Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
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Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is launching a new phase of its collaboration with the city's municipal government—the "Open Municipality" project, aimed at organizing practical internships for faculty members in local government bodies. Its key feature is a fundamentally new approach to internships: the interns are university faculty members, not students. This format, launched for the first time, is designed not simply to train participants but to provide faculty with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the work processes of local government bodies, explore local management practices, and integrate their experience into the educational process.
Representatives of the Council of Municipalities of St. Petersburg—Chairman Vsevolod Belikov, Executive Director Mikhail Novikov, and Deputy Executive Director Yulia Slav—joined the SPbPU team to discuss the project's concept, content, and implementation mechanisms.
Thirteen leading faculty members from the Graduate School of Public Administration at the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University also participated in the working meeting and discussion of the "Open Municipality" internship project.
Participants discussed issues related to the development of local self-government in the context of federal reform, including changes related to Federal Law No. 33-FZ of March 20, 2025, "On the General Principles of Organizing Local Self-Government in a Unified System of Public Authority," prospects for municipal reorganization, the distribution of powers, possible optimization mechanisms, and the participation of municipal authorities in the integrated development of territories.
Particular emphasis was placed on the need to maintain a people-centered approach to municipal governance. Experts emphasized that during the optimization process, it is crucial to maintain contact with residents—a key factor in the trust and effectiveness of local government.
This project is important not only as an internship, but also as a new format of collaboration—when municipalities and the university become partners in developing modern management solutions. We see the Polytechnic University as a reliable ally in training personnel and fostering expert discussion. Such initiatives should become regular—we are ready to share best practices, listen to proposals, and work together to shape a new school of municipal governance for St. Petersburg," noted Vsevolod Belikov.
The project's key audience is faculty members of the "Public and Municipal Administration" program at the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade at SPbPU.
Today, universities can't limit themselves to the classical education model—it's important for us to be involved in real-life management processes, to see how decisions are made, and to transform this knowledge into educational programs. The "Open Municipality" project is a shining example of how academia and government bodies are creating a unified space for the exchange of expertise. We are confident that a teacher with a deep understanding of practice prepares specialists of a fundamentally new caliber, capable of responding to the challenges of the times and the demands of society," shared Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Lyudmila Pankova.
The goal is to bring the educational process closer to real municipal practice, develop the professional competencies of faculty, narrow the gap between theory and management reality, and facilitate the formation of a personnel reserve for municipalities.
The project will allow:
Integrate real-world management challenges into the educational process; strengthen the practice-oriented nature of the training of future managers; establish regular exchange of competencies between the university and local government bodies; and develop project-based work and modern formats for faculty-student interaction.
The internship covers key areas of local government activity and includes both lectures and on-site practical modules in municipalities across St. Petersburg.
During the internship, participants will become familiar with key areas of municipal work. The program will cover the legal, organizational, and financial foundations of municipal operations, modern analytical and digital approaches to local government, mechanisms for interagency cooperation, and practices for handling citizen complaints.
Special attention will be paid to studying best municipal practices, including issues of integrated territorial development, urban improvement, as well as military-patriotic education, sports, and leisure activities as part of social policy at the local level.
The program combines expert presentations, discussions, and practice-oriented formats, allowing participants to immerse themselves in real-life management processes and best municipal practices in St. Petersburg.
Thus, at the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, Vsevolod Belikov, Chairman of the Legislation Committee of the Legislative Assembly and Chairman of the Council of Municipalities of St. Petersburg, will give an introductory lecture on local government development trends.
The Liteiny Okrug municipality will host a lecture and discussion featuring Pavel Daynyak, which will examine the legal, organizational, and financial foundations of municipal activities.
Igor Pyzhik will lead the module at the Akademicheskoe Municipal District. Participants will explore municipal information and analytical tools, interagency cooperation mechanisms, and participate in a discussion of resident engagement practices.
During a field trip to the Finnish District municipality, led by Alexandra Kirpichnikova, teachers will learn about municipal best practices and best practices in landscaping.
The Vasilievsky Municipal District will host a module led by Dmitry Ivanov, dedicated to the organization of military-patriotic work, the development of sports, and leisure as important areas of municipal policy.
In December, the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade will host a final discussion session in a "world café" format, featuring municipal representatives and Polytechnic faculty. Participants will jointly develop practice-oriented solutions for territorial development. A key outcome of the program will be the development of teaching materials that will be integrated into faculty curricula, strengthening the practice-oriented nature of the training of future specialists in public and municipal administration.
The "Open Municipality" project is more than just an internship; it's a bridge between university expertise and the real-world practice of municipal governance. For faculty, it's an opportunity to strengthen their competencies, for students, to gain mentors who understand real-world challenges, and for the city, to develop a new generation of managers. Projects like these move the system forward, and Polytechnic University is ready to lead these changes. "Only forward!" emphasized Maxim Ivanov, IPMEiT Deputy Director for Promising Projects and Youth Policy.
The project received the support of Alexander Belsky, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, who noted the initiative's importance for developing expert dialogue and teamwork aimed at addressing urban development challenges. The "Open Municipality" project marks a new stage in the strategic partnership between the university and the city government, cementing the Polytechnic University's role as a center for management training, a methodological leader, and a key player in shaping modern municipal human resources policy in St. Petersburg.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.