Irkutsk State Technical University (ISTU) was established as Siberian Mining Institute comprising three faculties: mining, geological faculties and faculty of metallurgy. Traditions of technical education are rooted in the 18th century when Irkutsk Navigation School was founded for training navigators and land surveyors. During the first ten years 700 engineers graduated from Siberian Mining Institute to work at mining and metallurgical industries.
The Institute was renamed into Polytechnic Institute. This name reflected the diversity of the institute and its ties with the developing economy of Russia and especially that of Eastern Siberia. Along with the Institute expansion, its structure developed as well. So, new faculties were established, new specialties appeared.
1993
In March 23, 1993 Polytechnic Institute was renamed into Irkutsk State Technical University. By 2000 the University was finally formed as the technical university and began to integrate into the international educational system. The following issues took on special significance: introduction of the multi-level system of higher education, establishment of new humanitarian specialties, solving issues connected with professional guidance and pre-university training, ensuring conditions for new information technologies development, professional and scientific enhancement of the faculty, development of international links.