The end of the academic year is inextricably linked with summing up the results. Thus, in Belarus there is a tradition of honoring the best graduates and teachers of higher education institutions. This year the event took place on June 20 at the Palace of Independence. During the meeting with the President of the Republic of Belarus, the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Machine Parts of the Belarusian National Technical University Alla Kalina was awarded Gratitude for fruitful scientific and pedagogical activity, significant personal contribution to the training of highly qualified specialists and the development of creative abilities of talented youth.
– For me, this event in life was extraordinary, exciting. I perceive it as gratitude from the President to the collectives of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Machine Parts, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the entire university. I would like, in turn, to thank the management of our university for the trust in representing the Belarusian National Technical University and for the opportunity to get unforgettable impressions.
Now we met Alla Alexandrovna because of a significant award, but all professionals in their field started with something.
– How did you choose the field of mechanical engineering?
– Since childhood, I have had a penchant for the exact sciences: mathematics, physics, chemistry. When in high school we began to study the subject "Automotive", we began to study the structure of a car and learn to drive a truck, I became interested in the topic of machine design. Therefore, I chose to enter a leading technical university - BPI (as BNTU was then called), a universal engineering specialty at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering "mechanical engineering technology, metal-cutting machines and tools", where we were taught calculations, design, technology for the manufacture of machine parts and units, production organization and much more.
Alla Kalina remembers her student years with special warmth. It was this time that helped her to be sure of the correctness of her choice and understand which direction to move in next.
– Student life was fun and eventful. We managed to do everything: study well, and participate in all sorts of competitions, sports events, volunteer movement. I remember with great warmth our teachers, many of whom had experience working at machine-building enterprises in Belarus, and the caring dean's office. We called our dean Gennady Yakovlevich Belyaev "daddy", and the dean's specialist Galina Vasilyevna Grikhanova - "mom".
As a student, Alla Aleksandrovna also worked in a student team, with which she worked in Belarus and Moldova. Industrial and pre-graduation practices sometimes also took place outside of Belarus: after the third year, together with a group, the heroine of the material went to the city of Tolyatti, where she worked at the Volga Automobile Plant. This experience helped Alla Kalina understand many technological processes and deal with designs. Interestingly, the technological equipment was mainly of Italian and German manufacture, which allowed the student to significantly expand her horizons, working at machine tools, automatic lines and on the assembly line.
- After graduating from the institute with honors, I was assigned to the industry research laboratory of self-propelled machine drives, organized by Professor A. T. Skoibeda. A team of young but very competent engineers worked in the laboratory, who were engaged in the creation of various elements of forage harvester and tractor drives, as well as stands for testing the developed units. ONIL PSM closely cooperated with GSCB PO Gomselmash, where I received thorough design training.
The team of this laboratory has created many innovative designs, some of which have been implemented in production and are still in operation. Alla Aleksandrovna continues research in the field of dynamic protection of mechanical and combined drives, and is also involved in modeling drives with their elements and virtual testing within the framework of state scientific research programs and business contracts with enterprises of the Republic of Belarus.
– How did you come to work at the university?
– After 7 years of work at SRL PSM, Professor Anatoly Tikhonovich Skoibeda invited me to work at the department of "Machine Parts, Lifting and Transport Machines and Mechanisms" that he headed. Here I went from an assistant to the head of the department. I love my job! I consider one of the important areas of my activity to be the involvement of students in scientific activities: our students actively participate in various conferences and creative competitions.
Let me remind you that Alla Aleksandrovna was awarded the Gratitude of the President for her personal contribution to the training of highly qualified specialists and the development of creative abilities of talented youth. We asked the head of the department to tell us a little more about this area of activity.
– Throughout my teaching career, I try to develop an interest in engineering in students, involve them in creative work, for example, in tournaments of the international WEG (World Engineering Games) project, in the implementation of real course projects, and participation in scientific conferences. Over the past 6 years, I have trained five master's students, and am currently supervising the training of a postgraduate student. One of the interesting parts of my job is the annual organization of excursions for students to various enterprises and scientific organizations in our country.
– Alla Aleksandrovna, you are an inspiration for young professionals who are just starting their professional career in this field. What do you think a modern teacher should be like?
– I believe that a teacher should not only teach, but also constantly learn, develop, in order to be interesting to students. In addition, a good teacher should be not only strict, but also fair towards their students, instill in them love for their country and a desire to work for the benefit and development of their native Belarus. Believe in yourself and your students and everything will work out!
We thank Alla Aleksandrovna for the interview and also congratulate her on such a significant award. We wish you further success in teaching and research!
