The leading scientific university of the Altai region, Altai State Technical University (ASTU) is one of a number of universities of the city of Barnaul, Altai Krai, Russia. It is one of the largest institutions of higher learning in Russia.It was founded in February 1942 based on the Zaporozhye Engineering Institute. Altay State University was named after Ivan Polzunov who was the famous Barnaul inventor.The University offers full-time, part-time, extramural and distant training.