Diverse educators emerging: An influx of teachers, marked by adaptability, quantity, and a deep affection for young learners.
Innovative Educators Shape Tomorrow's Classrooms at Tomsk State Pedagogical University
Tomsk, Russia - The demands of the modern world necessitate a evolving approach to child upbringing and education, giving birth to a new generation of educators. At the Institute of Childhood and Art Pedagogy (ICAP) of Tomsk State Pedagogical University, specialists are trained to meet these changing needs. Irina Alexandrovna Drozdetskaya, the Institute's Director, shares insights into their pedagogical strategies.
The specialists molded at ICAP are versatile and dedicated educators, capable of educating preschool and primary school children, as well as guiding them in additional and creative activities. The Institute, housing two faculties — the Faculty of Preschool and Primary Education and the Faculty of Culture and Arts — allows for comprehensive training in various fields.
Delving into Primary School Teacher Education
Discussing the unique vocational education program (VEP) for primary school teachers with the right to teach informatics, Drozdetskaya explains how this program stands out. Upon completion, students can work in schools immediately and enjoy expedited further academic pursuits at Tomsk State Pedagogical University, with a three-year duration for their studies reduced to two years if they opt to continue. The broadened knowledge base in pedagogy and child psychology prepares them for a diverse range of professions, regardless of their chosen career path.
Exploring Other Training Programs
The Bachelor's degree program at ICAP includes a dual profile—Primary Education and Preschool Education. This versatile graduate can choose between a career as a kindergarten teacher or a primary school teacher, with ample practice opportunities offering a seamless transition between both spheres.
At the Faculty of Culture and Arts, three art-focused programs — Visual Arts and Additional Education, Choreographic Art and Additional Education, and Music and Additional Education — cater to students with creative aspirations. The additional education qualification enables graduates to work in various roles beyond traditional classroom teaching, such as in art schools and cultural institutions.
ICAP's recent initiative, the "Territory Open to Childhood!", offers an interactive learning environment, featuring equipment like sensory sandboxes, animation studios, and sensory rooms, immersing students in practical real-world experiences.
Entrance Standards and Budget Places
Applicants seeking admission to ICAP's higher education programs must pass a Russian language and social studies exam. Additional subjects such as mathematics, literature, history, or biology may be required based on the chosen program. The Institute offers a number of budget places for various programs in 2025: 28 for "Primary Education and Preschool Education," 12 for "Primary Education and Additional Education (in the Field of Visual Arts)," 12 for "Visual Arts and Additional Education," 10 for "Choreographic Art and Additional Education," and 5 for "Music and Additional Education."
Entrance exams for creative programs cater to students' existing skills, like drawing, painting, composition, basics of classical dance, modern and folk-stage dance, solfeggio, playing musical instruments, and solo singing, recognizing their prior art, music, and dance school experiences.
Seeking a Specific Profile of Candidate
Drozdetskaya stresses that applicants pursuing careers in education at ICAP are generally well-informed and motivated. Crucial attributes for success within the programs include love for children, the ability to address novel situations, and a creative and energetic disposition.
- With a focus on the evolving needs of modern education, ICAP at Tomsk State Pedagogical University offers a unique vocational education program (VEP) for primary school teachers in informatics, providing them with expedited academic pursuits in finance, business, and careers in education.
- The Institute's dual profile Bachelor's degree program in Primary Education and Preschool Education offers students a versatile learning experience, preparing them for careers in both kindergarten and primary school teaching, as well as self-development through online education and personal growth.
- For those with creative aspirations, the Faculty of Culture and Arts offers three art-focused programs—Visual Arts and Additional Education, Choreographic Art and Additional Education, and Music and Additional Education—equipping graduates with qualifications for roles beyond traditional classroom teaching in business, education-and-self-development, and the broader arts industry.
- In order to accommodate budding educators, ICAP offers budget places for various programs in 2025, including opportunities for students seeking careers in education-and-self-development and the arts, with entrance exams tailored to assess their skills in drawing, painting, music, and dance.
