On June 4, 2021, the regional TV channel “Tatarstan Novy Vek” took an interview from Maria Kuklina, Executive Director of the International Centre for Innovation in Science, Technology and Education. Irina Kuklina was accompanied by Dilbar Sultanova, KNRTU Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs.

Recording this interview was a part of activities performed by KNRTU during the visit of the MODEST Consortium universities and opening the Doctoral Training Center (DTC). The DTC will focus on modernizing doctoral training programs at KNRTU and hosting academic and networking events for PhD students.

The interview initiated a fruitful dialogue on higher education trends in Russia and application of European standards to modernizing doctoral training in Russian universities. The conversation between the journalists and the guests highlighted the necessity of soft skills for modern qualified specialists. Dilbar Sultanova emphasized that soft skills were the cornerstone of new courses being developed for KNRTU PhD students within the framework of the MODEST grant implementation pathway.

Irina Kuklina discussed a nation-wide perspective of the MODEST project modernization outcomes: this project fits well with the concept of “individualization or personalization” of Russian higher education. The current trend is to offer individual education tracks to Master’s students. The courses being developed by the MODEST consortium will provide such an opportunity at the level of doctoral training.

The record of the interview is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDHpnwSi2Fw

The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

This project has been co-funded by the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union. This website reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

⚹The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.