Category: Российский университет дружбы народов

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

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Anatoly and Andrey Skalny, father and son, and a professor and associate professor in the Department of Medical Elementology at the RUDN University Medical Institute, presented papers at the 20th International Symposium on Metal Ions, held in Mumbai. The event, which focused on the latest advances in dentistry and radiology, environmental protection, and public health, brought together 240 delegates from around the world.

Leading physicians, researchers, and students discussed topics such as artificial intelligence in healthcare, metal ion interactions in oncology, nanotechnology, and environmental carcinogens, including tobacco research. Practical workshops were also held on the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and orofacial pain, implant surgical guides using CBCT, and 3D printing in dentistry.

We spoke with Andrey Anatolyevich Skalny, who presented a paper on the role of microelements in the cardiovascular system, and learned from him the importance of his research and what it's like to be not only a speaker but also a section chair.

Why is the relationship between micronutrients and cardiovascular reactivity such a relevant topic for research?

Micronutrients play a vital role in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, from blood supply to the exchange of tissue and blood between cells. Selenium deficiency is a prime example. The more severe the deficiency, the greater the risk of myocardial infarction.

Why were hair and urine chosen for analysis? What are the advantages of this combined approach over blood testing alone? Is magnesium a kind of marker of general "physical ill-being"?

Hair and urine both perform an excretory function, removing waste or excess substances from the body. They partially complement each other, as urine reflects a short-term period of a few days, while hair provides information on elemental metabolism over a period of about six months. To assess changes in elemental metabolism as a whole, blood testing may be recommended in addition to urine and hair testing. Thus, all three different biosubstrates complement each other. Magnesium, like other macronutrients (potassium, sodium, sulfur, chlorine, calcium, and phosphorus), can be a marker of physical distress.

How can these results be used in clinical practice today? Do they allow for the development of new methods for diagnosing cardiovascular disease risks?

Blood and urine tests for macro- and microelements are clinical tests, while hair or nail analysis is a screening test. Together, they complement each other and provide more detailed information about the body's elemental metabolism. While blood and urine tests provide insight into a person's current and recent health status, hair and nail analysis provides an assessment of the risk of various conditions and diagnoses, and helps better understand chronic diseases. Of course, using diagnostics to measure elemental levels in the body allows for a better assessment of potential cardiovascular risks and prevention through timely prevention and the elimination of elemental deficiencies.

How does participation in such multidisciplinary conferences (dentistry, radiology, public health, AI) contribute to the development of science at RUDN?

A multidisciplinary approach to solving any health problem is the primary vector of scientific and medical development today. This applies equally to the development of science at RUDN University. It is at the intersection of different specialties that modern scientific discoveries are made.

Establishing interdisciplinary connections is one of the symposium's goals. Do you see potential for specific joint research in the field of medical elementology with your Indian colleagues?

Yes, there is certainly potential for development and collaboration. And we very much hope for mutual understanding and comprehensive cooperation in the field of medical elementology with our Indian colleagues.

The "Metal Ions" symposium has a rich history. What does it mean for you personally and for RUDN to receive an invitation of this caliber—not just to speak, but to be a guest of honor, chair the session, and be among the key figures at the opening ceremony?

My colleagues and I certainly consider this conference a must-attend scientific event for our discipline of medical elementology. We've been participating online for several years now. And I'm incredibly pleased that this time I was able to not only speak but also be a specially invited guest and chair one of the sections. My colleague from India and I listened to the presentations and asked questions about the topics. Everything took place in a friendly atmosphere. Regarding my presentation, the organizers and participants noted its relevance and showed interest both during and afterward, approaching me to thank me and asking questions about school nutrition and the role of elements in maintaining schoolchildren's health.

At the symposium, you represented two generations of RUDN University scientists. How do you view this "family" representation of Russian science on the international stage?

My opinion on this matter is partly subjective, but I think we complement each other. Many scientists are pleased and pleased to see direct inheritance in this scientific field. I enjoy developing my field and being responsible for the youth development vector. The organizing committee for the conference in India allocated us participation in various sections, and the presentations were distributed according to the topics.

What was the most interesting part of this trip for you personally? What impressions and discoveries were you hoping for from the conference and from interacting with your Indian colleagues?

Since this was my first visit to India, I was looking forward to the scientific events and activities, and the opportunity to interact with members of the scientific community with similar and related research interests. It was certainly unusual to be in a country I'd never visited before. It was a new culture, a different ethnic group, and a different outlook on life. I really hoped the trip would be fruitful and engaging from all perspectives. We planned to discuss agreements on jointly developing our field of medical elementology.

We asked Anatoly Viktorovich a few questions about the topic of his speech and his collaboration with his Indian colleagues.

What paper did you present at the symposium, and what was its essence? What reaction did you receive from your colleagues?

My report was devoted to a new area of medical elementology we are developing: ionomic profiling of diagnostic biosubstrates—blood, urine, hair, and others. This approach allows us to assess the body's elemental status, taking into account interelemental relationships. The resulting data is subjected to specialized mathematical processing, which allows us to identify the decisive rules and advance toward the early detection of pathologies and the assessment of complex biochemical processes.

What was the most interesting presentation you heard at a symposium that wasn't directly related to your topic?

Personally, I really enjoyed the presentations by analytical chemists from the research center, dedicated to the development and study of the effectiveness of remediation of contaminated sites. India is one of the world leaders in this field, and we, particularly environmentalists, have much to learn from them. Many presentations were devoted to nanobiology, and their results are of interest to representatives of our scientific school, including my students from the Federal Research Center for Biological Systems and Agricultural Technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Orenburg.

Were you able to reach an agreement on cooperation with your Indian colleagues?

Our Indian colleagues have expressed interest in developing our scientific collaboration, including through joint grants. We previously collaborated successfully with Thapar University in Punjab, and now hope to collaborate with the University of Mumbai. We have also reached agreements with representatives of several departments and the university clinic to begin work on establishing a Department of Medical Elementology, mirroring our department at RUDN University. Furthermore, the idea has emerged to hold one of the future "Metal Ions" symposia in Russia, at our university.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

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Dmitry Pishchulin, a second-year master's student at the RUDN University Institute of Ecology, has returned from a large-scale scientific expedition, the "Pacific Floating University." The voyage took place this summer in the waters of the Kamchatka Peninsula, lasting 34 days.

Dmitry is combining his master's degree with working as a lab assistant at the Scientific Center for Research and Integrated Design of Urban and Agricultural Development at RUDN University. To join the project, he underwent a rigorous competitive selection process, which included attending the Floating University's Winter School, submitting an application, and successfully passing an interview.

The expedition participants conducted an in-depth study of the structure and dynamics of the Far East's marine ecosystems to preserve their biodiversity and ensure the sustainable use of biological resources. A key component of the voyage was the implementation of the Pacific Floating University educational program, which aims to train a new generation of marine scientists and engage them in cutting-edge research.

"As part of the marine biology team, I worked on the research project 'The Composition and Spatial Structure of Macrozoobenthos Communities in Kamchatka's Coastal Marine Areas.' My responsibilities included collecting sediment using a bottom sampler, washing it, collecting benthic organisms (plants, animals, and protists living on the seafloor), and preserving them for subsequent laboratory research," says Dmitry Pishchulin.

In addition, the RUDN student actively participated in general vessel operations: he maintained the operation of the Rosetta system with a system of bathometers and a CTD probe for determining the physical and chemical parameters of the water, and collected phytoplankton and water samples for optical analysis. Dmitry also operated a box corer to collect bottom sediment samples, a plankton net to collect zooplankton organisms, and participated in boat operations with a manual bottom grab.

The expedition's practical results have already been reflected in the master's student's research. Following the expedition, Dmitry prepared the abstract for a paper, "Composition and Spatial Structure of Macrozoobenthos Communities in Vilyuchinskaya Bay," which he will present at the Maresedu 2025 international conference.

"Participating in the expedition was an unforgettable experience, a sea of impressions, and a wealth of practical skills. Meeting leading scientists and colleagues from other research centers strengthened my desire to continue developing in my chosen scientific field," says Dmitry Pishchulin.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

An AR guide to endangered languages of the peoples of Russia, themed tours of Moscow's "small" museums, and barrier-free travel—these are just a few of the projects and topics discussed and presented by participants at the III International Student Congress "Tourism of the Future—the Future of Tourism," which took place at RUDN University in late September.

This large-scale two-day event became the main communication platform for dialogue between students, leading experts, and tourism industry leaders. The congress brought together over 50,000 participants from 100 universities in Russia, the CIS, and China. It was organized with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, the Russian Geographical Society, and other industry bodies, with the tourism platform "Let's Go!" serving as the general partner.

The congress's main goal was to transform young people's perceptions of the tourism industry and showcase the diversity of professional and career opportunities—from entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence to education and the development of an inclusive environment. Participants sought answers to fundamental questions: is tourism a calling, a profession, an education, or something more?

AI, deepfakes, ethics

The comprehensive two-day program included plenary sessions, international teleconferences, foresight sessions, and educational tracks. Participants discussed promising tourism destinations in Russia, the impact of information technology on the transformation of the industry, training the next generation of professionals, and developing an inclusive travel environment.

According to Elizaveta Kolotova, Associate Professor of the Department of Tourism and Service at the RUDN University Graduate School of Management, the most heated discussion erupted during the foresight session on the application of artificial intelligence technologies in tourism.

"The range of opinions was colossal: from enthusiasts who proposed entrusting AI entirely with creating customized travel scenarios to skeptics who feared the complete devaluation of the tour operator and guide profession. The culmination was the question of deepfakes for recreating historical figures in museums. The ethical aspect of this issue—where is the line between education and deception?—sparked the most heated debate. Ultimately, we reached a consensus that AI is a powerful tool, but the final decision and the emotional component should rest with humans," says Elizaveta Kolotova.

Tourism without barriers

Elizaveta Vladimirovna herself spoke on the educational track "Inclusive Tourism: Travel and Vacations Without Barriers." "This wasn't just a lecture, but a very lively and insightful discussion, where key points emerged from a dialogue between theorists, practitioners, and travelers with disabilities themselves. We thoroughly explored how creating an inclusive environment isn't a costly social project, but a smart investment and a competitive advantage. User-friendly navigation, wide doorways, and adapted websites improve the experience for all guests. We concluded that inclusion is a new quality standard for the entire tourism market. 'Invisible' barriers are more important than physical ones," said Elizaveta Kolotova.

As the RUDN University associate professor noted, the discussion participants agreed that the future lies in a proactive approach. Tourism industry representatives shouldn't wait for a guest with a disability to arrive and only then frantically come up with solutions. They should proactively create infrastructure and services aimed at the widest possible audience. The key conclusion: inclusive tourism is not a narrow niche, but a philosophy for running a modern and truly successful tourism business.

Career trajectories

Students were particularly interested in the HR sessions at the congress, featuring leading employers such as Coral Travel, Hyatt, Radisson, Swissotel, and Kavkaz.RF. Students were able to receive feedback and learn about career paths firsthand.

"I was captivated by the companies' willingness to not just accept resumes but immediately provide feedback on ideas. I shared my thoughts on creating themed tours of Moscow's "small" museums, which are typically overlooked on standard tours. A manager from one company not only praised the idea but immediately proposed a specific mechanism for engaging with such museums and even identified potential partners. It was a moment when the line between theory and real business blurs," says Kristina Galaktionova, a fourth-year Bachelor's student at the Graduate School of Management at RUDN University (Hotel Management major).

Kristina and her team won second place in the International Student Project Competition "Tourism of the Future – The Future of Tourism," the results of which were announced at the congress.

"Our project is called 'An AR Guide to the Endangered Languages of the Peoples of Russia.' The idea is that tourists visiting, for example, Karelia or Altai, can use a phone app to point the camera at an object (a tree, a lake, a mountain) and see its name and a short story about it in the local dialect or language, with native voiceover. We wanted to show that technology can be a tool for preserving cultural heritage, not just for entertainment. The jury highly praised the project's social significance and innovation, and now representatives of an ethnographic park would like to speak with us about a pilot project," says Kristina Galaktionova.

According to the girl, in addition to the victory, she remembers the congress for the fact that it changed her understanding of the importance of developing inclusivity in the industry.

"I hadn't previously considered that making tourism services accessible to people with disabilities or the elderly isn't just a social responsibility, but a huge, untapped market niche. One of the speakers cited the example that by creating a barrier-free environment, we automatically make tourism more convenient for everyone: for parents with strollers, for people with disabilities. Overall, the "Inclusive Environment" track gave me useful knowledge. For example, how to properly describe a route for a blind person and what digital solutions exist for hearing-impaired tourists. This knowledge is concrete, measurable, and immediately applicable. I realized that the future belongs to hybrid specialists who understand both technology and human needs," says Kristina Galaktionova.

Foreign experience

Participants were also interested in the experiences of tourism industry representatives from other countries, which they shared during discussions and educational tracks.

"The most unexpected and impressive were the Chinese cases. We're used to talking about mass outbound tourism from China, but their domestic tourism is a phenomenon of a different scale. Our colleagues from China spoke about projects to "revitalize" abandoned villages, inviting artists and urbanists, transforming them into art residencies and eco-resorts for young people. Their approach is total digitalization: from ticket purchases to fully cashless payments within the destination using super apps. But the main insight was the speed of implementation. Where we usually discuss a project for a year, they launch it in three months. This experience makes us think about the need for greater flexibility and speed in decision-making here too," says Elizaveta Kolotova.

An environment for generating breakthrough ideas

The results of two action-packed days were summed up at the closing ceremony by Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and the event organizers.

"The congress clearly demonstrated the powerful intellectual and creative potential of our youth. We see students' genuine interest and willingness not just to enter the profession, but to actively shape the future of the tourism industry by proposing bold, technologically advanced, and socially significant solutions. I am confident that the dialogue initiated at this forum will become a solid foundation for the further development of educational programs and successful partnerships between universities, businesses, and the government," said Olga Petrova.

"The caliber of the projects presented at the competition and the depth of the discussions during the congress exceeded all expectations. We especially value the fact that the event served as a true social lift for talented students. Here, they not only received recognition from industry leaders but also found like-minded people, and many even found their future employers. The congress proved that the future of tourism is in good hands, and our task as a university is to continue to maintain this momentum," said Anna Ostrovskaya, Chair of the Student Project Competition Organizing Committee and Director of the Graduate School of Management at RUDN University.

"The main outcome of the congress is the creation of a vibrant, dynamic community. We witnessed the birth of a unique ecosystem where students, leading experts, government officials, and business leaders speak a common language. This direct, unfiltered dialogue is the most effective environment for generating breakthrough ideas and shaping a new generation of tourism industry leaders," said Christopher Konstantinidi, Chairman of the Congress Program Committee and Director of the International Analytical Center for Sustainable Tourism Development at RUDN University.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences at RUDN University is launching a new course, "Using Artificial Intelligence and Additive Technologies in Chemistry," which will introduce students to promising areas of modern science at the intersection of chemistry, digital technology, and engineering.

Author and course leader:

Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, member of the European Academy, head of the laboratory of the N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences Valentin Ananikov.

Valentin Pavlovich is one of Russia's leading chemists, known for his research in nanomaterials, catalysis, and molecular reaction mechanisms. His scientific achievements have been recognized with prestigious Russian and international awards, including the V.V. Markovnikov Prize (2024), the Gravitation Prize for the implementation of artificial intelligence in chemical research (2023), and the N.D. Zelinsky Prize (2020).

This course is required for Master's students in Chemistry and is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as anyone interested in the application of digital technologies in chemistry.

No registration required, free admission.

The training program covers three key areas:

Artificial intelligence in chemistry: machine learning, neural networks, and their use for process modeling, optimization of reaction conditions, and development of new materials. Additive manufacturing: the fundamentals of 3D printing, material selection, and the creation of reactors and laboratory devices for chemical research. Integration of AI and 3D printing: automation of synthesis, development of next-generation catalysts, and innovative approaches to the sustainable development of the chemical industry.

The course will not only introduce students to cutting-edge methods and tools but also develop their skills in working at the intersection of fundamental science and digital technologies, which is particularly in demand in today's scientific and industrial environments.

For reference

Address: Moscow, Ordzhonikidze St., Building 3, Room 708.

The course starts on October 8, 2025.

Duration: until December 10, 2025.

Time: Every Wednesday at 16:30.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Registration for the 2025 World Russian Language Championship among foreign citizens has opened. Foreign citizens, regardless of their country of residence, are eligible to participate.

To participate, you must form a team of five people aged 16 to 22 years, and also appoint a coach – anyone over 21 years old who wants to support the team.

In 2024, the Championship attracted over 2,000 participants from all over the world, including India, China, Greece, Vietnam, and Latin America. The finals were held in Tsarskoye Selo, and the team from Kazakhstan emerged victorious.

The championship is an international competitive and educational event in which participants will demonstrate their knowledge not only of the Russian language, but also their ability to argue their point of view, conduct discussions, solve logical problems, work in a team, and demonstrate creativity.

Teams will face a variety of challenges, from debates and quests to detective games and intellectual puzzles. Before the competition, coaches will be given special workshops aimed at effectively preparing teams for the Championship.

To reach the final, participants will have to go through several stages:

registration; qualifying round; distance competitions.

The top ten teams that qualify are invited to participate in the final stage, which will take place in December 2025 in Moscow.

The trip to Moscow is at the expense of the organizers.

In 2025, all teams will be divided into divisions based on geographic location: CIS, Africa, Asia, America, and Europe. To qualify for the top spot, participants will need to demonstrate strong results at the regional level. Participation in the Championship is free.

Detailed information and the registration form are available on the official website. HTTPS: //russianchampionship.K.

Team registration will last until October 15, 2025.

The event is organized by the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Interobrazovanie" with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Fernando León, a Master's student in Fundamental Informatics and Information Technology at RUDN University's Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences, took first place in the SMILES summer school on machine learning. The school was organized this summer by the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Harbin Institute of Technology (China).

Fernando's team, which also included representatives from Skoltech and the Higher School of Economics, prepared a project called "LLM Agents for Predicting Public Perceptions of Central Bank Actions."

The team developed a prototype synthetic focus group system based on large-scale language models (LLM). Instead of traditionally gathering real survey participants, the team created 10 virtual "avatars" with distinct socio-demographic characteristics—age, income level, occupation, and financial habits. These "avatars" responded to various announcements and initiatives from the Central Bank, such as changes to the key rate or support measures, allowing them to analyze how these news items were received by different segments of society.

"We worked on the project remotely for a week, choosing the topic from those proposed by the school organizers. The most challenging part for me was that it was my first time working with language models, but I was able to grasp the nuances fairly quickly. After completing the school, we further refined the project and improved our performance," said Fernando Leon, a master's student in the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences at RUDN University.

A project by a RUDN University master's student team demonstrates how artificial intelligence can improve the speed, accuracy, and scalability of financial institutions' communications with society:

Virtual "avatars" provide feedback in minutes rather than weeks and require significantly fewer resources than traditional focus groups. They allow central banks to test and adapt their messages more quickly, increasing their clarity and reducing the risk of negative reactions. The project is easily scalable, and the creation of hundreds or thousands of "avatars" will allow for modeling the reactions of large populations.

For winning the competition, the team received 1 million tokens to use with GigaChat, Sber's artificial intelligence.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

RUDN University economics students learned how to verify dates in documents and find optimal solutions to problems during the business simulation game "Internal Auditor of an Industrial Enterprise 2025," which took place in late September in the coworking space of the main building.

Ten teams from our university, the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, MISIS, the Russian State Geological Prospecting University, P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University, and the Russian New University competed under the watchful eyes of experts in their skills in preparing high-quality audit reports. The game was organized by RUDN University and the Institute of Internal Auditors.

A friendly team

"The competition atmosphere was relaxed. Everything was new and very interesting for us. The most unexpected thing was that, at the end of the event, it turned out we'd been paying completely attention to the wrong details, which the expert later highlighted. Naturally, we were a little disappointed, but the main thing is that we understood what auditors do and what they pay attention to in their work," said Alina Yunusova, a third-year Bachelor's student in the Economics Department of RUDN University (Accounting and Auditing program).

The RUDN team was very well-coordinated, even though it was their first time working together. Things really took off as soon as the roles were assigned.

"From the very first minute, Alina showed initiative and became our leader, which we were all delighted about. On her command, we began analyzing documents and immediately got to work. Everyone made a significant contribution: Zakhar and Vika handled the contracts, Elina and I handled the calculations, and Alina coordinated the entire process. We never argued once and became a close-knit team," says Akinai Kylychbekova, a third-year Bachelor's student in the Economics Department of RUDN University (Accounting and Auditing major).

"Without a doubt, the studies and knowledge we gained at RUDN University in our first and second years of the Economics Department helped us throughout the entire business simulation. This was especially true during the interview with the company we were auditing. We had to carefully and, most importantly, clearly formulate the questions we were asking," says Vika Volobueva, a third-year undergraduate student in the Economics Department at RUDN University (Accounting and Auditing).

As the students noted, the most difficult part of the game for them was understanding the scheme by which the money is divided between the chief engineer and the inspector.

"The competition taught us that we need to carefully review documents and pay attention to dates, not just business processes; to build logical chains and find optimal solutions," said Zakhar Leonov, a third-year Bachelor's student in the Faculty of Economics at RUDN University (Accounting and Auditing major).

Advice from a professional

The teams' performance during the game was observed and assessed by leading specialists and heads of departments responsible for internal audit, control, and risk management from companies such as Ozon, AFK Sistema, PhosAgro, Rostec, and others. The teams had the opportunity to interact with the experts and ask them questions.

"We had the opportunity to speak with representatives of Ozon and IVA. They gave us important advice: 'Try to learn everything through practice, as lectures are often difficult to understand.' They emphasized that participating in this game gave us much more than just a theoretical understanding of the lessons," said Elina Askerbekova, a third-year undergraduate student in the Faculty of Economics at RUDN University (Accounting and Auditing).

The students emphasized that the presence of so many people who are involved in their profession further motivated them to achieve good results.

The winners of the game were students from the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. However, the RUDN team wasn't upset about not finishing first. According to the students, the competition helped them immerse themselves in their profession and provided them with a wealth of useful knowledge for the future.

"Based on the game, we realized that the auditor's profession is the work of an investigator among contracts and a detective in accounting," says Zakhar Leonov.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this project. We learned in detail what internal audit is, and everyone was able to discover this profession for themselves and determine whether it's right for them," says Alina Yunusova.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

At the end of 2024, a research team of students from the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences at RUDN University—Artur Busardykov, Mikhail Geller, and Kamil Mekhdiev—received a 4 million ruble grant from the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASI) to develop their startup, Skopeo.AI. Over the past few months, the team has not only refined the product but also gone from an idea to a ready-made solution, which is already being tested by its first partners.

Study, career, startup

The startup's founders combine their studies at RUDN University with work at large companies and their own project. Artur Busardykov, the team's driving force and mastermind, previously held the position of senior DevOps engineer at Innotech (a VTB project), but is now focused on Skopeo.AI and a couple of other personal IT projects. Mikhail Geller, who previously served as a lead DevOps engineer at ET Consulting (RosAtom), is also currently focusing on Skopeo.AI. Kamil Mekhdiev, having gained experience as a business analyst at BEORG, a company specializing in the development of intelligent systems based on neural networks, has moved to the position of team lead at VTB and continues to remain on the team.

"Experience with large IT organizations gave us an understanding of real business pain points: the cost of downtime, the labor-intensive nature of manual scaling, the complexity of multi-cloud management, and observability/audit requirements. This directly informed the Skopeo.AI architecture," says Artur Busardykov, Bachelor of Science (BSc) in the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Humanities, majoring in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.

From concept to working prototype

Skopeo.AI was conceived as a multi-cloud platform for managing Kubernetes clusters, helping businesses reduce cloud resource costs, improve infrastructure resiliency, and automate processes, eliminating the need for manual configuration.

Key features of Skopeo.AI:

Automatic scaling of cloud resources; load optimization and prevention of application downtime; monitoring and data analysis using artificial intelligence.

"The platform makes business infrastructure transparent, cost-effective, and efficient," says Artur Busardykov.

Today, the team can summarize its initial results. According to Artur, a working platform prototype has been built (cluster agents, server analytics, and a web panel). The MVP is in the final stages of refinement: the team is completing production scenarios for autoscaling and recommendations and polishing the UI. A pilot demonstration of the service is planned for the end of the year.

What was implemented with the 4 million ruble FSI grant?

The funds made it possible to create a fully functional platform framework:

Kubernetes agent (metrics collection, events, fault-tolerant delivery); server side: time series storage, load forecasting (Prophet/XGBoost/CatBoost), recommendation module; web panel: dashboards, forecasts with confidence intervals, list of recommendations and their application history, action audit; REST API and webhooks for integrations, basic economic analytics (assessment of potential savings); CI/CD, Helm charts, on-prem and cloud builds, security (TLS, RBAC, SSO/OAuth2).

Overcoming challenges

The months of development weren't without challenges. The team encountered several issues and found solutions. To eliminate noisy metrics and jagged time series, they added cleansing/normalization, an aggregation window, and confidence intervals, improving model robustness.

The team solved the problem of integrating into heterogeneous clusters by moving the setting to Helm-values and adding an autodetection component (metrics-server/kube-state-metrics/Prometheus). To balance automation versus control, they introduced policies with trust levels: "warn," "suggest," and "automatically execute with rollback."

The team has already conducted internal platform testing at partner facilities. The results showed that the recommendations effectively reduce CPU/RAM overhead. The goal is now to achieve a 30–50% savings from the service in real-world environments.

Team and partnership development

The project team remains compact but effective. It still consists of a Senior ML Engineer and two DevOps engineers. The startuppers also selectively engage external experts for project tasks (UI/UX, security) and developers.

An important achievement for the guys was the establishment of business connections.

"We're actively building and expanding our partner pool: we've already agreed on pilot projects with several companies and systems integrators, and we're continuing to seek new entry points and industry contacts. We don't plan to attract investors yet; we're focusing on expert support. One of our external advisors is experienced engineer and entrepreneur Mikhail Teplov: he helps us with mentoring and industry contacts," says Artur Busardykov.

The team's plans for the coming years are concrete and ambitious:

2025: Complete MVP, conduct 3-5 pilots, validate savings, release commercial pricing plans (on-premise SaaS), close key integrations (Prometheus/Grafana, GitOps, billing); 2026: Scaling sales (e-commerce, financial sector), expanding recommendation logic (SLA/budgets), federating multi-clusters, auto-remediation with secure "railguards," and cloud partnerships. The team also continues to participate in grant programs.

The students are currently preparing an application for the next stage of the competition, which is being held by the Federal Social Research Fund, and are looking at industrial tracks (IT accelerators, regional support measures).

The example of Artur, Mikhail, and Kamil is a story about how one can successfully combine studies, career, and entrepreneurship, creating innovations that can change the approach to working with technology.

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.

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Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

A delegation from Tanzania, led by the country's Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Ms. Pindi Hazara Chana, visited RUDN University and discussed prospects for developing cooperation between the university and the African country with our university's President, Vladimir Filippov. RUDN University also invited the minister to participate in a forum of graduates of Russian and Soviet universities, which will be held in Tanzania next week.

Ms. Chana is a graduate of the RUDN University Law Institute, so every visit to her alma mater is special for her.

"I still remember walking through the university's classrooms with notebooks full of notes, a head full of questions, and a heart full of hope. This university doesn't just teach; it transforms people. And I want to tell the students that they are the heart of RUDN University. The ideas they discuss here, the friendships they create, the challenges they overcome—all of this becomes part of a much larger story. Not just their own, but also that of their country," says Pindi Hazara Chana, Tanzania's Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism.

Demand for education in Russia

RUDN University currently has 61 students from the United Republic of Tanzania studying at all levels, with the largest number of Tanzanian nationals enrolled in the Medical School and Engineering Academy. Over the course of its existence, the university has trained 1,105 specialists for the country. Among the university's successful graduates are Mzirai Peter Johnson, President of the Tanzania Progressive Party, and Elizabeth Gabriel, Head of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Labor (Construction).

RUDN University has signed two agreements and a memorandum of cooperation with the University of Dar es Salaam and one memorandum with the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology. The Tanzanian government and RUDN University leadership are interested in expanding this partnership to other universities.

"Demand for education in Russia remains high among Tanzanians. Therefore, we welcome any proposals regarding students, whether it be student exchanges or increasing study quotas," said Fredrick Ibrahim Kibuta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tanzania to the Russian Federation.

According to RUDN University President Vladimir Filippov, during a meeting with the Tanzanian delegation in 2023, the possibility of increasing the number of places in the law school's graduate and master's programs for students from Tanzania was previously discussed.

"We also wanted to develop continuing education programs with you and organize internships for students—your students in Russia, and ours in Tanzania. Furthermore, we discussed engaging university students as volunteers where their assistance is needed. For example, in the hospitality industry during the peak tourist season," said Vladimir Filippov, President of RUDN University.

Science and double degrees

Ms. Chana noted that Tanzania would welcome volunteers from Russia and their assistance in the areas of tourism, forestry, and natural resources. She also suggested joint research on plants that are harmful to the republic's environment. In response to the Tanzanian proposal, Elena Savenkova, Director of the RUDN University Institute of Ecology, responded that the university intends to increase the number of joint scientific publications with scientists.

"Furthermore, we are interested in expanding our partnership in the area of dual degrees at various levels, developing joint educational materials, programs on government regulation of environmental issues, environmental management, and organizing summer and winter schools for students," says Elena Savenkova.

"Following the meeting, we agreed that Ms. Chana will participate in the opening ceremony of the Russian and Soviet University Alumni Forum in Tanzania, as well as separately with RUDN University Rector Oleg Yastrebov on October 7. With her assistance, we will also organize a number of events with educational institutions in the republic. This includes lectures by our university professors for local officials and faculty, either on the hospitality industry or ecology. We expect a decision from the Tanzanian side soon and hope for further fruitful cooperation," said Marina Rekets, RUDN University Vice-Rector for International Affairs.

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.

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Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

A project on the safety of air conditioners at home, Adyghe dances, and an interactive game with a renowned political scientist. The Summer Methodological University, in which RUDN University Institute of Ecology student Daria Dobrova participated, was a very eventful program.

An educational session organized by Adygea State University took place at the "Mountain Legend" tourist center in the picturesque foothills of the Caucasus. Over 50 students, graduate students, and faculty spent the week working on project solutions that address key contemporary challenges.

This year's theme was: "People in a Changing Reality: Security, Risks, Challenges."

Summer University participants developed solutions in four critical areas:

environmental safety; socio-cultural security; technological and information security; economic and managerial security.

"This wasn't just a study session, but a whole adventure that began from the very first day, when we were taken to the Mountain Legend base. It was here, surrounded by majestic mountains, that we spent our entire action-packed week—a week of study, creativity, and true connection with nature and like-minded people," says Daria Dobrova, a second-year Bachelor's student at the RUDN University Institute of Ecology (Energy and Resource-Saving Processes in Chemical Engineering, Petrochemistry, and Biotechnology).

Playing diplomats

On the very first day after arrival, the participants immersed themselves in lectures that laid the foundation for their future project work. Throughout the week, a professor from Adygea State University worked with the students, helping them refine their projects and present their interim results to faculty and other teams. In addition to fundamental lectures, the students enjoyed teambuilding workshops and in-depth psychological counseling, which helped them better understand not only the project but also themselves. Another memorable event was a lecture by renowned journalist and political scientist Fyodor Lukyanov on global politics. Specifically, he and the students discussed the recent US-Russia summit in Alaska. The very next day, Fyodor organized an interactive simulation game of international relations for the university participants.

"By trying to solve global problems and starting wars, we felt like real diplomats," says Daria Dobrova.

A special feature of the program was immersion into the region's cultural environment. Participants fondly remembered the ethnic evening, where they learned about captivating Adyghe dances and participated in a master class on their performance.

"And what a delicious finale to the evening! We made traditional pies—haluzhi—and devoured them with joy," says Daria Dobrova.

The university participants also experienced the unique natural beauty of the Caucasus. They hiked to the Rufabgo waterfalls, visited the Lago-Naki gorge, the mysterious Azishskaya cave, and the Azish-Tau ridge. According to Daria, the natural beauty energized and inspired the students.

Air conditioners and security

As for projects, Daria worked with a team on ideas in the "Environmental Safety" category. As the student noted, the goal of the summer university was to teach participants how to approach projects in a way that would qualify for grant funding. Her team settled on the topic of air conditioner safety in everyday life.

"Many people outside of work, where the temperature, cleaning, and operation of the air conditioner are strictly defined by regulations, don't know how to use it properly. They don't know how to set the temperature according to the weather outside, or how often to clean the filters. Even though the unit always comes with instructions, many don't go beyond the assembly pages and use it intuitively," says Daria Dobrova.

The girl's team presented a study on "Young People's Awareness of the Impact of Split-Systems on Human Health." The survey was conducted among summer university participants, so the project was aimed at young people. The presentation was successful, and, according to Daria, the faculty's overall response to all the students' work was positive.

"I left the shift physically tired, but incredibly happy. The Summer Methodological University gave me not just knowledge and a project, but a sea of emotions, new friends, and the feeling that I spent this time with great benefit for both my mind and soul," says Daria Dobrova.

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.

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