Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Based on the 2025 admissions campaign, more than 800 college and technical school graduates chose the Polytechnic University to continue their education. This result was made possible by the university's systematic collaboration with secondary vocational education institutions.
SPbPU's Directorate of Pre-University Education and Talent Attraction actively engages prospective students throughout the academic year. The highlight of this effort was the College Fest, which brought together talented and motivated students from various educational institutions.
At the festival opening, Irina Timoshenkova, Deputy Director for Educational Activities at the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology, and Marina Petrochenko, Director of the Civil Engineering Institute, welcomed participants. Varvara Sotova, Director of the Student Recruitment Center and Deputy Secretary of the Admissions Committee at SPbPU, spoke about the specifics and pathways for admission to the Polytechnic University for applicants with a secondary vocational education diploma.
The main challenge and most exciting part of the festival was the three-day project work. Participants immersed themselves in solving practical problems prepared by university faculty.
The Civil Engineering Institute challenged students to create a video game concept, including a detailed game scenario, a detailed description of the game world, gameplay mechanics, and a visual concept for the game space.
The Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade tasked teams with developing a business plan for establishing a camp in the Leningrad Region. This included a market analysis, logo creation, service descriptions, a marketing strategy, a financial plan, identifying opportunities for government support, and assessing risks and development prospects.
During the assignment, organized by the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology, the participants were tasked with developing a concept for a food service establishment specializing in Arctic cuisine. The project included creating a menu based on local northern produce, as well as a layout designating functional zones and flows that complied with food safety and occupational health and safety standards. The work was based on real-world data—the floor plan and its location—ensuring the assignment's high practical relevance.
The festival gave students the opportunity to go beyond the curriculum and try their hand at being video game developers, business analysts, and food service designers. Working on real-world problems allowed them not only to apply their professional knowledge but also to master new tools needed in the industry. Furthermore, College Fest brought together students from various educational institutions: they exchanged contacts, discussed ideas, and, once at the university, were able to get a feel for student life at Polytechnic University and the labs and spaces awaiting them upon admission.
Following the project defense, the jury selected the winners. They received diplomas and valuable prizes. Furthermore, winning the College Fest entitles applicants to receive additional points toward their Unified State Exam (USE) or entrance exams when applying to the Polytechnic University.
The festival's winners included students from the Institute of Secondary Vocational Education at SPbPU, the Academy of Engineering Technologies and Management, the College of Information and Creative Technologies, and the College of Business and Technology at St. Petersburg State University of Economics.
For some, participating in the festival was an opportunity to test their skills before applying, while for others, it was a chance to find like-minded individuals and mentors. Regardless of their results, each participant took home the experience of working with a team on a real project and a glimpse into the modern laboratories of one of the country's leading technical universities.
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