Formation of Higher Railway Education in the Far East During the Period from 1937 to 1953s

Abstract

The article reveals the history of higher railway education formation and its development in the Far East from 1937 to 1953. We are talking about the history of Khabarovsk Institute of Railway Transport Engineers (KhabIIZT), as the only specialized higher education institution that trained engineers for rail transport in the Far East and Eastern Siberia. The author comes to the conclusion that the need to establish the first railway university in the Far East was due to the industrialization of the country, the expansion of the railway network in the region, and the acute need for engineering personnel for the railway industry. Formation of the Institute took place during the difficult years of the Great Patriotic War. Employees and students of KhabIIZT massively went to the front, helped transport enterprises, and worked on the rebuilding of railways. The main achievements of the Institute are analyzed: growth of the educational and laboratory base, formation of the teaching staff in the conditions of the qualified personnel shortage in the region, increase of the student body, the strengthening of scientific research work and relations with production, and active conduct of educational, military and sports work. The main shortcomings of the work of the young high school are revealed - an acute shortage of teaching staff with academic degrees and titles, insufficient material resources, low percentage of research work, weak links with production. In conclusion, the role of KhabIIZT in providing qualified engineers of the railways of the region is revealed.