Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Technopolis Polytechnic Research Building hosted a foresight session, "Polytechnic Student Scientific Society 2030," dedicated to strategic planning for the Student Scientific Society of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University through 2030. Thirty-one SSS representatives from eight university institutes participated in the intensive one-day session, which resulted in four development roadmaps, a system of key performance indicators, and proposals for incorporating results into reporting under the Priority 2030 program and the Youth and Children national project.
The event responded to a nationwide demand: attracting talented young people to research and development is a key objective of the Decade of Science and Technology. Within this framework, the Student Scientific Society (SSS) plays the role of an entry point into science, but until now, it lacked a unified university-wide strategic document that would set priorities, goals, and mechanisms for interinstitutional coordination. The foresight session allowed the participants to gather a "picture of the present" in a single day, formulate a vision for the 2030 SSS, and agree on specific steps for the coming years.
The foresight session took the form of a seven-hour intensive course: participants worked in four teams under the guidance of moderators, sequentially moving between thematic "stations." Students conducted a SWOT analysis of the current state of the Student Scientific Society, visualized a vision of the future, discussed key trends in the development of student research, and finally developed roadmaps for four priority areas.
The session's methodological framework combined several formats: from individual reflection and mini-galleries with cross-feedback to collective prioritization of trends and pitching of developed solutions. This approach allowed for a combination of expert insight and the "voice of students," making the discussion not only analytical but also highly practical.
Based on the SWOT analysis, students identified the SSS's strengths as motivated participants and support from the university. Among its weaknesses, they identified the lack of awareness among classmates about opportunities to participate in research projects and the fragmentation of activities across institutes. Key opportunities included developing interdisciplinary connections, launching a mentoring system, and digitalizing internal processes. Threats included the risk of burnout among activists and competition from other forms of student employment.
At the "SNO-2030" station, participants described the future student scientific society as a navigator of scientific trajectories and a "project office" for student initiatives, helping them navigate the path from their first research experiences to publications, grants, and internships. This vision of the future included youth laboratories, the SNO's own scientific journal, a comprehensive mentoring system, inter-institutional projects, and a strong national scientific brand for the Polytechnic University.
When voting on priority trends, interdisciplinarity emerged as the leading trend: over 80% of participants believe that joint projects between different institutes are capable of setting a new level of student research at the university. There is also high demand for the development of mentoring and support for students' academic portfolios, including the recording of scientific achievements, participation in grants, and publication activity.
The developed roadmaps include 29 steps with a horizon extending to 2030: from creating a unified calendar of SSS events and launching an interdisciplinary case club to implementing a system for recording student research achievements and rolling out student-to-student and student-to-young scientist mentoring formats. For the first year, the participants detailed the plan down to specific months, while the longer-term horizon remained flexible, in line with the principles of a foresight approach.
Another outcome of the session was a system of 16 key performance indicators (KPIs) that will allow for assessing the development of the Student Scientific Society across five areas: reach and engagement, strategic planning effectiveness, event quality, competency development and mentoring, and inter-institutional collaboration. These indicators are aligned with the target indicators of the national project "Youth and Children," the "Priority 2030" program, and the objectives of the Decade of Science and Technology, opening the possibility of integrating the results of the foresight sessions into the university's regular reporting.
Based on the survey results, participants highly rated the practical usefulness of the foresight exercise and the opportunity to see the Student Scientific Society from a distance. In the quantitative assessment, most respondents noted the applicability of the results obtained and the convenience of the format, while in open-ended responses, they most frequently mentioned the value of inter-institutional communication and the request for a follow-up session in a year.
"The foresight session became more than just a discussion of ideas for us; it became a rallying point for a shared vision of student research at the Polytechnic University. We saw that different institutes share similar challenges and ambitions, and were able to agree on specific steps that will make the Student Scientific Society a truly interdisciplinary and open platform for students," noted Margarita Yanchevskaya, Chair of the IPMEIT Student Scientific Society.
It's important for the university that the foresight results aren't just left on flipcharts. The roadmaps and indicators developed by students will form the basis for updating strategic documents and reporting on the "Priority 2030" program and the "Youth and Children" national project. "Essentially, together with the students, we are building a transparent system in which the Student Scientific Society's contribution to the development of the Polytechnic University's scientific potential becomes measurable and visible," emphasized Natalia Leontieva, Head of the SPbPU Office for Support of Scientific Projects and Programs.
The "Polytechnic Student Scientific Society 2030" foresight session was organized by the Scientific Communications Sector of the SPbPU Office for Support of Scientific Projects and Programs. Full materials—an analytical report, consolidated roadmaps, and a description of the methods—are available for use in the future work of the Student Scientific Society and for replicating the format at other institutions.
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