training physicists for engineering classes. Besides, rector considers useful distribution of successful metropolitan experience on regions. MEPhI vice-rector E.B. Vesna proposed to integrate project of engineering classes with program of training schoolchildren to juniorskills, do single program formation of applied engineering competence for engineering classes. Today, for example, there is interest of state corporation «Rosatom» in development of this motion. The head of city department of  education of Moscow I.I. Kalina supported the proposed initiative and noted, that all offers, directed on the development of additional and pre-professional education, will be taken into account. The minister informed about one new direction in work with institutions of higher education. The government of Moscow next school year plans to run project, similar to «university saturdays» for schoolchildren  - «university wednesday» for teachers. Teachers will dispose of science and modern laboratory base, at classes in form of trainings and master-classes will be able to increase their qualification.

Further participants discussed results of implementation of the project of city department education of Moscow - «Moscow pre-university». As T. V. Vasilieva said, project, created to increase level of training of schoolchildren, identify and develop their creative abilities and research competence, already proven its demand, quantity of participants each year only increases: 2013 - 3 high schools, 2017 - 11 universities and 3,8 thousand students. The head of city department of education of Moscow I. I. Kalina noted, that joint efforts with institutions of higher education helped to quickly create very serious competitors to leading  schools of Moscow, providing formation of a large number of talented schoolchildren. «Pre-universities became leaders of metropolitan education, by creating a healthy competition and stimulus to increase quality school education,» said I. I. Kalina, after thanking participants of the project. The project was recognized as successful and will evolve – the project will be extended until 2022. MEPhI pre-university became first among pre-universities, which received grant of Moscow mayor of the 1 degree for high educational results in 2013-2014 educational year, and already for 3 years has entered a number of laureates of grant program. Participants also discussed other forms of pre-professional training of schoolchildren  - engineering vacation, school practice on base of laboratories of universities and others.

At the end of official events MEPhI introduced participants with infrastructure of the university. They visited MEPhI nanocenter, which is one of the most high-tech units of the university. It has laboratories of the class purity ISO6-ISO8, equipped with foremost technological, measuring and research equipment. MEPhI vice-rector Kargin N. I..said, that  throughout a year more than 300 schoolchildren of profile classes get acquainted in center with high technologies, and part of them in school start research activity on topics of the center.