Aleksandr Poshivai, Deputy Head of Federal Marine and River Transport Agency: “The staff supports reorganization of Moscow State Academy of Water Transport”.
RF Transport Ministry has made a decision on merger of Moscow State Academy of Water Transport (MSAWT) into Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping. Aleksandr Poshivai, Deputy Head of Federal Marine and River Transport Agency, tells IAA PortNews about the reasons and consequences of that decision.
- Mr Poshivai, what are the reasons to reorganize MSAWT? What are the formalities?
- The programme aimed at structural optimization of Rosmorrechflot’s higher educational institutions and their branches has been under implementation since 2005 when marine and river education systems were integrated under Rosmorrechflot (Federal Marine and River Transport Agency). At that time there were no single and clear structure of institutions and branches to exclude parallel training within a single city and to be associated with certain seaports and river basins.
As of today, MSAWT and its branches are at the junction of two areas of responsibility – North-West and Volga basins where specialists are supplied by Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping and Volga State University of Water Transport accordingly. Analyses of MGAWT performance shows that the structure and the scope of education satisfy a full-featured and efficient branch of a higher educational institution.
Further MSAWT activities were considered by the Transport Ministry’s Board in February 2016 when discussing the concept of transport industry education in the Russian Federation. The decision on MSAWT restructuring was made then.
- What is the mechanism and the terms?
- Reorganization of MSAWT will begin when Maxim Sokolov, Transport Minister of the Russian Federation, signs an order. It is expected in the nearest future. We are going to complete the merger within 6 months.
- What will be the name of MSAWT, its status, authority and specialization?
- The name of MSAWT as a branch of Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping is to be defined by the statute of the University which is to be approved by Rosmorrechflot. I think, preservation of the historical name would be preferred.
The status, authority and specialization of MSAWT will be defined by the statute. MSAWT will retain its main purpose to train shipboard personnel and onshore specialists like a hydraulic engineer.
- What expects the rectors and the staff of both institutions?
- The reorganization will have no impact on execution of office of Makarov University rector while MSAWT rector will obtain the status of a branch director.
Since training of specialists will continue at MSAWT, no changes are expected for the staff.
- What about the number of students/cadets at both institutions, the number of places financed by the state budget?
- Enrollment of cadets is defined annually by figures fixed for an institution or its branch. So the number of students/cadets will not change with the places financed by the budget to be preserved.
- What is the reaction of the staff to the decision?
- The reorganization has been widely discussed by the staff of both institutions. It was on the agenda of their academic councils. The majority of the staff supported the decision taking into consideration the situation at MSAWT.
- What about the enrolment this year and graduation in 2017?
- This year enrollment at MSAWT will be held as usual, as an independent institution. In 2017, students and cadets will graduate from Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping.
Interviewed by Nadezhda Malysheva.
