The history of the first technical higher education institution dates back to World War II. In December 1943 by the resolution of State Defense Committee, Altai Machine-Building Institute was founded on the basis of Zaporozhsky Institute for Machine Building Engineering relocated back to the Ukraine. L.G. Isakov was assigned to be the director of the Institute. In October, 1945 an Institute branch for part-time training was opened at Altai Tractor Plant in Rubtsovsk. T.A. Zhivotovsky became the head of the branch. On September 4, 1947 Altai Machine-Building Institute was restructured in Altai Institute of Agricultural Engineering (AIAE). On May 20, 1952 K.D. Shabanov became the director of the Institute. On May 20, 1959 the Soviet government ordered to establish Altai Polytechnic Institute (API). On May 26, 1961 the Institute was named after I.I. Polzunov. In 1959, R.A. Malkov, Candidate of History (PhD) became the dean of the part-time faculty of the Institute in Biysk. In August 1960, Professor V.G. Radchenko, winner of the Lenin Prize, became the Rector of API. Under his leadership, the university had become the leading Siberian Research Center in training of engineering staff. There had been instituted new academic buildings, student dormitories, sports and wellness center «Krona» and a sports arena. New Institute departments with new field specialties, state-of-the-art laboratories and training workshops were opened in API. In 1987 Professor V.V. Evstigneev, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics was elected the rector of API. Multi-level structure of higher education had been introduced in the Institute. New programs of training in economics, engineering and humanities were adopted in API. On December 24, 1992 API was renamed Polzunov Altai State Technical University (AltSTU). Prof. L.A. Korshunov, Doctor of Economics and Prof. O.I. Khomutov, Doctor of Technical Sciences worked as rectors from 2007 to 2013. In March 2013 Prof. A.A. Sitnikov, Doctor of Technical Sciences became the rector. Polzunov Altai State Technical University is confident about its future. A new academic building and indoor pool have been opened lately. New academic programs and expanding international relations have marked a new era for the university. Today AltSTU is a recognized Siberian center for innovation and science targeting at training specialists for the real sector of the Russian and Altai Krai economy.
Polzunov Altai State Technical University
