Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
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In December, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University completed a pilot project to provide internships for teachers in local government bodies. "Open Municipality: Best Practices in St. Petersburg."
The internship program was implemented jointly with the Council of Municipalities of St. Petersburg, which celebrated its 20th anniversary on December 17. The long-standing collaboration between the Council and the Polytechnic University is aimed at developing the human resources potential of municipal services, implementing modern management practices, and improving the quality of training for local government specialists.
The purpose of the internship was to improve and enhance the professional skills of teachers in the field of local government, as well as to integrate current municipal management practices into the university's educational process.
As part of the program, participants studied the theoretical foundations of local self-government in the Russian Federation and St. Petersburg, including the regulatory and financial aspects of local government activities. They analyzed the practices of St. Petersburg municipalities in the areas of public improvement, public relations, interdepartmental collaboration, the use of information and analytical technologies, and the development of leisure, sports, and educational initiatives.
The event was attended by teachers of the Higher School of Public and Municipal Administration of the Institute of Meteorology and Technology, as well as heads of municipalities and representatives of the Council of Municipalities of St. Petersburg, including: Deputy Executive Director of the Council of Municipalities of St. Petersburg Yulia Slav, Head of the MO "Akademicheskoe" Igor Pyzhik, Head of the MA MO "Akademicheskoe" Elena Korotkova, Head of the MO "Liteyny Okrug" Pavel Daynyak, Member of the Youth Council of the MO "Liteyny Okrug" Andrey Zaretsky, Head of the Department of Improvement of the MA VMO SPb MO "Polyustrovo" Mikhail Artemenok, Chief Specialist of the Department of Improvement of the MA VMO SPb MO "Polyustrovo" Anton Baranov, Deputy Director of the MKU "Improvement Service" of the MO "Vasilievsky" Anastasia Zakimatova.
The work was conducted using the "World Café" technology. Participants developed solutions to key municipal development issues, such as landscaping, organizing interdepartmental cooperation, and building effective dialogue with the public.
Following the discussions, three comprehensive projects were developed, providing for the full implementation of the principle of subsidiarity, a clearer distribution of powers among government bodies, the creation of a unified information environment with elements of artificial intelligence, the implementation of lean management principles in the activities of local government bodies, and the development of practice-oriented interdisciplinary educational programs in the field of urban management.
The "Open Municipality" project is an important step toward bringing the university closer to real-world management practices. "It's crucial for us that faculty have the opportunity to directly interact with local governments, understand the current needs of their territories, and translate this practical experience into the educational process. This format of collaboration improves the quality of training and develops students' practical understanding of the modern urban governance system," said Maxim Ivanov, IPMEIT Deputy Director for Promising Projects and Youth Policy.
At the end of the event, the participants summarized the results of the pilot internship and agreed on further development of their cooperation. Plans include developing methodological recommendations for key areas of local government activity, implementing joint educational programs, promoting municipal service, and launching the next phase of the project—"Open Municipality 2.0."
Internship participants—HSSU lecturers Yulia Slav, Igor Pyzhik, and Pavel Daynyak—were awarded certificates of completion from the Council of Municipalities of St. Petersburg.
The "Open Municipality" internship has become an effective platform for professional dialogue between representatives of municipalities and the university community. It's important for us not only to share best practices from St. Petersburg's local governments but also to collaborate with the university to develop modern approaches to training specialists for municipal service. I am confident that the results of this internship will find practical application both in the educational process and in the activities of the city's municipalities," noted Yulia Slav, Deputy Executive Director of the Council of Municipalities of St. Petersburg.
By the end of January, the participants will be developing teaching materials for the subjects taught, based on the data obtained during the internship. Real-life cases and best municipal practices will be incorporated into the training of specialists for local governments. A collection of best practices from St. Petersburg municipalities is also planned for publication.
Participating in the "Open Municipality" internship allowed me to gain a fresh perspective on the work of local government in St. Petersburg. Live interaction with municipal leaders, analysis of real-life management cases, and joint project work provided valuable practical insights that will soon be integrated into the educational process. This format of interaction between the university and municipalities makes the training of future specialists more practical and responsive to modern requirements, shared Tamara Selentyeva, Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Public Administration.
The implementation of the "Open Municipality" project opens new horizons for collaboration between the Polytechnic University and the city's municipalities, strengthens the connection between education and practice, and improves the quality of training for local government personnel.
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