There are 18 universities in the consortium that the rocket and space industry will rely on. The question is why such an alliance matters for the sector.
Universities invited to the consortium have long served as training partners, providing a steady stream of highly qualified personnel for the field. A key criterion for evaluating these institutions is that each offers specialized programs aligned with the needs of the target student demographic.
The focus then shifts to how well the curricula meet the demanding standards of the high technology rocket and space industry.
The consortium will help educational institutions refine their programs through professional and public accreditation, the formation of engineering teams, and collaborative problem solving within research and development. This will be done in close cooperation with industry partners to implement new and compelling projects.
What are the five universities considered the strongest by Roscosmos?
Educational organizations invited to the consortium were chosen based on their level of contribution to solving various challenges in the rocket and space sector.
In many ways, all the universities invited to the consortium are leaders in training personnel for this field.
Are space focused specialties spread across universities? Was Roscosmos involved, or were these programs largely created by the universities themselves?
Historically, educational institutions have mapped out specialized programs with industry collaboration in mind, a pattern most evident at regional universities. For instance, at Samara National Research University, as noted by Academician SP Korolev, programs serve the needs of Progress RCC and cover areas such as missile systems and space science, aircraft engines, and the design, manufacture, and operation of rocket and space systems, plus aircraft design related to propulsion systems.
At the Siberian State University named after Academician MF Reshetnev, the focus includes aircraft control systems, among others.
In general, among space oriented offerings, there are programs beyond the core rockets and space complexes. They include design and technological support for machine building, radio electronic systems and complexes, engineering disciplines, computer science and computer engineering, missile and space sciences, radio engineering, software engineering, and related fields.
Are there statistics showing graduates who end up working in Roscosmos enterprises?
The number of target beneficiaries entering the sector fluctuates year to year. Overall, roughly 700 to 800 new entrants join the field annually. For example, about 150 come from MSTU named after N.E. Bauman, around 100 from MAI, about 80 from Academician MF Reshetnev, approximately 70 from Academician SP Queen, around 50 from Voronezh State Technical University, and roughly 30 each from PNIPU and MIREA, with others making up the rest.
How many total state sponsored places are planned for space related specialties across all 18 universities next year, and how many are funded?
In total, roughly 1,000 targeted budget places are expected to be allocated this year to educational organizations, aimed at attracting the strongest applicants.
There are indeed many paid places in educational institutions. Students who pay can still qualify for a targeted education agreement, provided they perform well. This arrangement can unlock support measures and help secure employment with leading industry organizations after graduation.
Targeted learning can occur in two forms. Some applicants enter targeted education using budget funds, while others are on paid study programs and sign targeted education agreements. In both scenarios, target students are deeply integrated into industry tasks and exposed to a high level of practical education throughout their studies.
What are the rarest space specialties, and which university offers such profiles?
Within educational institutions there are not truly rare specialties but rather profiles within common programs that align with the rocket and space industry. A classic example is the aircraft engines profile, with the rocket engines and space propulsion profile taught at Samara National Research University in collaboration with Progress RCC.
The industry also recognizes roles such as astronauts, which involve a precise selection process. The criteria include age, language proficiency, knowledge of astronaut history, health, and most importantly a background in engineering or space related fields such as aviation, rocketry, space technology, computer science, electronics, radio engineering, communications, mechanical engineering, physics, and astronomy, plus practical work experience of several years.
Thus, a wide range of specializations and educational trajectories find application in the rocket and space sector.
Anyone with a passion for mathematics, computing, and engineering can prove capable in the rocket and space field and leave a mark on space science history.