National University of Shipbuilding achieves the highest grade (A)

National University of Shipbuilding is referred to the highest group (A) of universities by results of scientific study certification. The research work of teachers and students is a part of the educational process sustaining the modern level of training of scholars and engineering skills. Due to the scientific research there is an increase in teachers’ proficiency levels, the conferment of degrees and ranks in sciences, worldwide recognition. Students’ research activity provides a chance for R&D (Research and Development) results usage in term papers, diploma theses; it gives an opportunity for participation in contests of student scientific researches in Ukraine and abroad and also for Ukrainian integration into united European educational and scientific zone.

Research activity is financed for the account of the common and special funds of state budget and international funds.

The results of the university activity are shown annually in reports divided into 6 groups:

1. Scientific; scientific and educational personnel.

2. Scientific personnel training.

3. R&D financing.

4. Results of R&D fulfillment.

5. Publications, conferences, exhibitions.

6. Student research study.

Summing up the results of 2008 it is worth saying that the University is progressing stably and positively. NUS has a great scientific and educational potential sustaining experts training: there are 58 Professors, Doctors of Sciences, 278 Candidates of Sciences in 48 departments. There are 18 honoured scientists and scholars, 52 educational high achievers and 3 honoured coaches, 20 academicians and correspondent members of Shipbuilding AS, 9 higher school academicians etc.

There is a research activity within the university departments, 2 research institutes, 4 centres and 7 research laboratories, scientific production associations. So there are 682 members of research and educational personnel.   

You may see NUS research and educational personnel quantity in the figure.

NUS research and educational personnel quantity (2006-2008) 1 – Doctors of Sciences fulfilling R&D 2 – Candidates of Sciences fulfilling R&D  3 – research and educational personnel fulfilling R&D 4 – research and educational personnel.

There are more than 10 remarkable scientific schools in the University, these are “Gas-Thermal Coatings” (director – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor O.M. Dubovy); “Dynamics of Ship Machinery and Ocean Engineering, Supple Ship Constructions and Marine Machineries” (director – Candidate of Technical Sciences, Professor B.A. Bugayenko); “Engineering Tribotechnology” (director – Candidate of Sciences, Professor S.M. Solovyov); “Underwater Technology” (director – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor V.S. Blintsov); “Hull Systems of Management and Decision-Making Support” (director – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Y.P. Kondratenko); “Gas Purification” (director – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor S.S. Ryzhkov); “Special Welding Methods and Related Technologies” (director – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor V.F. Kvasnitsky) etc.

Research personnel training is one of the university higher-priority tasks solved by attracting young scholars to scientific research. Young Scientists Board successful work helps to achieve good results in it; the board carries out annual contests among students, young scholars, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd-year postgraduate students.  

The students who have their publications in professional editions are highly recommended to the postgraduate training. This demand has been recently approved by NUS Rector in NUS Research Personnel Training Regulations. The contest winners among postgraduates and research personnel are given scholarships and awards of the President, the Cabinet of Ministers, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the regional bodies of self-government, the enterprises, the University etc. In 2008 the Scholarship of the Cabinet was given to Blintsov S.V., Zaytsev V.V., Kuznyetsov V.V., Radchenko A.M., Ushkarenko O.O.; Verkhovna Rada Scholarship was given to Markina L.M., Ryzhkov O.S., Kharitonov M.Y.; the President Grant of Ukraine was given to Radchenko A.M.; 20 scholars were given scholarships and awards of different levels. 

There are 2 specialized scientific boards Д38.060.01 and Д38.060.02 that take part in defense of the candidate’s and doctoral theses in such specialities as 05.08.03 – Shipbuilding and Ship Design (Naval Architecture and Design), 05.03.06 – Welding and Related Processes and Technologies, 21.06.01 – Environmental Safety, 05.13.22 – Project Management, 05.05.03 – Engines and Power Plants. There is a doctoral candidacy in such specialities as 05.08.03, 05.05.03 and 05.13.22. There are 21 specialities having postgraduate education. During 2006-2008 40 candidate’s theses had been defended: 2008 – 14 theses (2 of them were defended in time). During this period only 3 doctoral theses had been defended. That is why the doctoral candidacy level is recommended to be increased. There are certain measures in NUS Research Personnel Training Regulations.  

In 2008 there were 21 scientific researches financed for the account of the common state budget funds (9 of them are already finished), and 27 research studies financed for the account of the special fund. The financing for the account of the common state budget funds in 2008 increased by 17% comparing with 2007; but the economic crisis has led to the financing decrease for the account of the special and international funds so the financing decreased by 27% and 23%, respectively. 

The results of the finished R&D in 2008 (number of units): new machinery – 7; technologies – 2; new materials, methods and theories – 19. 21 research designs were applied in production; 30 designs were applied in educational process.       

Economically and socially the most important researches with information about approbation are: 

“Ship Design Technique Development for Service Market” (the author – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor V.O. Nekrasov) – the main elements are chosen in such a way that the design will satisfy the Buyer from the very beginning.

“Resonance Circuit Semiconducting Energy Conductors for Ship Generating Systems” (the author – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Pavlov G.V., Candidate of Technical Sciences Obrubov A.V.) – the conductor simultaneous phase control algorithm was developed; it helps simplify the energy and dynamic features not complicating the loading patterns. 

“New-Level Multipurpose Quasi-Resonant Power Supply for Plasma-Arc Cutting PLASMA 100i HF” (the authors – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Kvasnytsky V.F., Candidate of Technical Sciences, Assistant Professor Vereshyago Y.M., Kostyuchenko V.I., Goloborodko A.M.) – it is applied in the hand and automatic stainless steel, ferrous and nonferrous metal severing with air-conditioning plasmatron; it satisfies the best world’s analogues level.

The most effective results are: number of discoveries; number of studies awarded with the State Prize of Ukraine in science and engineering; number of laureates. Of course, these results can’t be planned annually; so NUS having 1 State Prize of Ukraine (2007) and two laureates didn’t register any discoveries at all.

There are also many protection documents received. In 2008 NUS received 54 patents. It hasn’t been changed during the last 3 years but there are no sold licenses. That is why the scientific research efficiency is to be increased.

The university research activity is also represented by some publications, conferences and exhibition participation. The University had published 84.93 sheets of monographs, 552.23 sheets of books and manuals with the stamp of the Board of Education and Science of Ukraine; it exceeds the previous results. The number of publications in professional editions is the same. But that printing was a paid service in 2008. To encourage scientific research publishing rector's office established free publications for the university personnel in Collection of NUS Scientific Researches and created an electronic edition of NUS Journal and one more edition – Collection of Young Scholars’ Works.

NUS holds scientific seminars and conferences and participates in different exhibitions steadily. In 2008 the University held 13 conferences and took part in 25 exhibitions with 142 exhibits. The University participation in the All-Ukrainian Exhibition-Contest “The Best Home Goods of the Year” was of prior importance. NUS is one of few participating educational institutions. Our University represented a source of power for plasma-arc cutting and won in “Shipbuilding (Naval Architecture)” category. 

In 2008 2346 students took part in R&D, 13 of which were paid for the account of the state budget common fund and 2 more – of the special fund. The student scientific research results have improved greatly. In 2008 17 students won the All-Ukrainian Contest of Student Works (in 2007 – 10 students). There are only 5 universities that are ahead: Donetsk National Technical University, National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnical Institute”, Kharkiv National University of Radioelectronics.

In 2008 5 students (Bilokon O.L., Dovgan A.V., Kuzin V.G., Pastukhov S.Y., Vynnychenko D.V.) were given the Scholarship of the President of Ukraine (in 2007 – 2 students), 105 students were given regional scholarships and awards (in 2007 – 85); there are 308 articles written with students 124 of which were published by the students themselves. In 2008 10 students were co-inventors of 13 inventions.

In spite of the economical crisis in the end of 2008 the University coped with such a promising task as Shipbuilding Research-and-Development Center creation in NUS; it needs a lot of attention of NUS personnel and scientific community.                         

The other urgent tasks of NUS are:

- active participation in scientific research and innovation activity;

- participation in international scientific programmes;

- efficiency improvement of postgraduate education and doctoral candidacy;

- development of material and technical basis, also due to the international contracts;

- scientific and educational centres creation supposed to be turned to the universities.