Historical
studies
Borovyk Ì.
Chernihiv
National T.G. Shevchenko
Pedagogical
University,
Ukraine
Organization
of students’ scientific and research work at Chernihiv teachers-training institute during 1954 – 1998.
Abstract: Organization of students’ scientific and research work at Chernihiv teachers-training institute during the period of its 44 year history is discussed in the article. Definite
stages of scientific and research work and peculiarities of its organization
are described. The conclusions concerning scientific work system forming during
the whole period of teachers –training institute existence are represented.
Key words: students’ scientific and research work, forming of scientific research elements, scientific society
sections, participation in work on projects according to administrative agreements, post-graduate studying.
².
Introduction
In the
period of teachers-training institute transformation in August,
1954, students’ scientific and research work was of a special importance. That gave a
stimulus for the teaching staff to engage and motivate those students who were
skilled in scientific work. This way, future possible post-graduate students
and institute’s lecturers were selected. The current problem was not previously
discussed in scientific literature.
²².
Objective
The article is
aimed to study the peculiarities of students’ scientific work organization at
Chernihiv teachers-training institute during the period of its work. The
problem research is divided into three periods: the first period starts from the second half of the 50-s and lasts till
the mid-60-s, the second – from the mid-60-s till the early 90-s and the third
from 1991 – till 1998 – that is reorganization of teachers-training institute
into pedagogical university.
²²².
Results
In the
mid-50-s, there
were two faculties and 5 chairs
in the institute. The same
structure was typical for former teachers-training institutes in Ukraine.
During that time, one more important area of institute’s teachers’ scientific
work was introduced – supervising of students’ scientific work. Archive
materials analysis show that students mainly developed their elementary
research work skills at scientific society. It comprised students’ scientific groups
as separate sections of the society. The number of students and sections varied
every year. Thus, in 1958 the following 8 sections were functioning in the
society: section for Pedagogics, Physics, Mathematics, Broadcasting technics,
History of Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Philosophy, Automobile and
Motorcycle group, Photography and Film demonstration group. 202 students were active participants there.
The majority were members of Photography and Automobile and Motorcycle group –
50 and 42 students correspondently. [1, àðê. 16].
However during
the following 1959 – 1960 academic year, there were six sections at the scientific society:
History and Philosophy with the head teacher Yu. Hirman (11 students), Mathematics – head teacher V. Sabodash (9 students), Pedagogical section – head
teacher K. Kondrat, Technical – head teacher I. Yevdokymenko (14 students),
Broadcasting technics section – head teacher V. Yovenko (4 students),
Cinematographic Engineering – head teacher A. Nyzhnyk (6 students). Analyzing students’ scientific society work,
institute’s administration was skeptical concerning
the effectiveness of it. According to the reports, few students participated in
sections of scientific society, the themes of their scientific problems were
not connected with school work, there were no tasks which presupposed doing
experiments, as well as lack of proper coordination of students’ work by
teachers. [2,
àðê. 128]. This area definitely required improvement.
Archive materials
show that students’ scientific societies work of 60-s was activated again.
Thus, in 1965
the society comprised 17 section-groups, with 233
students-members. Each April, the groups handed in a report concerning their
work at students’ scientific conferences. The following sections are marked as
successful in those reports, namely the section for Mathematics (head teacher –
associate professor Ya. Roitberg),
Spectroscopy (head teacher– associate professor H. Illiashenko), Semi-conductors (head teacher – associate
professor A. Skubenko), Technical Art
(head teacher I. Yevdokymenko), Biological section (head teacher I. Riabko) [3, àðê. 47].
The section
of Semi-conductors was of
a special interest as
it studied electrical and photo
spectrum qualities of
kohl and germanium sulfites as well as other semi-conductors. The students’
Sydorko and Mozol works were assessed as the best in the group. Major practical
assistance in installation of broadcasting systems in the classrooms was
provided by broadcasting technical group students under the supervision of
student Skrypka. Students’ creative projects prepared in the Technical section
participated in contests for students’ scientific works. [4, àðê. 48].
During the
first decade of
teachers-training institute work the system of students’ scientific and research work was developed. The
administration performed system control of chairs’ work and teaching staff
members’ work on the subject of students’ scientific researches supervision.
Starting from the
late 60-s, the next period of scientific and research work begins. The increase
of faculties and chairs predetermined new structures and subdivisions formation
and new system of scientific work organization. The quality and quantity index
of results increases as well. Qualitative changes in students’ scientific work
take place. During the period of 1971 – 1975 the number of students’ scientific groups increased from 25 – in
1971 with 424 members, to
46 – in 1975 with 848 students’ members. During the
mentioned period 111 works
were filed for
students’ scientific work
contests, 25 of those were
awarded diplomas and prizes. 8 articles were published in scientific books of
papers, co-authored with their scientific advisors. [5, àðê. 85].
Students’ scientific and research work had a definite system beginning with research elements forming during
practical classes and laboratory works, pedagogical practice, course papers and
qualification works. Each faculty
proposed a special course “Basics of Scientific Work” starting with the 5th
semester of studying. The theoretical part of the course consisted of two
parts: “Basics of scientific work in the sphere of psychological and
pedagogical studies” and “Basics of scientific work in the sphere of natural,
technical, social studies and humanities”. During the practical course students
were divided into subgroups, received definite themes for scientific research
which had to result in qualification projects, further introduced to
participate in students’ scientific works contest.
During the period
of 1976
– 1980 more than 50 students’ groups and sections were
functioning in the institute with participation of nearly 80% of full-time department students (52 groups
with
1620 students-members in 1976, and
54 groups with 2088 members
in
1980). The main
result of students’
groups was advanced studying of
academic disciplines, stimulation
of interest to scientific research, participation in scientific conferences,
contests and subject Olympiads. Thus, 34 students’ scientific works were introduced
for participation in the Republic tour of the VII All Soviet Union’s contest of
students’ scientific works in social disciplines, 16 of which were awarded
diplomas. The following year, 54 works
were introduced at
the same contest,
26 of which were
awarded 1-3 levels diplomas.
The number of
participants of the Republic contest of students’ scientific works was
increasing, especially those works in natural, technical sciences and
humanities. Thus, during 1977 – 1978 academic year 12 works were introduced to the contest, 1 of which was
awarded a diploma. The
following year 3 works
received a diploma
and during 1979 – 1980 academic year, 8 works out of 16 were awarded diplomas. [6, àðê.
6-7].
The number of
participants in scientific conferences was increasing as well. 13 students
participated in 1976 republic conference, 4 of which were recommended for the
All-Soviet conference. In 1980, 26 students represented their reports at the
Republic conference, 3 of which participated in the All-Soviet conference
afterwards.
Analysis of the
archive materials show that during the 80-s a lot of students participated in
scientific and research work, as well as work on projects according to
administrative agreements. In 1982, 2105 full-time
students out of
2314 participated in scientific work, where
1177 were involved in psychological and pedagogical
sciences. 56 students groups
were available, with
the membership of
1118 students. Students’ technical creations were awarded
6 authorship certificates, one
item was introduced at the
exhibition of national economy achievements of the
Ukrainian Socialistic Soviet Republic. Members of
students’ construction bureau
were awarded 4 medals
of the Exhibition of National Economy Achievements of the
Soviet Union and 4 diplomas of
Republic Exhibition “Young Technicians”, as well as more than 20 certificates
and diplomas of regional and city contests and folk arts exhibitions. [7, àðê. 2, 34].
In 1985 members
of the students’
construction bureau participated in 2 All-Soviet
(4 exhibits) and 2 Republic
(6 exhibits) exhibitions and
were awarded certificates of the
main committee of
the Soviet Union
Exhibition of National Economy Achievements, 4 bronze medals
and 4 diplomas of
Exhibition of National Economy Achievements of the
USSR, 2 achievement certificates of All-Soviet
Youth Technical Art
Exhibitions.
The number of
students groups increased in 1985 up to 51, but the number of members decreased
to 935
members. Institute’s
reports mention the
following names of
head teachers of
those groups: associate professor M. Hrytsenko – scientific interest-group for
studying qualities of liquid crystals, assistant teacher M.Serdiuk and senior
teacher I. Yevdokymenko – interest-group of practical modeling and
construction, senior teacher T. Demchenko – local studying interest-group and
Ye. Yakovenko – archeological interest-group. Students’ scientific groups work
gave positive results : former group-members O. Sytnikov, V. Zavadskyi,
Vynohradov, Zdanchuk continued their work at scientific and research
department. Former group-member O. Rogoza ended up with candidate dissertation dedicated to studying qualities of liquid crystals [8, àðê. 3,
33].
In early
90-s, there was
an increase of
production volumes concerning work on projects according to
administrative
agreements with
students’ participation. In 1989 the volume was 148 thousand rubles while in 1990 it was as much as 189,8 thousand rubles. Major
part of that
work was performed by teaching staff of
General Physics chair,
chairs of Pre-school
Education, History and
Archeology of USSR,
General Technical Disciplines. 82 students participated in those
works, - thus earning salary. [9, àðê. 143].
There were
76 interest-groups with 579 students-members at the institute.
Students’ engagement in
different spheres was
as following: Technical Sciences– 167 students,
144 – Psychological and Pedagogical Sciences, 45 – Social Sciences. 31 of students published their
articles in scientific books of
papers, 4 students under
the supervision of
Chemistry, Mathematics, General
Physics and History
and Archeology of
the USSR chairs
were awarded the
prizes at Republic Students’ Olympiad.
Student I. Konovets won the
prize at All-Soviet
Olympiad in chemistry
[10, àðê. 143].
As far
as the research shows, during
the second period
of scientific work
organization (the late
60-s – the early
90-s) the number of faculties
increased up to six and the new system of scientific research organization at
the new departments was formed.
1991 – 1992 academic
year was the initiating for scientific and research work organization at the
teachers-training institute of independent Ukraine. That was the beginning of
the third period of scientific work organization. Starting from September, 1992 one more area of scientific work of
the institute was introduced. It was high qualification lecturers training.
Post graduate department was opened. [11, àðê. 18].
675 of students
were engaged in scientific and research work in 1991, 23 of which were involved
in work on projects according to administrative agreements. 27 students were
co-authors of scientific publications and projects. [12, àðê. 29].
Within years, the
experience of students scientific and research work organization grew. The main
forms of organization were problem and interest groups at every chair of every
faculty. Students’ scientific conferences were organized at regular basis.
Students participated in scientific creative teachers groups which worked on
state and administrative researches.
Scientific and research work became an important part of studying at the
higher educational establishment. Although during the 80-90-s students
structures of scientific work coordination were not so successful. Students’
scientific board was just a formality. Scientific department couldn’t find new
forms to activate students’ scientific work.
The scientific
work last during all the studying period and presupposed writing reports,
course-papers, qualification thesis and projects, it included elements of
research work during practical and laboratory classes. That area of work became a must for teachers
of all chairs. However, academic plans didn’t have a special course “Basics of
scientific and research work”, with the only exception at Industrial and
Pedagogical faculty, where that course remained in curriculum. As a result, the
quality of qualification papers grew worse; there was a lack of scientific
research in those works.
Students, skilled
in research and scientific work needed constant attention from the chairs’
teaching staff. This way, future post-graduate students and institute teachers
were selected. Every year state institute’s committees recommended from 20 to
25 students to enter post graduate department, which started to work from
September, 1992. Nearly 25% from those recommended to study post graduate, entered the department
and continued studying. The same number of students passed their qualifying
examinations for the Candidate degree not studying at post graduate department. In the 90-s, the scheme of high
qualification staff training was as following: student – specialist – Doctor of
Philosophy. But the productivity of post graduate department was quite low. Only 3
graduates out of 15 defended their thesis in 1997. The index of effectiveness was 20% [13, àðê. 137-138].
Post graduate department became
a stimulus for
scientific work among
students to some
extend. The best students
received an opportunity to work on their thesis.
²V. Conclusions
Thus, the system
of students’ scientific work organization was formed during forty-four year
history of Chernihiv teachers-training institute. First, the elements of
research were formed at each faculty by means of special course “Basics of
Scientific Research”. Further work
presupposed laboratory classes, pedagogical practice, course papers and
qualification papers. The major role in scientific research skills forming
played students’ participation in students’ scientific society, its sections,
the number of which was increasing every year as well as the number of their
members. The effectiveness index was
the increasing number of winners in scientific contests, exhibitions, students’
Olympiads. The most talented students had an opportunity to enter post-graduate
department and become high qualification lecturers of the institute.
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