Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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The Moscow College Forum is taking place at Gostiny Dvor from March 21 to 24. It was attended by Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin and the Mayor of Moscow. Sergei Sobyanin.
In addition, the guests included the leaders of the parliamentary factions of Russian parties Vladimir Vasiliev (United Russia), Gennady Zyuganov (Communist Party of the Russian Federation), Leonid Slutsky (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia), Alexei Nechayev (New People), as well as vice-speakers and chairmen of a number of committees of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
"I would like to thank Vyacheslav Viktorovich and the large State Duma team, who are devoting significant attention to developing secondary vocational education. At the President's direction, we are developing this area. In Moscow, the number of college students has doubled over the past six years, and in the last two to three years, it has grown by almost 50 percent, thanks in part to the adoption of a new law on an experiment where students can seamlessly, almost seamlessly, transition from secondary education to college, gaining a worthy profession that will help them get on their feet and earn a good salary. This is crucial both for them and for the city's economy," the Moscow Mayor said.
According to Sergei Sobyanin, a sufficient number of state-funded places have been created at Moscow colleges, and the entire infrastructure is being actively modernized. Specialists with secondary vocational education are in high demand in the capital's labor market, and the number of people applying to colleges is steadily growing.
"It's crucial that they acquire a profession and successfully integrate into production teams," the Moscow Mayor noted.
According to Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, economic development now directly depends on the training of professional personnel.
"If we want to improve efficiency, then we must do everything to increase labor productivity. This directly depends on the availability of qualified personnel. Therefore, when we talk about this vital link in our economy, about the people who forge the future of our country, we must, of course, create the conditions and do everything possible to achieve this," stated Vyacheslav Volodin.
He explained that Moscow, along with two other regions—St. Petersburg and the Lipetsk Region—has participated in a pilot project to expand access to secondary vocational education. Twelve more regions have now joined, and approximately 23 more are waiting their turn. Participation requires adequate preparation.
"As for Moscow, we see how well this training was ensured from the very beginning. And today's results demonstrate that this was a very good decision; we all need it to improve the situation. Demand for skilled trades and mid-level vocational training has certainly increased. And, of course, we expect that these young people, already professionally trained, will take up machine tools and work in production, which means they will enhance the competitiveness of our economy and the country will develop," Vyacheslav Volodin emphasized.
He thanked Sergei Sobyanin and everyone involved in developing the secondary vocational education system, noting that impressive results had been achieved in this area over the past year. Furthermore, attitudes toward obtaining vocational skills have changed. Young Muscovites are attracted by the opportunity to receive a high-quality education and become sought-after specialists.
"Therefore, we must do everything we can to ensure similar opportunities exist in the regions of the Russian Federation. We have a large country, Moscow sets the standard, and we must implement it in other regions," noted Vyacheslav Volodin.
Moscow College Forum
The Moscow College Forum is a large-scale career guidance event for schoolchildren and their parents, held for the second time. This year, for the first time, approximately 70 Moscow vocational schools are represented at a single venue. These include 55 colleges under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Government, as well as 12 federal and private educational institutions. This allows prospective students to gain a clear understanding of the city's vocational education system, the labor market, and in-demand professions.
The exhibition space's thematic organization reflects the city's economic structure. Ten pavilions are open to schoolchildren, introducing them to economic sectors such as industry, information technology, transportation, construction, hospitality, creative industries, healthcare, education, social services, finance, security, and law.
Master classes are held daily in the pavilions on the most in-demand training areas. They are led by students and vocational training instructors from Moscow colleges. Over 90 master classes are planned.
The business program is packed with thematic meetings, lectures, and presentations from experts from various industries, representatives of key employers, journalists, as well as famous athletes and bloggers.
The forum features specialized pavilions. In the admissions area, students and parents can receive individual consultations on admissions and learn about in-demand specialties and professions. In the career guidance area, interested parties are offered tests.
At the "Made by Moscow Colleges" store, visitors can purchase products made by students during their internships at educational institutions' training and production facilities. These include designer items, souvenirs, printed materials, and confectionery.
The student restaurant "Friends' Meeting" offers a menu reminiscent of a Moscow college restaurant on Sparrow Hills, featuring sandwiches, croissants, and eclairs. A wide selection of drinks is available, from classic coffee and fruit drinks to signature fruit and berry teas. The restaurant is staffed by students from Moscow's hospitality colleges.
Around 80,000 schoolchildren and parents are expected to attend the Moscow College Forum this year.
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Development of the secondary vocational education system in Moscow
There are currently 167 colleges operating in the capital, including 70 private, 42 federal, and 55 educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Government. They enroll over 320,000 students, including over 143,000 in city colleges.
"Moscow's secondary vocational education system is experiencing a renaissance. At the President's direction, we are developing this area. Our colleges are first-class educational institutions with modern workshops, practice-oriented programs, and close ties with employers. Three months before the start of the admissions campaign, the number of people applying to colleges based on two OGE exams has already increased by 5,000 compared to last year. That's why we decided to increase the number of state-funded places by 10,000. This year, there will be 47,000," Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his channel in
Source: Moscow Mayor's channelMAX messenger
In city colleges, the most popular areas are information technology (23 thousand students), industry (19.3 thousand), creative industries (18 thousand), transport (14.7 thousand), healthcare (14.6 thousand), construction (14.3 thousand), hospitality (13.3 thousand), education and social sphere (10.7 thousand), security and law (7.9 thousand), finance and trade (5.3 thousand), culture and art (1.4 thousand), and sports (0.6 thousand people).
The percentage of successfully employed graduates of city colleges is 95 percent.
Starting in 2025, Moscow, along with St. Petersburg and the Lipetsk Region, will participate in an experiment to expand access to secondary vocational education. Ninth-graders planning to enroll in colleges will be given the opportunity to take only two key state exams—in Russian and mathematics—instead of four. This is sufficient for receiving a certificate and admission to Moscow colleges on state-funded scholarships.
In 2025, 45 percent of ninth-grade Moscow school graduates—49,000 people—were enrolled in Moscow colleges. Of these, 37,000 were admitted to Moscow Government educational institutions, all on state-funded places. Twelve thousand students began studying at private and federal colleges, including over four thousand on state-funded places.
Vacant places at city colleges not filled by Muscovites were redistributed to applicants from other regions. Around 10,000 students from various regions of the Russian Federation were admitted to Moscow colleges. This demonstrates that Moscow is an educational hub not only for higher education but also for vocational education.
Given the positive results of the experiment, its duration was extended until 2029, and the number of participating regions was increased to 12.
Expanding college enrollment is an important component of the Moscow Government's modernization of the secondary vocational education system. It is based on two fundamental principles:
— relevance and demand. Educational programs are developed with the direct participation of employers and professional associations;
— practical orientation. Students are immersed in a professional environment from their first year of college, with practical classes accounting for at least 70 percent of their total course time and conducted under the guidance of experienced mentors.
As part of the modernization of the secondary vocational education system, a large-scale transformation of its content and infrastructure is underway. This involves addressing seven objectives.
Continuous interaction with employers, taking into account their needs. To this end, a broad pool of partners is being formed. These include the Rostec Group of Companies, Moscow Metro, Sheremetyevo Security JSC, MOEK PJSC, Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern JSC, Glavstroy LLC, MGTS PJSC, Rostelecom PJSC, Mosgortrans State Unitary Enterprise, Sberbank PJSC, Gazprom PJSC, the Russian Automobile Dealers Association, Inzhenerstroy LLC, Spetsgrad LLC, Moskvich Moscow Automobile Plant JSC, Torii Research and Production Enterprise JSC, United Confectioners Holding, Coffee Mania Restaurant Chain, Novikov Group, Rappoport Restaurants Restaurant Chain, and Myaso Restaurant
Updating educational programs. Their content is based on a competency profile developed in collaboration with the professional community and industry leaders. All educational programs have been brought into line with the new standard. Furthermore, a system for their continuous transformation has been established to align with modern technologies, advanced industry knowledge, and changing labor market needs. The main goal is to prepare students capable of entering full-time employment immediately after graduation.
By increasing the intensity of training, its duration is reduced. In the current academic year, 95 percent of curricula in Moscow's secondary vocational education system are designed for one year and 10 months or less for those who have completed 11th grade, and two years and 10 months or less for those who have completed 9th grade.
Multidisciplinary and increasing qualifications. Students have the opportunity to master not one, but two or even four professions during their studies. This increases their competitiveness in the labor market. For example, a graduate majoring in mechanical engineering technology gains additional qualifications as a grinder, lathe operator, milling machine operator, and CNC machine operator.
The city sets mandatory training standards for each profession. The minimum qualification standard is level three, and for some specialties, level four. Previously, college graduates received no higher than level two. Students were not allowed to work in complex industries and had to undergo additional training. Consequently, this resulted in low wages for young professionals.
Digitalization of education using the "MES College" service. Since September 2024, teachers and students at city colleges have had access to the electronic services of the Moscow Electronic School (MES) for preparing for classes. Its refinement, tailored to the specific needs and objectives of vocational education, is currently underway and will be completed this year. Students have access to an electronic class schedule, course materials, homework, and a digital gradebook. Teachers use lesson planning and learning management tools, as well as the MES library. It is gradually being updated with a set of materials to support modern teaching formats and technologies. These include electronic lesson plans, including video assignments, tests, virtual labs, and electronic teaching aids. Eighty percent of courses for first- and second-year students studying under the updated educational programs have been provided with new materials.
The development of methodological materials for conducting classes and practical training will be completed in 2029. These improvements will ensure the effective organization of the educational process and the functioning of secondary vocational education institutions, taking into account their specific needs.
Improving the material and technical infrastructure of secondary vocational education. Colleges have modernized 1,500 laboratories and workshops. Approximately 300 more workshops are planned for 2026 and 2027.
In addition, four advanced practical training centers have been established at modern production facilities, capable of training over 20,000 people annually. The first, located in the Rudnevo Industrial Park, opened in 2024. In 2025, the "Professions of the Future" center and the practical training center for mechanical engineering opened in the Technopolis Moscow special economic zone in Pechatniki. These centers will train over 16,500 adults and college students annually. Another center, "Sever," is designed to train approximately 900 people annually.
Seven innovative educational campuses, totaling approximately 400,000 square meters, are currently being designed in the capital to accommodate over 60,000 students. These include colleges specializing in creative industries, information technology, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, transportation, and construction.
The buildings are designed to utilize modern learning technologies and best international practices. They will feature ergonomic spaces with a comfortable learning environment and a fully immersive professional experience. The new campuses will house professional workshops, as well as indoor and outdoor full-cycle production facilities for students to develop their comprehensive skills in realistic settings. The educational space will include coworking spaces and flexible spaces for group and project work. The first colleges will welcome students in 2028.
Additionally, major renovations are underway at the I.A. Likhachev Moscow Technological College and the Tsaritsyno Moscow College of Management, Hotel Business, and Information Technology—three buildings with a total floor area of 50,000 square meters. The city colleges' infrastructure is expected to be completely renovated by 2031.
Expanding the career guidance program for schoolchildren. Over 70,000 schoolchildren participated in the comprehensive career guidance program in the 2024/2025 academic year. Moreover, 75 percent of ninth-graders in Moscow schools who entered college in 2025 completed the comprehensive career guidance program. It is expected that over 75,000 schoolchildren will complete it in the 2025/2026 academic year.
The program is constantly updated and expanded with new formats, including interactive ones. It includes motivational and career guidance events for teenagers and parents.
Enhancing the prestige of secondary vocational education. The Moscow government has established grants for Moscow colleges for achieving high student learning outcomes. A total of 20 grants will be awarded: three first-degree grants of 40 million rubles each, seven second-degree grants of 25 million rubles each, and 10 third-degree grants of 15 million rubles each.
The funds may be used to provide additional financial incentives to teachers and vocational training instructors who have achieved significant results in their work. This will provide an additional incentive to improve the quality of secondary vocational education in Moscow.
The first colleges to receive grants were determined based on the results of the 2024/2025 academic year.
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