International Network Conference as an Efficient Way to Integrate Universities and Businesses in the Context of Digital Economy

Development of engineering education is closely related to the global development processes of post-industrial society in the context of Industry 4.0, digitalization of economy, and the vigorous growth of technology and media. The ideas become dominating that education must serve the goals of a sustainable and dynamic society experiencing serious crises of technogenic and social/political nature. Accordingly, the goal of higher engineering/technology education be-comes turning out engineers that are ready to overcome the above challenges. This goal cannot be achieved without exchanging best practices and ideas among researchers and teachers representing the universities of various countries, involving the interested representatives of leading corporations. International engineering education forums and conferences may offer great opportunities for that. Issues and problems of engineering education are currently dis-cussed at many global forums and conferences, including the ICL/IGIP. Since 2016, the International Science and Practice SYNERGY Network Conference has become a large discussion site in Russia. The conference applies best global practices, as well as identifies and accomplishes important goals, such as developing public-private partnership, modernizing curricula, upgrading the skills of faculty members, managing staff, and other conference participants, spreading new educational techniques and technology, using digital formats and education digitalization being especially important given the scale of Russia, and expanding partnership links to companies being the customers of universities and participating in the conference.