Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
RUDN University hosted a federal project-analytical session for the "Professional Municipality" team as part of the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government (ARLMSU) "Municipal Dialogue" project.
Our university brought together representatives from 79 Russian regions. The session was attended by 123 people: heads of municipalities, government officials, federal and regional experts, State Duma deputies, and partner organizations, including the Dialogue. Regions nonprofit organization. The discussion focused on developing the competencies of municipal employees—those whose professional effectiveness directly impacts the quality of life for citizens.
Build a dialogue
The session participants were welcomed by Irina Guseva, co-chair of the WARMSU and member of the Presidium of the Presidential Council for the Development of Local Self-Government.
"Municipal Dialogue" helps officials assess the feasibility of projects, expand them to more municipalities, and assess resources for their implementation. WARMSU, together with the heads, also acts as a link between the government and the people, because the effectiveness of the state is largely determined by how local governments interact with residents. Therefore, it is important to build dialogues across all levels of government: between all levels of government, between municipalities, and between local governments and residents. Particular attention is paid to veterans of the SVO. The WARMSU team, together with the Presidential Administration and the heads, is developing a mentoring system that will help our soldiers with their work and social adaptation," noted Irina Guseva.
Participants discussed the development of a talent pool, professional development mechanisms, tools for attracting and retaining specialists, and ways to enhance the prestige of municipal service. A separate section was devoted to the development of mentoring and professional adaptation, including for veterans of the Second Military District. The work was structured around open dialogue and the exchange of best practices, which allowed for the comparison of regional experiences and the development of practice-oriented solutions.
Hosting the event at RUDN University underscores the university's status as a key platform for professional dialogue and management training. The university partners with Russia's regions in training specialists for public and municipal administration: RUDN University offers undergraduate and graduate programs focused on the practical training of next-generation managers.
Develop a management culture
"The connection between education and real-life management practice is more important today than ever. When current municipal heads, regional experts, and deputies gather within the university, it's more than just a professional forum. It's an environment that engages our students: they see how decisions are made and feel responsible for their consequences. This is how management culture is formed, through lived experience," noted Natalia Chesnokova, Vice Rector for Admissions at RUDN University.
Attracting Young People: In her speech, Galina Danilchenko, co-chair of the WARMSU and Commissioner for Work with New Regions, emphasized that municipal development is impossible without attention to enhancing the prestige of municipal service and attracting young people to the management team.
"Municipal service is complex and demanding. The work of the federal project team 'Professional Municipality' addresses many important issues: professional development, benefits, and a mentoring system for veterans of the Air Defense Forces. All of these are defining criteria that should form the basis for promoting municipal service. I am confident that, through the VAMSU 'Municipal Dialogue,' the mayors will not only gain new knowledge but also, together with experts, develop ideas on how to motivate municipal employees to work to their full potential and attract new, valuable talent," emphasized Galina Danilchenko.
The Municipal Dialogue project has been implemented since 2023 with the support of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation. Proposals developed during the session will be submitted to relevant federal authorities and taken into account in preparation for the 3rd All-Russian Municipal Forum "Small Homeland – Russia's Strength" in 2026.
Holding the federal session at RUDN University confirms the university's role as a center of attraction for the expert community and a platform for developing solutions aimed at developing the system of state and municipal governance in Russia.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.