The Project is cooperation between Universities of Northumbria (UK), Universidad de Castilla - La Mancha (Spain), Universita Politecnica Delle Marche (Italy), Beijing Institute of Technology and Harbin Engineering University (China); Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University and Pavlodar State University (Kazakhstan); South Ural Sate University and Bauman Moscow State Technical University (Russia).A significant number of vehicles in the above Partner Countries are equipped with Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) having technical and ecological performance inferior to that deployed in EU, US etc. A switch to modern ICE designs, similar to that, deployed in the developed countries, is required. New technology requires a new type of specialists with a deep knowledge of the state-of-the-art and technological advances in this area. All Partner Universities have Departments of Internal Combustion Engines or Transport. However, the current syllabus remains based on outdated materials and approach and also problems were identified in education of PhD students. The project aim is the deep modernisation of existing syllabus in advanced ICEs technology, improving quality of education and teaching, which includes enhancing existing and application of new learning and teaching tools, methodologies and pedagogical approaches. This will involve modernisation of learning outcomes and ICT based practices. At least 36 modules in all 6 partner Universities will go through modernisation. Approximately 50% of content for each of 36 modules will be renewed with structure, outcomes and teaching methods for each module being revised. In application to all 6 partner Universities the modernised part of the selected modules will worth about 180 ECTS credits. Additionally, Improvements in Skills Development of PhD students will be carried out for meeting career targets and their better integration into international community.

The Bologna process and EHEA brought necessary reforms to improve engineering education in Russia and Tajikistan. But despite obvious increase in attractiveness for young people engineering education is still facing many challenges. Drop-out rate among students majoring in engineering is almost 25%, employment rates for bachelor graduates decreases due to unwillingness of industry to employ engineers with 4 years of education, teaching staff is ageing and universities fail to create an effective system to retain young PhD graduates in engineering disciplines to perform teaching and research. One of the major unsolved problems behind these challenges is the deterioration of teacher training system in PC universities and irrelevance of teaching methods employed for engineering disciplines in Russia and Tajikistan. The answer to this problem is two-fold – modernization of pedagogic training of PhD students and development of sustainable system of lifelong education for university teachers of engineering disciplines. EXTEND seeks to promote a change in a system of pedagogic training of university teachers in engineering in RF and TJK through modernization of PhD programs curriculum and development of sustainable system of teacher re-training and consultation support by Network of Centres of Excellence in Engineering Education. The priority aim of the EXTEND project is to enhance the quality and the effectiveness of teaching. The project is targeted at solving of three specific problems: 1)The development of comprehensive model and descriptor of the competences of the university teacher of engineering disciplines;2) The establishment of Network of Centres of Excellence in Engineering Education (EXTEND centres) offering training courses, research and consultations in teaching engineering disciplines in PC HEI. 3) The development of training program for PhD students and university teachers in teaching engineering disciplines including MOOC.