Choosing a strategy for the development of a technical university in order to meet the challenges of ensuring technological independence

Abstract

In the context of increasing sanctions pressure and the quest for technological sovereignty, the role of technical higher education institutions in training highly qualified professionals and promoting innovation is particularly important. This paper examines the key problems of technical universities: limited access to foreign resources, shortage of staff in priority industries, lagging behind international standards, insufficient practical training of students and poor development of digital and soft skills. The key competences that require development have been defined as technical, research and development, design, interdisciplinary, digital, economic-technological and “soft” skills. Proposed main directions of modernization of the system of professional training. Four possible strategies for the development of technical universities have been considered: “Technological autonomy” strategy is aimed at full use of domestic resources and creation of an independent educational system. The “Hybrid development” strategy combines elements of international cooperation and reliance on national technologies. The “Innovation Breakthrough” strategy focuses on unique development and development of start-up ecosystems in universities. The “Competence consortium” strategy involves networking of universities with industry, science and other educational organizations. The key conditions for successful implementation of any strategy are: state support and funding; linking education to the real sector of the economy; training teachers capable of working with new educational models; integrating science, production and learning; development of digital infrastructure and access to modern technologies. The article concludes that the most effective model is a combination of a hybrid approach and an innovation breakthrough strategy, allowing for a balance between access to global technology and sustainable development of one’s own potential, contributing to the achievement of technological independence and improvement of the quality of technical education in Russia.