Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Phosagro – Phosagro – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Moscow. March 18, 2026. PhosAgro Group and the Ordzhonikidze State Geological Prospecting University of Russia (MGRI) are strengthening their collaboration in training specialists for the mining and processing industry.
The first in the planned series of events was "PhosAgro Day at MGRI." Participants included PhosAgro University Rector Yuri Panov, PhosAgro PJSC CEO Deputy Chief of Staff and Advisor to the CEO of Apatit JSC Boris Levin, and Sergey Lobanov, CEO of the Ya.V. Samoilov Research Institute for Fertilizers and Insectofungicides (NIUIF), a PhosAgro subsidiary.
At the meeting, key areas and prospects for further cooperation in education and science were discussed. Particular attention was paid to developing a practice-oriented approach to training specialists in key areas of geological exploration and mining. MGRI will provide targeted training for PhosAgro companies in the university's core areas of geological exploration, mining geology, mineralogy, and mining ecology. Plans are underway to expand the university's internship and internship programs.
PhosAgro is also interested in collaborating with MGRI's specialized divisions—the Center for Efficient Subsoil Use and the Engineering Center. This collaboration will focus on joint research and applied projects, as well as the search for technological solutions for the Group's enterprises.
Collaboration will also develop through partner training of specialists in geological exploration and mineralogy for a specialized unit established within the Samoilov National Research University of Natural Resources. Training will be based on a practice-oriented approach, applying acquired knowledge to problem-solving under the guidance of MGRI faculty and experienced specialists from the Samoilov National Research University of Natural Resources.
An important component of this collaboration will be the development of network educational programs using the university's scientific and educational resources in applied geology and mineralogy, as well as the use of artificial intelligence for the technical and economic assessment of promising deposits and the optimization of solid mineral production at existing deposits.
The combined capabilities of the university and the PhosAgro Group, which has extensive practical experience in implementing educational programs in higher and secondary vocational education, including organizing industrial internships at enterprises and training sites, will create unique opportunities for training specialists for the domestic mining industry.
PhosAgro, as an industrial partner, will provide the necessary material and technical resources for students to develop practical skills in operational exploration and deposit prospecting, working with modern mining equipment, using digital models of open-pit and underground mining facilities, and addressing practical issues in industrial and environmental safety during the extraction and enrichment of apatite-nepheline ores and their integrated use.
Students will have the opportunity to complete practical training and apply their acquired knowledge to solving specific industrial production problems. This will be facilitated by PhosAgro's proven practice of assigning experienced mentors to students.
MGRI Rector Yuri Panov noted the particular significance of the partnership with the company for the university's development: "PhosAgro occupies a key place in MGRI's strategy for engaging with industrial partners. This collaboration is valuable to us because it allows us to directly connect academic research and education with the real-world needs of modern manufacturing. I am confident that PhosAgro Day will open a new chapter in our relationship, provide impetus for joint research projects, and, most importantly, expand the horizons for students' professional growth. We train specialists for the industry, and partners like PhosAgro help us do this at the highest level."
"The partnership between PhosAgro and MGRI is part of the overall shift in higher education toward new standards for training specialists in the mining industry. It opens up prospects for introducing new, in-demand specialties into the university's curriculum. Students will be able to complete internships at the laboratories and training grounds of the Apatity branch of Murmansk Arctic University, where PhosAgro, in collaboration with the university and the Murmansk region, is creating a unique Higher School for the Training of Mining Engineers. Furthermore, joint scientific and educational conferences and forums will strengthen professional dialogue and expand opportunities for the exchange of experience and knowledge," emphasized PhosAgro CEO Alexander Gilgenberg.
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