Category: Университетская жизнь /

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

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On January 30, the State University of Management hosted an open dialogue between students and VTB President and Chairman of the Management Board Andrey Kostin.

The main topic of the meeting was "Development of the international monetary and financial system in modern conditions," and Vladimir Stroyev, rector of the State University of Management, served as moderator.

In his welcoming speech, Vladimir Vitalyevich noted that many students and university staff had gathered in the hall, despite it being the holidays.

"Our university is renowned not only for its engineering and economics education; we also offer specialized economic programs, many of whose graduates hold leadership positions in relevant fields. Furthermore, we train future leaders who value advice and valuable knowledge from an established leader," said Vladimir Stroyev.

In turn, Andrei Kostin immediately gave advice to modern students:

"In life, including student life, it's important to balance work, study, leisure, and all the good things life has to offer. Dialogue with young people is important to me, because every leader needs to understand what young people think and feel in order to be successful and stay relevant. I wish everyone who came here success in their studies and their future endeavors."

We began our conversation with a serious question about the balance of power in the international economic arena and changes in the functioning of the international financial system.

The expert emphasized that the global economy has undergone significant changes in recent decades: while China and India played little role just 20 years ago, today they are leading players, and overall, countries in the Global South and East generate the majority of global GDP. At the same time, the global financial system has remained essentially unchanged since its inception, based on the dominant role of the dollar and Western countries, and this only began to change in the 2020s.

"I'd like to point out that this pivot and abandonment of the dollar initially occurred not on our initiative, but in response to the unprecedented use of financial instruments by Western countries for political gain. It previously seemed that the world was moving toward a global economy, but today, a reverse process of sovereignty is underway. People are moving away from the dollar to the more reliable gold, and in interactions with key partners, they are seeking to use national currencies, as in BRICS, the EAEU, and others. We live in an interesting time of rapid change in our economic and financial policies, and the rapid development of relations with countries like China, India, and the Arab world. Perhaps it's time to learn new languages to facilitate future interactions," Andrey Kostin shared.

Interestingly, earlier this week, the State University of Management signed an agreement to open a Center for the Study of Arabic Languages.

The discussion moved from economics to management. Since the State University of Management trains future managers, Vladimir Stroyev asked his guest, who has headed key financial institutions in the country for over 30 years, which leadership styles he considers most effective.

"I always try to delegate as much authority as possible to my deputies and employees so they can show initiative. This is impossible given the significant amount of work a manager must handle. It's important to oversee key areas and major areas, and micromanaging them is excessive. My employees have expert knowledge in their fields, and many have acquired specific skills. Therefore, it's important to listen to their subordinates when making decisions. At the same time, a manager must take responsibility and make final decisions independently. And once a decision is made, it must be carried out, regardless of the circumstances," Andrey Kostin responded.

The experienced leader also recommended combining youth and experience in teams, maintaining camaraderie, and sticking to one's word. Furthermore, the President and Chairman of the VTB Management Board admitted that many former bank employees now occupy senior positions, and he is always happy to see them advance and succeed, as it means they received a good education at the bank, which has helped them in their future careers.

Continuing the topic, the rector of the State University of Management asked Andrey Kostin about whether leadership skills are innate or acquired, and how they can be developed.

"Certainly, it's possible and necessary to develop these qualities, just as it's important to change certain character traits that might hinder leadership. For example, I personally overcame shyness, because you can't be a shy leader; you need to be assertive and decisive. And here I'd like to emphasize the importance of studying at a university, which not only provides knowledge but also helps develop the skills needed for a career: interpersonal skills, a unique approach to problems, and their solutions. Therefore, those who graduate from a university often find success in other fields, not just their own, because these problem-solving skills are crucial, and specific knowledge can be acquired through practical experience," concluded Andrey Kostin.

The students were the next to ask the distinguished guest questions. They were primarily interested in practical advice on achieving the pinnacle of a career in finance and the secrets to the guest's own professional success.

"The path of my generation will never be repeated. I lived in two completely different societies and started my career from scratch at 35. Today, you have more opportunities to apply your talents and knowledge, but the competition is also higher. Important qualities for a leader are energy, a willingness to achieve goals, and to move forward. You absolutely must have brains, and you certainly have them, otherwise you wouldn't have become students at such a wonderful university," Andrey Kostin responded warmly.

The participants also asked about VTB's CEO's stance on stock market instruments and whether shareholders receive dividends. Andrey Kostin responded that record dividends for 2024 were paid in 2025 thanks to VTB's impressive profit performance, and outlined his expectations for the bank's financial results in 2025 and 2026.

The final question was what advice Andrei Kostin would give to his younger self and what mistakes he would try to avoid.

"As long as a person is alive, they can fix everything. I believe there's no need to lament the mistakes you've made; it's important to find the strength to correct them. I haven't made any irreparable mistakes, and everything else isn't worth getting upset about. Ultimately, I'm happy with my life and the results I've achieved," concluded Andrey Kostin.

The audience gave a thunderous applause to this positive conclusion to the meeting.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: January 30, 2026.

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 Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

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Nikolai Efimov-Soini, Deputy Director of the Engineering Center at the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU "Digital Engineering," is the newest guest of the "Persona" column. He is a graduate of the Polytechnic University, completed postgraduate studies at a foreign university, worked as a designer at various companies, and then returned to the Polytechnic University. Nikolai Konstantinovich spoke about his professional path, education, interests, and what led him to engineering.Read on the website of the newspaper "Polytechnic".

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 Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

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On January 29, 2026, the fourth conference and exhibition "Road Construction in Russia. Road Construction Machinery and Equipment. New Challenges and Opportunities" was held in Moscow at the Russian University of Transport. A delegation from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, including representatives of the Institute of Civil Engineering, participated in the event.

The event was organized with the support and participation of the Government of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, the Federal Road Agency, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the State Duma of the Russian Federation, the ROSSPETSMASH Association, the Digital Era of Transport Association, and relevant agencies and institutes. The event was organized by the R.O.S.ASPHALT Association with the assistance of the Russian University of Transport.

Polytechnic University was represented by Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Lyudmila Pankova, Director of the Institute of Strategic Studies Marina Petrochenko, Director of the Higher School of Industrial, Civil, and Road Construction at the Institute of Strategic Studies Yuri Lazarev, and Associate Professor of the Higher School of Industrial, Civil, and Road Construction at the Institute of Strategic Studies Anatoly Novik.

The conference and exhibition have traditionally become a meeting place for representatives of federal and regional government agencies, design, construction, and contracting organizations, expert and scientific communities, engineering and manufacturing companies in the road industry, those who create machinery and equipment, and implement innovative materials and technologies for road construction and maintenance.

The event program included a plenary discussion, two thematic sessions, and an exhibition of advanced road construction solutions. Participants discussed key industry development issues: the introduction of highly automated and unmanned road construction equipment, import substitution in road construction, the development of domestic machinery and equipment production, as well as digital technologies in the road sector and regulatory aspects of the industry. Particular attention was paid to human resources, new professions, and the role of science in ensuring the technological sovereignty of the road industry.

A cooperation agreement was signed at the conference between Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and the Russian University of Transport. The document was signed by Lyudmila Pankova, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at SPbPU, and Alexander Klimov, Rector of the Russian University of Transport (MIIT).

The cooperation program is aimed at developing educational and research initiatives to develop human resources in the road sector.

These initiatives will be implemented within the framework of the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS). They involve cooperation in a number of key areas: improving the quality of education, taking into account the current needs of the road sector; organizing and delivering training in additional professional programs for road sector specialists; conducting joint scientific research aimed at improving the quality of highways; holding joint events, conferences, seminars, and roundtables; and exchanging information and providing consulting support in the field of road sector education.

Collaboration with the Russian University of Transport is a strategic step in the development of educational and research activities at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. Given the challenges of import substitution, digital transformation, and achieving technological leadership, it is especially important to combine the efforts of the country's leading technical universities to train highly qualified engineering professionals capable of working with advanced technologies and solving real-world problems in the construction and transportation industries. We are confident that the joint efforts of SPbPU and RUT (MIIT) will make a significant contribution to the development of domestic transport infrastructure, noted Lyudmila Pankova.

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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Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

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By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated January 28, 2026, Boris Kondin, Head of the Directorate of Cultural Programs and Youth Creativity at SPbPU, was awarded the medal "For Work in Culture and Art."

During Boris Igorevich's 20 years at the Polytechnic University, the university's cultural life has reached a new level. The White Hall is now more than just a local university auditorium, but a city-wide concert venue, featured on the billboards alongside theaters and the philharmonic. The White Hall's repertoire annually includes up to 200 concerts, representing all genres of classical and contemporary music, literary evenings, and theatrical productions. Leading artists and musical groups from St. Petersburg, Russia, and abroad perform on the hall's stage. The hall's annual audience reaches 60,000 spectators.

The Polytechnic University is the only university in Russia where you can listen to organ music. Five years ago, thanks to the efforts of Boris Kondin, a three-manual Johannus organ was installed in the White Hall.

In addition to his regular concert activities, Boris Igorevich has been organizing major cultural and educational events since 2010: this includes a festival of Russian music and poetry that has gained immense popularity among city residents. Pushkin Days at the PolytechnicThe Easter Festival, the "Music in the Glitter of Uniforms" military brass band festival, featured performances by People's and Honored Artists of Russia, including Vasily Lanovoy, Alexander Filippenko, Alla Demidova, Veniamin Smekhov, Avangard Leontyev, Dmitry Dyuzhev, and Vasily Gerello. The Terem Quartet, the Valaam Monastery Choir, and the Alexander Nevsky Men's Choir also performed at the Easter Festival.

The All-Russian festival-competition of student choral groups from technical universities, "Blagovest," organized by Boris Kondin, includes 10 technical universities, including the Ural Federal University, the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, the Stieglitz St. Petersburg State Academy of Art and Design, Petrozavodsk State University, the Irkutsk National Research Technical University, and others.

Since 2019, the Polytechnic University, under the leadership of Boris Igorevich, has been hosting two large-scale joint events with the Committee for Science and Higher Education of St. Petersburg: International Festival "Golden Autumn" AndGovernor's New Year's Student Ball, to which 700 of the best students from all higher and secondary educational institutions in the Northern Capital are invited. Both receive extensive media coverage.

Student creativity has also reached unprecedented proportions. Today, the university has 14 active associations, attended by 700 Polytechnic students. Choirs, theaters, vocal, and dance studios are achieving success in professional competitions. At the initiative of Boris Igorevich, the university established the first technical university in Russia in 2014. student pop and symphony orchestra, who today already performs large solo concerts for residents and guests of the city.

"At the very beginning of my work, I found the materials about the music clubs and student orchestra operating under the Polytechnic's first director, Prince Andrei Grigorievich Gagarin, extremely valuable," says Boris Kondin. "Prince Gagarin's unique approach to the development of culture and student creativity was passed on to Rector Andrei Ivanovich Rudskoy, through whom the Polytechnic became a cultural hub."

Nineteen years ago, at the initiative of Boris Kondin, SPbPU introduced "Creative Semesters" for all first-year students. St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is the only university in the country that integrates the development of students' creative abilities into its curriculum, drawing on the best examples of global music, literature, and other arts. This is a unique project not only for Russia but also for global education.

In 2022, Boris Kondin organized a series of musical and dramatic performances in the White Hall. "Russia, don't be afraid, we are with you!" which explored the tragic events in Donbass through the texts of poets from the Great Patriotic War and contemporary poets living in the cities of Donbass.

In 2024, Boris Igorevich developed and implemented the educational project "Polytechnic University—A Territory of High Culture." Banners featuring quotes from great figures of the past and present were installed across the campus, and the university organized courses on the history of Russian culture, art, and literature—not only for students and staff of the Polytechnic University but also for city residents.

In October 2024, a new project was launched at the Polytechnic University on the initiative of Boris Kondin – "Musical Changes".

Do Polytechnicians know that Boris Igorevich is the author of the Polytechnic University anthem? This magnificent piece of music is played today at all official and ceremonial events at the university, and it is performed in concerts by members of choirs and the pop and symphony orchestra.

The Polytechnic University team is proud that Boris Kondin's multifaceted and long-standing work in creating a cultural space at the university and in St. Petersburg has received state recognition. We congratulate him on this achievement!

"It's a great pleasure to receive this prestigious award and share this joy with my small team, who, like me, believe in the value of culture. This award is an incentive to continue what we've started, to explore new forms, to support students' creative initiative, and to strengthen the university's role as a cultural and spiritual center," Boris Kondin shared.

In 2022, Boris Igorevich became the subject of the "Persona" column. Read the interview with Boris Igorevich onon the portal of the newspaper "Polytechnic".

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 Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

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The Central Museum of Railway Transport of the Russian Federation has opened an exhibition, "Russia Chooses Speed," dedicated to the history of high-speed rail in our country. Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University contributed to the exhibition's preparation.

The exhibition features a wide variety of high-speed train models—outstanding engineering achievements that were never realized: a 1933 model of a ball train, a model of S.S. Waldner's aerotrain, a model of a magnetic levitation train, and a model of the Sokol-250 high-speed train from the 1990s. Of course, the history of completed projects is also shown—the Aurora, Nevsky Express, and ER200 high-speed trains, and the Sapsan and Allegro high-speed trains. The exhibition also includes materials dedicated to the design and early construction of the Moscow-St. Petersburg high-speed railway.

One of the key issues in the development of high-speed and high-speed rail technology is the aerodynamics of rolling stock. Part of the exhibition is dedicated to the history of aerodynamic research in rail transport. In 1909, Nikolai Rynin established an aeromechanical laboratory at the Institute of Railway Engineers in St. Petersburg, where the effects of airflow on rolling stock were studied and the force of airflow pressure on bridge trusses was determined. The exhibition features rare models made by N. A. Rynin.

Then, in 1909, on the initiative of N. A. Rynin andDean of the Shipbuilding Department of the Polytechnic Institute Konstantin Boklevsky In 1910, aeronautics courses were founded and construction began on an aerodynamics laboratory at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute. Vasily Slesarev was invited to organize the laboratory and further develop the courses. The laboratory's largest installation, to accommodate which part of the 1st Student Building was rebuilt in 1910, was a wind tunnel with a circular test section two meters in diameter. The tunnel was repeatedly reconstructed (most recently in 1956-1957). The history of the aeronautics courses at the Polytechnic Institute is detailed in the article "The First Higher Aviation School in Russia" by Ivan Povkh, head of the laboratory since 1935, after the creation of the Department of Hydroaerodynamics at the PhysMech Institute, published in the Proceedings of the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute (1948, No. 1).

In the mid-1970s, research on the aerodynamics of high-speed trains was conducted at the Leningrad Institute of Railway Engineers (LIIZhT) (now the Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University). Measurements were conducted at the Department of Hydroaerodynamics of the Faculty of Physics and Mechanics of the M. I. Kalinin Leningrad Polytechnic Institute in the Large Wind Tunnel, which can generate flow speeds of up to 50 meters per second.

The exhibition features, among other things, the restored head section of a LIIZhT model with drainage holes to relieve surface pressure. In 1975, this model was used for measurements in the LPI Large Wind Tunnel (pressure was measured using LPI micromanometers with inclined tubes, one of which is also on display).

At the suggestion of the Center for the Study of Railway Transport (CMRT) staff, in 2025, a visualization of the flow around a LIIZhT model was conducted in the LPI-SPbPU Large Wind Tunnel using laser illumination of a system of air jets emitted from a set of tubes containing very fine liquid particles. Furthermore, velocity and pulsation measurements were taken near the LIIZhT model installed in the LPI-SPbPU Large Wind Tunnel using LPI-designed hot-wire anemometers and single-filament probes. Photographs and video recordings of these experiments, as well as the instruments used in the measurements, are also on display at the exhibition.

The exhibition opening was attended by Nikolai Ivanov, Director of the Institute of Physics and Mechanics; Evgeny Smirnov and Yuri Chumakov, professors at the Higher School of Applied Mathematics and Computational Physics at the Institute; and Andrei Yukhnev, head of the training laboratory. Evgeny Mikhailovich and Yuri Sergeyevich were already working at the department in 1975 and remember conducting aerodynamic tests of high-speed train models. In preparing for the exhibition, they planned a reconstruction of the experiment, in which A. Yukhnev played a key role.

I am grateful to the staff of the Central Museum of Railway Transport, and especially to curator Alexander Sergeyevich Nizkovsky, for their meticulous research in preparing the exhibition. We were literally immersed in the events of fifty years ago, when the first Soviet high-speed electric train, the ER200, was being developed, and the Polytechnic Institute, in collaboration with the Leningrad Institute of Railway Transport, participated in solving the scientific problems that arose at that time. It is gratifying that the unique experimental facility—the Large Wind Tunnel of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University—continues to operate. Importantly, in addition to aerodynamic testing, the tunnel regularly hosts laboratory work for students, allowing them to visualize the basic principles of hydroaerodynamics," said Nikolai Ivanov, Director of the Institute of Physics and Mechanics at SPbPU.

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.