Saratov State University project “Distant Education System Ipsilon 3.0” is a member of Innovation center “Skolkovo”.
SSU innovation fits in information and computer technologies cluster. This area is one of the priority research areas supported by Russian Government and Innovation center “Skolkovo”. IT cluster work is aimed at the development of information technologies such as “New generation of multimedia search engines”, “Analytic software”, “Cloud computing”, “IT in education”, “IT security” and other.
“Distant Education System Ipsilon 3.0” is a new socio-educational product with Web based interface that will become students’ living environment and provide them with the maximum number of educational and communicational tools.
Ipsilon 3.0 version is based on platform Ipsilon 2.0 that has been working successfully since 2008. The updated Distant Education System includes system of grades distribution between learning blocks and seminars for teachers; unique automated system for sending and receiving tests; notification system for teachers and students; teachers and students’ activity report system.
The project team includes SSU Rector L.Yu. Kossovich, vice-rector for organization work I.G. Malinski, director of SSU Institute of Open Education N.A. Ivanova, his deputy A.A. Matugin, deputy head of SSU Computation Center A.V. Malygin, head of the department of distant learning E.M. Golovko and others.
First Innovation center “Skolkovo” membership certificates were awarded on December 14, 2010. Today about 100 companies hold this status. They work in the priority research areas that include biomedical technologies, energy efficiency, IT, space technologies, nuclear technologies, etc. “Skolkovo” members are the biggest companies from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk. Now Saratov has joined the project.
Participating projects receive funding in form of grants. “Skolkovo” investment policy defines the funding principles. Total grant amount is above 3.5 bln rubles.
“Skolkovo” expert board evaluates the applications. Board members are outstanding Russian and foreign scientists, businessmen and venture investors. 10 experts are randomly selected to evaluate the projects.
Evaluation criteria are project’s agreement with the announced research area, commercial prospects of the innovative product and others. N.A. Ivanova says this victory proves that SSU software complex helps to advance open education and hold videoconferences. It can also compete with Moodle, Blackboard and other software.
“SSU has always surprised everyone by its prizes at World Programming Championships”, says L.Yu. Kossovich, “It shows high quality of our education. Presenting a project developed by university students and professor we promote our scientific school”.
