A fragment of the university's history

Buidings of the Kyiv Politechnic Institute. View from Prospect Peremohy (1902)

On August 31, 1898, the Chief of the Trade and Manufacturing Department proclaimed the establishment of our institution. At that time KPI had 4 departments:

mechanical (109 students);
engineering (101 students);
agricultural (81 students);
chemical (63 students).

The idea of establishing a technical college appeared on February 18, 1880. It was the time when owners of sugar factories of the Russian South-West "...in honour of the 25th anniversary of the reign of Alexander II, the Liberator, decided to collect the necessary funds for the erection of a higher technical school".

For this purpose, voluntary donations of 1 000 374 (1898) roubles were raised.

Examination Board at the head of D.I. Mendeleyev when the first engineers graduated from the Institute (1902)

Essential scientific and organisational assistance was rendered by the then leading Russian scientists:

Professor D.I.Mendeleyev;
Professor M.Ye.Zhukovsky;
Professor K.A.Timiryazev;

Professor D.I. Mendeleyev became the first Head of the State Examination Commission of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute in 1903. Professor Victor Kyrpychov, a famous specialist in mechanics, strength of materials and graphic statics, was appointed the first Director of KPI.

He has involved in lecturing a number of well-known scientists:

Professor M.I. Konovalov, a famous scientist in petroleum refining;
Professor S.M. Reformatsky, a prominent chemist, whose books were used by several generations of students;
Professor K.O. Zvorykin, one of the pioneers in metal cutting theory;
Professor V.P. Yermakov, the Head of the European Association of Mathematicians.

Soon after the institute was founded, scientific schools were established on its premises, including:

graphic static and strength theory (Professor V.L.Kyrpychov, Professor S.P.Tymoshenko, Professor K.K.Symynsky);
erection of bridges and means of communication (Professor Ye.O.Paton, Professor T.D.Dubelir);
metallurgy (Professor V.P.Izhevsky, Professor V.Yu.Vasyliyev);
electrochemistry and chemistry of waterless solutions (Professor V.A.Pyastnikov, Professor V.F.Tymofeyev);
fibrous material technology (Professor V.G.Shaposhnikov).

KPI was a source of Ukrainian aviation at the beginning of the last century.

From 1908 to 1910, under the guidance of Professor M.B. Delonet several disciples of Professor M.Ye. Zhukovsky organized an aircraft construction laboratory at KPI, where many famous aircraft designers began their careers:

D.P. Grygorovych – the designer of the first flying boat;
Professor I.I. Sikorsky – the designer of the large four-engine aircraft "Illya Muromets" and helicopters;
Professor A.S. Kudashov – the creator of the first Russian airplane with petrol engine.

The student Sikorsky I.I. in the plane of his own design.

During its development the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute became the basis for broadening and reinforcing the higher education network in Kyiv and Ukraine . Thus, in 1922–1933 and later, departments and chairs of KPI have transformed into the following institutions:

Institute of Railroad Engineers in Dnipropetrovsk;
Institute of Marine Engineering in Odessa ;
Textile Institute in Kharkiv (with several branch institutes);
Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers in Kyiv;
Ukrainian Academy of Agriculture;
Road-Transport Institute in Kyiv;
Technology Institute of Light Industry in Kyiv;
Vinnytsa Polytechnic Institute;
Institute of Industrial Engineering in Cherkasy;
Technology Institute in Chernihiv.

At present, the National Technical University "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute" is one of the largest higher education establishments in Ukraine .