The Kuzbas State Technical University the KuzSTU as it is called for short, is one of the major institutions of hjgher learning and research centres in West Siberia.
The KuzSTU (was founded) in 1950 as a mining institute. It was the seventh higher mining school in the country. At that time the student body numbered only ' 300 persons and there were fewer than 20 lecturers and instructors. Its first rector was T. F. Gorbachev, a prominent figure in the mining science and practice. For some 8 years the Institute (held classes) in space rented from the Mining Technical School based on the right Bank of the river Tom. The first graduating class numbered 236 people, twelve of them taking an ( honours diplorna) The Institute began a period of a speedy growth under the leadership of Professor P. I. Kokorin. One of his accomplishments was the construction of the administrative and classroom building that occupied a 17,500-square meter plot of land in the centre of Kemerovo. The sixties-eighties (under V.G. Kozhevin and M.S. Saphokhin), were the years of tremendous growth in enrollment and facilities. In 1965 the Mining Institute (was accredited) as the Kuzbas Polytechnic. The late eighties and early nineties were the defining period in the history of the Institute. In 1992 it was carefully evaluated and found (to meet standards) of a technical university. A year later it (gained) this status.
Nowadays the KuzSTU (is made UP of) eight buildings (five of which are on the main University campus) that offer students modern laboratory and library facilities, the latest in computer technology and equipment. Their total area is 102 578 sq. m. The centrepiece of the campus is the magnificent Major Building erected in 1958. It houses administrative and faculty offices, an assembly-hall, gymnasiums, a library, a computer centre, numerous well-equipped laboratories and classrooms. The library includes several reading rooms, stacks, and reference areas. Its holdings total nearly 600,000 volumes. All sources are included in the on-line catalogue of the KuzSTU. Readers may also use interlibrary loan services. To borrow books you need an identification card. The University Computer Centre and microcomputer laboratories use more than 350 computers available both for computer-aided education and for general purposes, including access to Internet and E-mail. The University comprises the mineralogical and geological museum, and the museum of its history. Our students have good facilities for study and research work.
The University (is composed) of 9 faculties (the Mining Faculty the, Faculty of Mining Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, The Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, the Faculty of Mechanics and Machine Building, the Faculty of Mine Construction , the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Liberal Humanistic Education, the Faculty of (Extra-Mural) Education, the Faculty of Military Training) with numerous courses within them. Fifty-three departments train specialists in 36 subject areas of technical and engineering science. The University has its units (branches) in 6 other towns of kuzbas. The University Centre of Pre-Highef Learning coordinates programmes for secondary school students applying to the University. It assists them in (obtaining) the necessary (information) about admission to the University and career opportunity available to its graduates, creates interaction between them and faculty members of the University, conducts Olympiads in physics, mathematics, chemistry. The winners have the preferential right to enter the University.
Currently the employs over 700 faculty (teaching staff) members. More than half of them have academic degrees and honorary titles. About90- faculty members earned doctorates. Among them there are Academicians and Correspondihg Members of Russian Academy of Sciences and other academies, State-prize winners, Honoured Scientists and Inventors. There are also active professionals who share with students their daily experience in industries. The student-faculty ratio at the University is 15:1. The KuzSTU has a total enrollment of 13,500 students. The number of full-time students is 6,500. The head of the University is the Rector. Vice-Rectors are responsible for academic affairs, research, external relations and commercial-contact affairs. The heads of the faculties are Deans. If a student has questions or needs help Dean's Office is the place to go. Here he can pick up information and check the bulletin board for announcements.
The University has a good reputation for its educational programmers. Entry into the University is competitive. Applicants are admitted on the basis of their results in examinations. Students are trained intensively to become true (fully-qualified) engineers. Professional programmers in mining, civil balanced with a solid core curriculum of liberal arts. They involve academic lectures, seminars, practical study in laboratories and practical training experience. The university offers a range of part-time programmers for those who want to combine work with study. The course of study lasts for 5 years and 10 months. There are short-study programmers too. The multilevel principle of training specialists with the completion of each staged course is the basis of the curriculum. Today, the University offers 12 four-year baccalaureate programmers, 5 five-year Master of Science programmers and a senior certificate of proficiency (diploma) in dozens of technical and engineering fields. The University awards the Bachelor of Science degree (B.SC.) and Master of Engineering degree (M.Sc.). The introduction of the two-year Master of Science Programmer for selected Bachelors of Science has been a great step forward. Master of Science graduates and those who hold a diploma may continue towards the Candidate's degree. In order to get that degree, students must familiarize themselves extensively with general scientific research in their field of study, carry out independent scholarly or scientific research, write a dissertation on their findings and defend it in a public debate. The doctoral degree requires major original scientific work submitted in the form of a dissertation. At present more than 240 post-graduate students and about 20 candidates for doctorates are busy with research work at the University. Research at the KuzSTU is conducted in faculties, 5 research units and 5 experimenting laboratories. Talented students are engaged in advanced research project or development works in an internship in industry. The University publishes Vestnik (Bulletin), a magazine of faculty and post-graduates.