53 aviation experts defended their MAI-SJTU graduation theses
This year the third group of MAI-SJTU master’s degree program participants (24 Russian and 29 Chinese students) went through the defense of the Shanghai graduation theses. They studied "Design of units from polymer composite materials", "Aircraft design: product life cycle management" and "Aircraft engines".
Joint MAI-SJTU master’s degree program students receive two diplomas: one from Moscow Aviation Institute and the other from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The aim of the program is to provide the personnel reserve for the Russian-Chinese project of the CR929 wide-body long-haul aircraft. The partners of the program are PJSC “UAC”, “Regional Aircraft” ("Irkut" Corporation" branch), JSC “UEC”, COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) and AECC (Aero Engine Corporation of China).
To get a degree, one has to write two scientific papers and go through two defenses at both universities. The students defended their theses at MAI in July last year, and at SJTU – this year, in spring. After defending Chinese theses, it is considered that students have officially completed their studies at the joint institute and now they are able to start their career according to the terms of their targeted contracts.Russia-China: the U-turn
Darya Ratkina, the MAI-SJTU graduate, who defended her thesis and received her master's degree this year, told us about how she applied for the MAI-SJTU program, how she studied and defended her scientific work at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Darya received her bachelor's degree for "Quality Management" at the Institute No. 11 of Moscow Aviation Institute. And during the last year she learned that the recruitment for the MAI-SJTU was in full swing. And although she was going to continue her education via the master's program for “Quality Management”, she decided to apply for the international program as well.“It was especially difficult to make a decision, when I reached the final stage,” recalls Daria. – “I was preparing to enter both master's programs. And it happened so, that both exams were appointed at one and the same day and time. I remember the choice I had to make: to stay and study in Russia or leave to study in China. Frankly, it was scary: until that moment I didn’t have the experience of a long stay abroad.”
Darya made her choice in favor of MAI-SJTU, and became the master's degree program student for "Product life cycle management in the design of aircraft" MAI course as part of the target recruitment to the "Regional Aircraft" (branch of PJSC "Irkut” Corporation").
Education in China
The program lasts 2.5 years: the first year and the last six months of the course takes place in Shanghai, and the second year – at Moscow Aviation Institute.
“When I came to China, it was like I turned out to be in another world. For about a month I got used to the lectures, the environment, the climate, people, food. The most difficult thing was to adapt to the English language of Chinese professors. But I will never forget this time! I really miss the country, the guys," says Darya.
After the COVID-19 outbreak, it became clear that the students would not return to the full-time study in China and would rather continue the education remotely. Darya decided not to waste her time and started applying her knowledge in practice. Since one of her favorite courses at the Chinese university was the course of computer-aided design, she decided to make a step forward, and got a job at the MAI laboratory No. 4 of NIO-101. During the fall of 2021, she applied for a job at the "Regional Aircraft" (branch of PJSC "Irkut” Corporation"). Darya had a choice: to go to the design bureau and continue to do 3D modeling or to go to the department of the Chief Technologist. She chose the latter.Jiao Tong: pregraduation and defense
Generally, the choice of the topic of the thesis for defense at SJTU is based on the topic of the thesis at MAI. Darya's second thesis was devoted to the economic analysis of commercial aircraft with hybrid engines.
“In fact, you take the main idea of the work and cover it from the other side. The task is facilitated by the fact that there are already some developments, but, nevertheless, it takes a lot of work to bring in fresh ideas and open the topic “from a different angle,” says Darya.
The defense was online. The commission listened to the student, then they asked questions for an hour. Interestingly, at the defense at a Chinese university, they will not announce your grade - they will only say whether you passed or not. If the defense is unsatisfactory, they will give time for corrections and appoint the date for the re-defense.
In March, Darya received her second diploma and continued to work at the enterprise.
“Now I work as a leading specialist. But I see prospects that will help me get one step higher – you just need to make more efforts”, she notes.
Do you want an interesting job, cool emotions, unforgettable impressions and international level competencies? You can apply for admission to the joint institute MAI-SJTU via the link.
