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RIGA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF TRANSPORT AND MACHINERY
INSTITUTE OF RAILWAY TRANSPORT
Professional study program
“RAILWAY TRANSPORT”
Self-evaluation report
Riga - 2006
CONTENTS
1. / DECISION OF THE RTU SENATE ON THE REALIZATION OF PROFESSIONAL STUDY PROGRAM “RAILWAY TRANSPORT”...... / 32. / LICENSE FOR THE STUDY PROGRAM...... / 5
3. / PROVISION OF THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE STUDENTS OF
THE STUDY PROGRAM “RAILWAY TRANSPORT” TO CONTINUE STUDIES AT ANOTHER PROGRAM IN THE CASE OF ITS LIQUIDATION...... / 5
4. / THE STUDY PROGRAM AND PLANS OF ITS STUDIES ...... / 5
4.1. / Program of professional bachelor studies ...... …...... / 5
4.2. / Program of professional master studies ...... ….. / 14
5. / ADVERTISING AND INFORMATIVE EXPENSES FOR STUDIES POSSIBILITIES ……………………………………………………………..….. / 17
6. / PERSPECTIVE ESTIMATION OF THE STUDY PROGRAM FROM THE LATVIAN STATE ITERESTS POINT OF VIEW ..……………...... ………… / 18
6.1. / Accordance of the study program to the standard of the higher education and standard of profession …………………..……………………………………….. / 18
6.2. / Results of the questionnaire of employers ...... ….. / 19
7. / ESTIMATION OF THE STUDY PROGRAM …………...... / 20
7.1. / Aims and tasks of the study program ...... …... / 20
7.2. / Organization of the study program ……………………………………………… / 21
7.3. / Practical realization of the study program ……..………………………………... / 22
7.4. / System of the knowledge evaluation ……...………………………….…………. / 24
7.5. / Students ...... ……………………….. / 25
7.5.1. Number of the students in the program …...... …….. / 25
7.5.2. Number of students accepted for the 1st year...... …… / 26
7.5.3. Amount of graduating students...... …….. / 26
7.5.4.Questionnaire of the students and its analysis...... …... / 26
7.5.5. Questionnaire of graduating students and its analysis...... ………... / 26
7.5.6. Participation of the students in the improvement of the study
process ...…………………………………………………………………………. / 27
7.6. / Academic personnel employed in the study program ...... ………….. / 27
7.6.1. Amount of academic personnel and qualification ...... …. / 27
7.6.2. Scientific activity of academic personnel in the institute of
Railway transport ..………………………………………………………………. / 34
7.6.3. Selection of academic personnel, policy of renewing, teaching and development ...... ……… / 35
7.7. / Financial sources and infrastructure provision ………………………………….. / 36
7.8. / External contacts ...... ……………………. / 37
7.8.1. Connection with employers ...... / 38
7.8.2. Collaboration with the similar programs in Latvia and abroad ...... / 38
7.8.3. Work of academic personnel abroad ...... ………… / 39
7.8.4. Foreign invited lecturers amount in the program ...... ……... / 39
7.8.5. Students exchange programs ...... ……………… / 39
7.8.6. Foreign students amount in the program ...... …… / 39
8. / PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE STUDY PROGRAM ...... ……. / 40
9. / CONCLUSION...... …… / 41
1. DECISION OF THE RTU SENATE ON THE REALIZATION OF PROFESSIONAL STUDY PROGRAM “RAILWAY TRANSPORT”
Bachelor study program
Riga Technical University submits for accreditation Bachelor professional study program “Railway Transport” accepted by (1st appendix) the RTU Senate on the 13th of December 2004.
The submitted program is developed on the base of “Engineer of railway transport” profession standard (submitted for the acceptance to Ministry of education and science) and Nr.481 requirements of regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers of LR. The base of this program is program of “Railway transport” direction of the professional study program “Transport” (accreditation list Nr. 023-535) accredited before with the decision of accreditation commission Nr. 577.
The Program of Master studies
Riga Technical University submits for accreditation Program of Master professional studies “Railway Transport” (2nd appendix) accepted at the RTU Senate on the 13th of December 2004.
The submitted program is developed to give to the students with Bachelor professional degree and/or the 5th level of professional qualification in the field of railway transport and Bachelor academic degree in machinery science a possibility to continue the studies. As a base the following programs have been taken: three year Master academic program of the Railway transport direction of Transport program, accepted at the RTU Senate on the 31st of January 2000 and two year Master academic program in Transport, accepted on the 26th of June 2002.
The strategic questions of the study program have been considered at the meetings of RTU Faculty of Transport and Machinery board of directors and board of the institute of Railway transport (DzTI).
The professional study program “Railway transport” is based on the Institute of Railway Transport that is an announcer of the accreditation.
Short review of the Institute (DzTI) of Railway transport
General information: DzTI was organized with the order of RTU rector in 1992 the 18th of May. The first Regulation of the Institute (DzTI) of Railway transport was accepted by the RTU Senate on the 31st of May 31, 1993, after which the institute became a part of Faculty of Power and Electrical engineering.
With the 31 January 2000 RTU Senate decision the studies in the field of transport were incorporated within the Faculty of Transport and Machinery (TMF). With the changes in the structure of the institute on the 17th of December 2001 the RTU Senate confirmed a new second regulation of the institute of Railway transport.
Now the DzTI contains:
§ Professor group of Railway transport;
§ Department of railway automation and telematics;
§ Certification center of railway personnel.
Personnel of the institute: The DzTI personnel is formed by an academic personnel (13), teaching personnel (4) and researchers (6 doktoranti). Professor group of Railway transport is led by prof. P.Balckars, who is a director of DzTI, Department of railway automation and telematics is headed by asoc.prof L.Sergejeva.
Methodological activities: The teachers of DzTI provide studies in the subjects of RTU academic and professional programs of Railway Transport as well as organize academic studies in the program “Transport” in the specialization Railway Transport and program “Computer control, information and electronic systems of transport” in the specializations “Computer control systems of the railway electric devices”, “Systems of railway transport connections and information”, as well as in the directions of professional study program “Computer control of electrical technologies” specialization “Automation and computer control of railway” and “On-shore electric transport”, specialization direction “Systems of railway transport connections and information” of program “Transport electronics and telematics”.
Short review of the Riga Technical university’s (RTU DF) Daugavpils branch
General information: Riga Technical university’s Daugavpils branch (till 1994 - RPI Daugavpils Polytechnic faculty, till 2002 - RTU learning-scientific center,) was founded in 1961 year.
Till 1992 specialists were trained in three profiles: mechanics, heat-power engineering and building (civil engineering), now students are trained in five profiles: mechanical engineering, electrical power engineering, building (civil engineering), economics and computer science.
RTU Daugavpils branch’s aim is to give possibility for starting higher technical education in Latgale. According to the learning educational plans the branch provides compulsory and alternative courses in the following programme groups of the day department: mechanics, building, elektroscience, computer science and economics from the first to the second course including. By RTU Senate decision in the branch other programme’s realization can be started.
RTU Daugavpils branch is working according with RTU Constitution: the branch is RTU’s independent department. The branch is founded and liquidated with Senate decision. Branch’s task is to provide possibility for Latvia district’s inhabitants to study choosing day, evening or extra-mural learning forms with Senate decision determined academic and professional learning programmes in Senate approved volume.
In RTU Daugavpils branch RTU licensed and accredited learning programmes are implemented, subjects’ working programmes are conformed with responsible professors of corresponding RTU departments and groups of professors who give to the branch professors permission for subject teaching.
On the branch’s first courses higher education’s basic knowledge is given, but further specialization and bachelor’s work presentation take place on the corresponding faculties in Riga. After the day department’s second course graduation students continue learning on the corresponding Technical university faculty in Riga and there they receive higher education (one year study to receive the bachelor’s degree, but then continue learning in the magistracy, which lasts two years, or receive two years engineer’s diploma). Extra-mural department’s students continue learning in Riga after the third course graduation.
During branch’s existence approximately 5000 specialists were trained, the most part of them work in several Latgale’s district establishments and organizations.
Personnel of the Daugavpils branch: 19 staff lecturers provide learning process on the day and extra-mural departments, 10 from them received engineering’s scientific doctor’s degree, 3 hour-lecturers and 20 teaching and support personal staff. Several of our branch employees raise their qualification on the doctor’s courses and in the magistracy (J.Stashane, V.Miglans, I.Kolomeichuka, S.Stashane, A.Grigorjevs).
2. LICENSE FOR THE STUDY PROGRAM
The higher education professional study program “Railway transport” on the 21st of June 2005 got a license for the rights to realize this program for getting professional Bachelor degree and engineer qualification (license Nr. 04051-65, 1st appendix) and professional Master degree (license Nr.04051-66, 2nd appendix). The term of its expiration is 3 years. Full-time and part-time (extra-mural) ways of the program realization are foreseen.
3. PROVISION OF THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE STUDENTS OF THE STUDY PROGRAM “RAILWAY TRANSPORT” TO CONTINUE STUDIES AT ANOTHER PROGRAM IN THE CASE OF ITS LIQUIDATION
There is no an analog study program in the higher educational establishments of Latvia, but in the case of liquidation of the study program the studies can be continued at the similar programs of RTU Faculty of Transport and Machinery “Automobile transport” or “Engineering of transport systems”. The protocol of agreement is given in 1st and 2nd appendixs.
4. THE STUDY PROGRAM AND PLANS OF ITS STUDIES
The professional study program of Railway transport realizes 3 directions of studies. The studies of the program are provided by the Institute of Railway transport, the head subdivision is the professor group of Railway transport.
The RTU Daugavpils branch provides full-time and part-time (extra-mural) bachelor professional studies of this program for the duration of 3 semesters.
After the first year of studies the students have a possibility to choose further studies at one of the following 3 directions and their specializations:
§ Direction of railway rolling train with the specializations:
Ø Railway rolling locomotives;
Ø Railway rolling carriages.
§ Direction of railway technology of transportations;
§ Direction of rail road and road machines with the specializations:
Ø Rail roads;
Ø Road machines.
4.1. Program of professional bachelor studies
For undertaking the studies secondary or secondary professional education is needed.
The goal of the program is to give basic professional education in the field of railway transport that allows to work at the enterprises and organizations of the industry of railway transport as well as at scientific and educational institutions that provide effective technologic system of the railway transport, development and maintenance of the processes connected with the provision of technical means, organization and control of the loads and passengers transportations and preparation of the students for the further master studies.
The program of bachelor professional studies contains 180 credit points with the durations of teaching for full-time 4,5 years and part-time (extra-mural) 5,5 years. At the end of the studies the students get a professional degree of bachelor in railway transport and qualifications of an engineer in railway transport.
Volumes of parts of the program, their distributing in time
A. Compulsory subjects, incl...... ………- general courses ...... ……………….
- prof. theoretical basic courses ......
- prof. special courses ....………………......
B. Subjects of obligatory choice ......
C. Subjects of free choice ...... …......
D. Practice ......
E. State assessment ...... …......
Total: / 90 CP
14 CP
36 CP
40 CP
40 CP
6 CP
26 CP
12 CP
180 CP
The program and its description is given in the 1st appendix, but in table 4.1. the recommended distributing of the subjects of the obligatory choice is presented in the specializations of the program directions. Names of specializations:
1 - Railway Rolling Stocks (locomotives);
2 - Railway Rolling Stocks (carriages);
3 - Railway technology of transportation;
4 - Rail roads;
5 - Road machines.
Table 4.1.
Subjects of obligatory choice
Nr.in.
suc. / Subjects / Specializations / CP
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
1. / Electrical Machines and Transformers on Transport Vehicles / X / 2
2. / Power Generating Unites in Locomotives / X / 2
3. / Locomotive Power Drives and Electrical Equipment / X / 4
4. / Technology of Locomotive Repair and Technical Servicing / X / 5
5. / Locomotive Operation / X / 2
6. / Traction Motors and Apparatuses / X / 5
7. / Traction Transformers / X / 3
8. / Rolling Stock Design and Theory / X / X / 5
9. / Traffic Safety and Brakes / X / X / 3
10. / Methods of Rolling Stock Parts Restoration / X / X / 2
11. / Rolling Stock Repair Organization and Management / X / X / 2
12. / Machine Component Design / X / X / X / X / 2
13. / Nondestructive Control in Railway Transportation / X / X / X / X / 4
14. / Working Load of Transport Vehicles / X / X / X / 2
15. / Locomotive Traction Theory / X / X / X / 2
16. / Reliability and Technical Diagnostics of Rolling Stocks / X / X / X / 2
17. / Rolling Stock Dynamics / X / X / 3
18. / Wagon Electrical Equipment Facilities / X / 2
19. / Technology of Wagon Construction and Repair / X / 5
20. / Technical Operation of Wagons / X / 4
21. / Organization and Management of Passenger Traffic / X / X / 2
22. / Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Equipment on Transport Vehicles / X / X / 2
23. / Reconstruction of Rail Track / X / X / 2
24. / Fundamentals of Railway Station and Junction Theory / X / X / 2
25. / Rolling Stock and Train Traction / X / X / 3
26. / Rail Track and its Operations / X / X / X / 2
27. / Railway Automatic & Telemechanical Systems / X / 4
28. / Accounting Computer Systems for Transportation / X / 2
29. / Operation Technology and Management / X / 5
30. / Freight Transportation and Commercial Operation Organization / X / 5
31. / Railway Stations and Junctions / X / 5
32. / Railway Automatic Operation Systems / X / 3
Continuation of table 4.1.
Nr.
in.
suc. / Subjects / Specializations / CP
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
33. / Rail Track Facilities / X / 5
34. / Technology and Mechanization of Track Repair / X / 5
35. / Track Repair Work Organization and Management / X / 2
36. / Bridges and Ducts Construction and Maintenance / X / 3
37. / Rail Track Surveying and Design / X / 5
38. / Engineering Geology, Ground Mechanics and Foundations / X / 3
39. / Construction Materials on Rail Track Facilities / X / 2
40. / Rail Track Machines and Equipment / X / X / 2
41. / Railway Construction and Transportation Machines / X / 2
42. / Construction Machines and Their Operation / X / 2
43. / Construction Machines and Track Machine Repair / X / 2
44. / Technical Fundamentals of Rail Track Machines Construction / X / 2
45. / Rail Track Machine Hydraulic and Electric Drive / X / 2
46. / Track Machines and Equipment Automatics / X / 2
47. / Rail Track Machine Operation / X / 2
48. / Mechanization of Rail Track Work / X / 2
CP total: / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40
Calendar plans of the bachelor professional study program “Railway transport” for the first, second, third, fourth and fifth academic years are given correspondently in tables 4.2.-4.6.