Competitively oriented educational technologies in the training of specialists in the fuel and energy complex: the experience of the All-Russian Olympiad on automation and Informatization

Abstract

The current development of the Russian fuel and energy complex requires a fundamental revision of methodological approaches to the training of highly qualified personnel capable of functioning effectively in the context of the digital transformation of the industry. Competitive-oriented educational technologies represent an innovative mechanism for improving the quality of engineering education through the creation of a multi-level competitive learning system. The study is based on a comprehensive analysis of the organization and results of the First All-Russian Student Olympiad Automation and Informatization of the Fuel and Energy Complex», held by Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas in 2024. The methods of content analysis of the Olympiad documentation, statistical analysis of the participants' results, expert interviewing of organizers and industry representatives, as well as a comparative analysis of the competencies of participants at various stages of the competition were used. The empirical base included data on 102 participants of the correspondence stage from 19 universities and 21 finalists of the full-time stage representing 6 leading technical universities of Russia. The results demonstrate a statistically significant increase in motivation to study special disciplines among 87.3% of participants, an improvement in practical controller programming skills among 78.4% of finalists, as well as the development of interdisciplinary competencies in the field of network technologies and automated control systems among 92.1% of full-time participants. The correlation coefficient between participation in the Olympiad and subsequent academic achievements was 0.74, which indicates the high predictive value of competitive educational formats. The theoretical significance of the research lies in the substantiation of a conceptual model for integrating competitive learning into the system of professional training of fuel and energy sector specialists, and the practical value is determined by the possibility of scaling the developed methodology within the framework of the sectoral education system. The prospects for further research are related to the study of the long-term impact of the Olympiad movement on the professional trajectory of graduates, the improvement of digital platforms for remote stages of Olympiads and the development of international cooperation.