Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
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A large-scale educational project, "Public Procurement: An International Project. Making Way for the Young. St. Petersburg – Minsk. Season 2025–2026," has concluded in St. Petersburg. This initiative, aimed at training highly qualified personnel in the field of public and municipal procurement, brought together over 500 students from four leading universities in the northern capital. Among them was Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, which has been the most active participant in the project for the second year in a row.
The project was implemented by the State Procurement Committee of St. Petersburg in conjunction with the Committee for Civil Service and Personnel Policy of St. Petersburg, the RTS-Tender electronic platform, and the National Center for Marketing and Price Study of the Republic of Belarus.
As part of the project, students studied the specifics of the public procurement systems in Russia and Belarus, as well as the specifics of regulation at different levels of government. Upon completion of the training, they received certificates from the Republic of Belarus and state-recognized advanced training certificates.
The awards ceremony for the project's winners and finalists took place at Nevsky Town Hall.
The high level of training of the Polytechnic students was noted by members of the expert jury: Elena Egorova, Deputy Chair of the St. Petersburg Committee for State Procurement; Igor Murashev, Deputy Chair of the Committee for Civil Service and Personnel Policy; and Nikita Avvakumov, Director of the Northwestern Branch of RTS-Tender. The speakers emphasized that the profession of a public procurement specialist requires a deep knowledge of legislation, strategic thinking, and a creative approach, and that participation in the project gives graduates a significant competitive advantage in employment.
SPbPU students who took prizes in the competitive trials received special recognition:
1st place — Olga Maklakova, 5th-year student of the Economic Security program at the Higher School of Public Administration at IPMEIT 2nd place — Artem Yemelyanov, 1st-year master’s student of the Public and Municipal Administration program at the Higher School of Public Administration at IPMEIT 3rd place — Alexander Yemelyanov, 3rd-year student of the Commodity Science program at the Higher School of Service and Trade at IPMEIT.
SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy and Vice-Rector for Continuing and Pre-University Education Dmitry Tikhonov were awarded letters of gratitude for their active assistance in organizing the project, supporting talented youth, and developing the city's human resources.
The public procurement system is developing dynamically, integrating economic, legal, and digital competencies. In this context, continuing professional education is becoming a key tool for training personnel. At the Polytechnic University, this is being implemented through practice-oriented programs that meet economic needs. The "Make Way for the Young" project is an example of this, strengthening the connection between education and market demands, including the integration of Russia and Belarus, and developing students' skills for working in an interstate context, noted Dmitry Tikhonov.
For St. Petersburg students, participation in the project opens up additional career opportunities. Finalists will be eligible to be included in the St. Petersburg youth talent pool, allowing them to continue their professional careers in contract government services.
International cooperation has become a key component of the project: 10 of the best participants from St. Petersburg will undergo internships in Minsk, while 10 Belarusian students will visit the city on the Neva. The academic exchange program will allow future specialists to immerse themselves in the contractual systems of the two countries and exchange experiences with colleagues.
Our university once again had the largest number of participants. The project brought together students from various fields and levels of study. Participants gained not only theoretical knowledge but also practical experience in city government, the opportunity to join the talent pool, and a unique chance to complete an internship in Minsk. "Our ultimate goal is to help graduates find employment in public procurement in St. Petersburg, and we see that projects like these are successfully achieving this goal," emphasized Marina Ivanova, SPbPU project coordinator, head of the "Public and Municipal Administration" educational program, and associate professor at the Higher School of Public Administration at the Institute of Mechanics, Economics, and Technology.
The "Public Procurement: International Project. Making Way for the Young. St. Petersburg – Minsk" project became a professional training ground for polytechnic students, as well as a launching pad for successful careers, opening up employment opportunities, inclusion in the talent pool, and participation in international internships.
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