System of engineering education for children: the role of Advanced Engineering Schools in training future specialists

The article discusses the pilot project “TUSUR School of Engineers,” initiated by the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization of Additional Professional Education “Open Youth University” with the aim of forming a sustainable ecosystem of “school-university-enterprise” to attract high school students to engineering specialties. The project is aimed at addressing the problem of students' lack of interest in engineering education due to stereotypes, lack of qualified teachers, and absence of motivation. Using the MyTrack online platform as well as offline events, the project provides participants with access to educational modules, practical projects, mentoring from experts, and visualization of career trajectories. The main outcomes of the project include increased interest in engineering among schoolchildren, growth in the number of targeted applicants, an influx of motivated students into TUSUR, and the training of in-demand technical specialists for the state and business. In perspective, the program plans to expand to primary school grades and integrate with educational centers ("Growth Points," "Kvantorium," "IT-Cube") to strengthen its practical component and increase geographic reach. The project is seen as an important part of the strategy for the development of engineering education in Russia, contributing to the country’s innovative economic development.