Abstract:

Relevance:
Network training programs imply that students master some of the disciplines at the university and some in other educational and scientific organizations, or manufacturing companies. The quality of training within one university is evaluated by the formed competences, which are mainly measured by tests. Network programs should provide better training quality through synergy from the use of advanced material, technical and intellectual resources of each participant of the network. It is essential to define quality metrics which prove the benefits of network training programs.

The aim is to create a set of indicators to evaluate the quality of students’ training and to prove network training programs benefits.

Methodology:
The research included the following stages:
1. Traditional assessment of Academic progress. Scores for midterm and final tests, written and oral exams, labs, projects, etc. were used to assess the quality of students' training in two different groups: (a) with traditional training in one university and (b) with training in the network form.
2. Brainstorming at the Pedagogical Council. Development of additional indicators set for evaluation of the students’ achievements in the scientific and professional field.
3. Excel data processing to reveal the differences in the students' training quality in groups (a) and (b).

Results.
1. It was found that the averaged results of the traditional assessment of students’ academic progress are similar at the end of the training.
2. A set of indicators to evaluate students' achievements was developed:
(i) participation in scientific grants;
(ii) participation in patents;
(iii) published articles;
(iv) awards in professional conferences, industrial exhibitions and R&D contests.
3. Histograms of changes in the values of developed quality indicators of student training in groups (a) and (b) are presented. The indicators (i) - (iv) are 2-2.5 times higher in group (b) that was trained in network form than in group (a).

Conclusion:
A set of additional indicators of training quality assessment was developed. Educational programs in a network form provide the better quality of students' training as evidenced by the higher level of their achievements in the scientific and professional fields.

Keywords:

Quality indicators, training program, network program, progress evaluation, students’ achievements.