On February 27 a conference of labour collective took place at MEPhI. There were three questions on the agenda: rating and recognition of the University (academic and scientific reputation of the University); providing technological and fire safety precautions of the University; an establishment of the Association of MEPhI graduates.
On the first issue the floor was given to the Dean of the qualification improvement and retraining faculty S.V. Kireev. He noted undoubted MEPhI success in implementation of the competitiveness increase program, which consists in the University entering in such ratings as THE, SIR and QS and rising to the top lines of the national ratings “Interfax” and Expert RA. But also Kireev S.V. drew attention to the problems of rising of the education reputational component and of the University academic reputation.
The MEPhI principal M.N. Strikhanov drew the delegates' attention on the fact that these reputation problems are connected not least of all with the low MEPhI brand recognition on a global level. The lack of the uniformity in the University name in publications was mentioned as one of the main reasons.
To avoid such situations in the future, there was made a proposal to change a part related with the full name of the University in English in the article 1.3 of the Charter of the Federal state autonomous educational institution of higher professional education “National research nuclear University “MEPhI” in this way: to change National Research Nuclear University MEPhI into National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), and authors have to use only this variant of the name.
A chairman of the Board for attestation and training of the academic staff in the rank of MEPhI Vice- principal N.A. Kudryashov made a proposal to organize the Association of the University graduates. The Association activity will be held in the framework of strengthening cooperation between the University and graduates, employers and investors both national and foreign, as well as promotion of the “MEPhI” brand abroad.
The mission of the Association is to unite the MEPhI graduates for its comprehensive development as one of the leading scientific and educational centers, strengthen the University image, develop connection between graduates and the University with the purpose of the experience exchange, and assist professional and scientific potential of graduates and maintaining traditions of the University.
Citing as an example the work of other universities Associations, M.N. Strikhanov emphasized the importance of contacts and relationships with alumni in the interests of effective work of the University. He informed that the first meeting of the MEPhI graduates Association is planned to be held in the beginning of July of this year.
By this time a website and recognized brand of the MEPhI graduates Association have to be developed. A competition for the Association title is announced and all University employees are invited to participate in it.
