Университетская жизнь / – Page 43

March 20, 2026

A strategic session on the development of a professional qualifications system in the construction industry was held at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Strategic session

On March 19, the St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering hosted a strategic session entitled "Developing a System of Professional Qualifications within the Framework of Improving the Higher Education System." The event brought together representatives of government agencies, professional associations, educational organizations, and the expert community.

The strategic session was attended by representatives of the Committee for State Control, Use, and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (KGIOP) of the Government of St. Petersburg, the National Association of Designers and Surveyors (NOPRIZ), the National Agency for Qualification Development, the Federal State Budgetary Institution "All-Russian Research Institute of Labor" of the Ministry of Labor of Russia, professional associations of restorers, educational organizations, as well as the leaders and faculty of SPbGASU.

The key goal of the meeting was to develop coordinated solutions for the development of a professional qualifications system and the creation of modern educational pathways for staffing the construction industry.

Svetlana Golovina, First Vice-Rector of SPbGASU, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech, emphasizing the importance of systemic interaction between education, the state, and the professional community.

New professional standard: restoration engineer

The central topic of the session was the initiative to develop a new professional standard for "Building and Structure Restoration Specialist (Restoration Engineer)." During the discussion, it was noted that the current qualification system lacks a codified standard for engineering specialists in the field of cultural heritage conservation.

KGIOP Chairman Alexey Mikhailov emphasized the high state demand for training specialists in this field: "One of the key problems today is the lack of specialists who understand how to work with cultural heritage sites. This directly impacts both the timeframe and cost of work. Therefore, we consider the initiative to create a restoration engineer standard extremely relevant, and we are ready to provide it with our full support."

Svetlana Golovina presented the educational community's position, confirming the university's commitment to systematic work in this area: "Today, the country lacks training for restoration engineers as a separate category of specialists. Yet, the need for them is obvious: in St. Petersburg alone, there are over 9,000 cultural heritage sites, each requiring a professional approach. We are convinced that it is necessary to establish a separate specialty and train engineers with both fundamental knowledge and expertise in restoration technologies."

Representatives of the professional community and industry associations also participated in the discussion. Participants agreed on the need for a consolidated approach to developing the new standard.

Following the discussion, a decision was made to create a working group with the participation of representatives of KGIOP, NOPRIZ, professional associations, and SPbGASU.

Synchronizing Education and Market Demands: The GIA-NOC Mechanism

The second block of the session was devoted to issues of synchronizing educational programs with the requirements of professional standards through mechanisms for combining the state final certification and independent assessment of qualifications (GIA-NOK).

Alla Faktorovich, Deputy Director General of the National Agency for Qualifications Development, presented methodological approaches to integrating these procedures. Representatives of NOPRIZ and educational organizations discussed industry requirements for graduates and the potential for introducing new assessment mechanisms.

SPbGASU has announced its readiness to participate in a pilot project to combine the State Final Attestation (GFA) and the National Assessment (NAC) in the Architecture program. The university has already established the necessary infrastructure and expertise.

Launch of a new DPO program

At the conclusion of the strategic session, the opening of a new additional educational program for professional retraining, "Self-Regulation in Urban Development," was announced.

The program was developed in collaboration with the professional community and with the participation of national associations and the Russian Union of Builders. It is aimed at training specialists for the self-regulatory system in the construction industry.

Participants noted the high demand for such personnel and the importance of a practice-oriented approach to training.

Results and decisions

Following the strategic session, a resolution will be signed, enshrining key agreements:

Support for the development of a professional standard for "restoration engineer" and the formation of a working group; approval of SPbGASU's participation in a pilot project to combine the State Final Attestation (GFA) and the National Assessment (NAC); recognition of the relevance of launching a new continuing education program; recommendations for developing networking between educational organizations and employers.

Participants emphasized that the decisions taken are aimed at improving the quality of specialist training and ensuring personnel sovereignty in the Russian construction industry.

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.

March 20, 2026

SPbGASU signed a cooperation agreement in the field of unmanned systems and digital technologies.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Signing of the agreement at the Military Institute (Engineering and Technical)

The Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering is expanding its interuniversity and interdepartmental collaboration. Following a working meeting, a cooperation agreement was signed with the Military Institute (Engineering and Technical) of the Federal State Treasury Military Educational Institution of Higher Education "Military Academy of Logistics named after General of the Army A.V. Khrulyov" of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The document aims to develop educational and scientific initiatives in the fields of unmanned systems, information modeling, artificial intelligence, and joint applied research.

On behalf of SPbGASU, the signing ceremony was attended by First Vice-Rector Svetlana Golovina, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Sergei Mikhailov, Vice-Rector for Continuing Education Victoria Vinogradova, and Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering Andrei Nikulin.

A key area of collaboration will be developing competencies in the field of unmanned systems management. Furthermore, the partners are interested in training specialists in modern information modeling software, participating in joint research projects, seminars, conferences, and forums, and implementing solutions using artificial intelligence technologies.

As Andrey Nikulin, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at SPbGASU, noted, the cooperation is mutually beneficial: "We are interested in developing the field of unmanned systems and their control. At the same time, our partners require support in training in information modeling and artificial intelligence. This forms the basis for sustainable and complementary collaboration."

One of the first practical steps under the agreement could be the creation of a joint training center. It is expected to operate on the premises of the partner organization, using its facilities and technical infrastructure, and SPbGASU students will be able to undergo regular training there, including training for additional military specialties.

The agreement also provides for advanced training for teaching staff, participation in the development of programs and projects for socioeconomic development, support for talented youth, and the dissemination of information on new scientific research and developments. This collaboration is free of charge and does not imply any financial obligations for the parties: each organization bears its own costs for the implementation of these activities.

Furthermore, the collaboration opens up additional opportunities for engaging students in applied projects and facilitates the partner's human resources needs. The university notes that developing collaboration in digital technologies, information modeling, and unmanned systems meets modern engineering training requirements and will contribute to the increased competitiveness of SPbGASU graduates.

March 20, 2026

RUDN University students talked about their favorite poets

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

"A poet in Russia is more than just a poet. Poets are destined to be born here…"—we chose lines from Yevgeny Yevtushenko's poem for a reason. March 21st marks World Poetry Day. On the eve of the holiday, we decided to talk to RUDN University international students about their favorite poets—Russian or their own—and find out what it is about these authors' works that has touched their hearts.

"I met you—and everything bygone came alive in my moribund heart; I remembered a golden time—and my heart felt so warm." Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev is more than poetry. He possesses the ability to hear the soul of the world. Profound, passionate, philosophical—timeless! I admire his tragic yet profound view of life, where love is always a "fatal duel" and a dramatic combination of tenderness and passion, and nature is a living force. A brilliant thinker and a subtle lyricist, he remains one of the most piercing voices in Russian poetry," said Dinara Maksetova (Uzbekistan), a second-year master's student in the Faculty of Philology majoring in Literary Studies.

“Nadezhda Mandelstam said: the best Russian prose is only a distant echo of the psychological and lexical sophistication that Russian poetry showed in the first quarter of the century. Anna Akhmatova clarified: Dostoevsky’s heroes are “aged Pushkin characters, aged Onegin.” In this land, poetry has always been a source. And Brodsky is a direct heir to this source. He called himself “a poet not from a greenhouse.” He left school at the age of 15, wandered around geological parties and boiler rooms, was convicted of “parasitism” – these circumstances are not just the background of his poems, but the soil into which his words grew. He treated classical Chinese poetry with gratitude and curiosity, perhaps because ancient lines were also born from the earth and knew how to remain silent. Brodsky was in awe of the structure of the verse, but at the same time insisted: the stanzas should be connected not by logic, but by “the movement of the soul.” Reading it, you don’t follow the conclusions – you are picked up by an underground current, carrying you deeper or higher. Here is my favorite: “I entered a cage instead of a wild animal, burned out my sentence and cry with a nail in the barracks…” This is his self-portrait. Camp, exile, drowned three times, was cut to pieces twice – in 12 lines he lists the fragments of his shattered life. And at the end he writes: “But until my mouth is filled with clay, only gratitude will come out of it.” This is how Brodsky is remembered. He does not accuse, he does not moan. He chooses not curse, but gratitude. This is not an embellishment of suffering, but an affirmation of life itself: I’m alive, I can still speak—thank you for that already. From Auden he adopted stylistic restraint, from Akhmatova – moral strength. But his “morality” never turns into a sermon: it is in this ability not to break, not to turn away. He doesn’t care about politics – he cares about the broader concept of good and evil: how a person maintains dignity under the pressure of time. The Nobel Prize was not a wedding, but a belated recognition. Throughout his life he proved: poetry is not a hothouse flower, but words that have sprouted through the frozen ground. With scars. But with gratitude. Before his mouth is filled with clay, he chooses to give thanks. This gratitude is not reconciliation. This is his last freedom,” said Bai Jingjing (China), a second-year master’s student at the Faculty of Philology in the direction of “Literary Studies.”

"I want to tell you about Li Qingzhao, a Chinese poetess of the Song Dynasty, the author of lyrical songs in the ci genre. She is one of the few women whose name is inscribed in the golden fund of Chinese literature. I admire this poetess for several reasons. First, she was a rare female writer in ancient China, which in itself is admirable. Second, Li Qingzhao created a unique style of yianti, becoming the founder of its own school, which was imitated by her descendants. Third, her horizons were not limited to the domestic hearth. Her poems reflect the depth of a woman's soul: in her youth, they are light and graceful, but when the country faced tragedy, she revealed to the world these courageous lines: "Living among people, be a hero; having become death, be the leader of spirits." “Her breadth of views and greatness of spirit amaze me,” shared Zhou Zhiqian (China), a second-year Master’s student in the Faculty of Philology in Literary Studies.

Happy holiday to everyone involved in the world of poetry and literature! We wish you endless inspiration, vibrant images, precise rhymes, and grateful readers!

March 20, 2026

Dmitry Grigorenko: Regions are actively implementing artificial intelligence in public administration and the social sphere.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko made a working visit to the Irkutsk Region. He reviewed the results of the practical implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the region.

In particular, the Deputy Prime Minister visited the Baikal AI Center, where an exhibition of regional AI-based solutions was presented. Key projects include a digital twin of chemical production. The platform enables the storage and processing of digital data on chemical production processes, reducing the time required to prepare technical documentation and accelerating product time-to-market by 15–20%. The solution is being finalized at the Baikal AI Center with the participation of industrial partners and is already being put into commercial operation. Artificial intelligence has also been integrated into the Unified Contact Center of the Irkutsk Region Government. This center provides residents of the region with prompt information support on a wide range of issues. The implementation of AI has improved the quality of service, reducing wait times and the number of dropped calls to zero.

During his visit, Dmitry Grigorenko toured the Irkutsk Regional Children's Smart Hospital. This unique facility integrates AI solutions into various stages of medical care, from hospitalization and surgery to discharge. The smart cardiac surgery department is equipped with computer vision technologies for patient monitoring, and the wards are equipped with smart home elements. Plans are underway to roll out the smart ward technologies to all hospital departments. Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister was shown a robotic system that has already been used in over 300 surgeries. One of the hospital's key projects for 2026 is the creation of the region's first Children's Health Monitoring Center, equipped with 16 telemedicine stations capable of transmitting ultrasound, CT, and MRI data in real time, supporting surgeries, and providing remote consultations for children even in the region's most remote settlements. Future plans include the development of telesurgical procedures.

"Regions are actively implementing artificial intelligence in public administration and the social sector, including healthcare. We saw this today in the Irkutsk Region. At the same time, as technology develops, the need for clear and transparent rules for its application arises. In this regard, the Government has prepared a bill on AI regulation. We are currently discussing it with industry representatives and all interested parties. The bill enshrines the very concept of artificial intelligence and establishes responsibilities for developers, owners, and users. The key objective is to protect citizens from manipulation and fraud without restricting the development of the technology," emphasized Dmitry Grigorenko.

During his visit, Dmitry Grigorenko also held a meeting on the digital development of the Irkutsk Region. It was noted that 100% of the region's major social services have been transferred online and are now available to residents electronically, significantly improving the ease of interaction with the government.

Furthermore, the Irkutsk Region is among the top five Russian regions in terms of the number of websites created on the federal GosWeb platform, with over 1,700 created. The platform, a subsystem of the Gosuslugi system, offers a convenient and flexible builder for standard websites for local governments, educational, medical, and other organizations, ensuring uniform standards for information presentation and accessibility of digital services.

"Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has identified the digital transformation of state and municipal administration, the economy, and the social sphere as one of the national development goals. Our region has some groundwork to achieve these goals. A structure for managing digital transformation processes has been established. The Irkutsk Region has the potential to become a pilot site for the creation of an interregional Siberian artificial intelligence development cluster. The region can organize everything from personnel training and AI solution development to the creation of modern data processing centers," noted Igor Kobzev, Governor of the Irkutsk Region.

March 20, 2026

Get selected for the Business and Entrepreneurship Course and go to Ocean

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

On March 22, the State University of Management will complete enrollment for the supplementary general development program "Business and Entrepreneurship Course," which is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

Schoolchildren aged 14-17, enrolled in basic and secondary general education programs, including homeschooling and self-study, from across Russia are invited to participate. The training will help them understand entrepreneurship, learn how to work with ideas, and try their hand at developing their own projects.

In 2026, the program will be held from June 20 to July 10 at the All-Russian Children's Center "Ocean" (Vladivostok).

To participate, you must register with the SUM Digital Corps and complete the first stage tasks by 11:59 PM Moscow time on March 22, 2026. All stages are held remotely: you can complete them at your convenience, but there is a time limit per attempt. Results are displayed in your personal account, and participants who advance to the next stage receive an additional notification.

The results are calculated based on the total points earned across all stages: the final list is formed based on the selection process on the platform.

The project has already proven its effectiveness: in 2025, the program was held at the Orlyonok All-Russian Children's Center, the Okean All-Russian Children's Center, and the Artek International Children's Center. Around 500 people participated in the competitive selection process, approximately 90 schoolchildren participated in in-person sessions, and over 100 people joined open master classes. Participants learned basic entrepreneurial and project-based skills and gained initial experience developing their own initiatives.

For technical questions, please contact info@online-guu.ru, and for participation questions: pred.smena@yandex.ru

Follow the program's news on social media: Telegram, VKontakte, MAX

Competition Regulations

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: March 20, 2026.

March 20, 2026

Financial news: 03/20/2026, 13:47 (Moscow time) the values of the lower boundary of the price corridor and the range for assessing market risks for the security RU000A10CP52 (GazKap3P19) were changed.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

March 20, 2026

13:47

In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of PJSC Moscow Exchange by the National Credit Center (JSC) on March 20, 2026, 13:47 (Moscow time), the values of the lower limit of the price corridor (up to 92.0) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 11025.45 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 10.0%) of the security RU000A10CP52 (GazKap3P19) were changed.

March 20, 2026

Students from St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering are developing a campus project on Russky Island.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Project team

Students from the Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering are developing a design for the second phase of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) campus on Russky Island in Vladivostok as part of the interuniversity competitive educational program "Project Bureau." The program was organized by the public-law company "Ediny Zakaznik" (Unified Customer) on behalf of the Russian Ministry of Construction.

The student team is supervised by Alexandra Masyonene, senior lecturer at the Department of Information and Mathematical Modeling Technologies at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

Work on the project began as part of the "Project-Based Activity" elective course at the Project-Based Learning Educational Center (PBL) at SPbGASU. The first draft was presented in December 2025, after which the team began refining and improving it.

After successful defense of projects within the framework of the elective course The Center for Professional Development (OCPD) continued its collaboration with the students, providing support for their further development. The team plans to submit the project to a competition and then defend it as a comprehensive final thesis.

The project is significant in scale and complexity. The total development area is approximately 76,000 square meters. The campus includes:

Superior hotel-type dormitories for 3,000–4,000 people; a public building – a creative ideas center.

In addition, design documentation for the “PD” stage is being developed for one section of the hostel with a capacity of 300–350 rooms.

What makes this project unique is that it requires participants to possess not only architectural training but also the ability to work at the intersection of several professional disciplines. Designing a campus on a seismically hazardous site with complex terrain requires a comprehensive approach, encompassing architecture, urban planning, residential and public space planning, functional zoning, engineering design, consideration of economics and regulatory requirements, and the use of modern digital modeling tools.

For students, participation in the program becomes a full-fledged professional experience, allowing them to work on real-world problems at the national level.

As Alexandra Masionienė notes, the key value of the project lies in its practical focus:

"For students, this is an opportunity to go beyond the academic assignment and engage in a real professional process. It's important not only to propose an architectural concept but also to consider the specific features of the site, the functional structure of the campus, and environmental requirements. This is a comprehensive project that fosters responsibility for the decisions they make."

According to the professor, modern design is impossible without an interdisciplinary approach: "Today, architecture is developing in conjunction with digital modeling, analytics, and teamwork. It's important for our department to show students how information modeling technologies are becoming part of real-world practice."

Inna Sukhanova, Director of the Project-Based Learning Educational Center, also emphasized the significance of the work accomplished: "During the development phase, the team considered several architectural solutions and consulted with faculty from the Department of Architectural Design. The team included students from the Faculty of Architecture, the Faculty of Civil Engineering, and the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Engineering. They accomplished a great deal of work, and we eagerly await the results of this large-scale project."

March 20, 2026

A RUDN University delegation visited Cameroon on a working visit

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

A delegation from RUDN University's Faculty of Economics visited Cameroon in early March. The main goal of the trip was to strengthen bilateral cooperation in education and research between the university and the National Association of Private Universities of Cameroon (ANIPES).

During the visit, a meeting was held with representatives of partner universities, including private educational institutions SIANTOU, AGENLA Academy, Institut Universitaire ROCADE, HiPE Bonaberi, and others. Participants discussed plans for joint participation in international forums, competitions, and educational events.

One of the main results of the trip was the signing of a joint 12-month action plan in science and education. The document provides for the organization of scientific research, master classes and open lectures, participation in scientific and practical seminars, and ongoing cooperation through regular scientific events. The agreement has been submitted to the Russian Ministry of Education for registration and subsequent signing at RUDN University.

The parties also agreed to establish at least two joint project groups specializing in local tourism development and entrepreneurship training in Cameroon. Training courses for teachers in economics, management, and entrepreneurship are also planned.

Local universities also showed great interest in the RUDN University Olympiad for International Citizens, which allows students from Cameroon to enroll in and study in our university's master's programs, as well as the opportunity for joint publications in RUDN University scientific journals. During the trip, a very warm meeting was held with the local RUDN University Alumni Association.

The visit to Cameroon was an important step in strengthening cultural and educational ties between the two countries.

On recent visits of delegations to RUDN University

In early March, RUDN University Rector Oleg Yastrebov held a meeting at our university with Alejandro Arias Zarzuela, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Russian Federation. The parties agreed to renew agreements with Dominican universities, expand the country's participation in international competitions—the RUDN University Open Olympiad for Foreign Citizens and the International Financial Literacy Olympiad—and increase awareness of educational opportunities in Russia.

RUDN University also held talks with a delegation from the Peruvian University of the Altiplano of Puno. The parties plan to sign a cooperation agreement to collaborate on joint research and publications, student and faculty academic mobility, educational program development, and cultural and educational initiatives.

March 20, 2026

The government has approved a program and action plan for the development of corporate sports until 2030.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Creating conditions for physical education and sports for employees and their families, organizing the activities of physical education and sports clubs at the workplace, and improving the system for conducting physical education and sports events in organizations and enterprises—these are the objectives of the corporate sports development program, which the Government approved on the instructions of the President.

The program is designed to run until 2030. The action plan for its implementation (also approved by a government decree) consists of five sections. One of them, in particular, is dedicated to developing a system to motivate employees and their families to engage in physical education and sports, as well as to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It involves developing proposals for establishing a system of incentives for employees who regularly engage in physical education and sports, as well as developing proposals for mechanisms to incentivize employers to develop corporate sports.

The development of sports infrastructure at enterprises is planned under another section of the plan: "Improving Resource Support for Corporate Sports Development." This section is expected to utilize public-private partnerships and investment agreements.

Following the implementation of the planned measures, the number of physical education and sports clubs at workplaces is expected to increase to 2.8 thousand, the number of physical education and sports events held to develop corporate sports will grow to 2.2 thousand, and the share of the country's working population who regularly engage in physical education and sports will amount to 55%.

Mikhail Mishustin announced the approval of the program on March 10meeting with deputy prime ministersHe stressed the importance of people across the country having the opportunity to play sports.

The document will be published.

March 20, 2026

Financial news: On the suspension of the calculation of telecommunications indices.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Please note that in accordance with what was published earlier message Moscow Exchange will suspend the calculation of the MOEX Telecom Index (code: MOEXTL) and the RTS Telecom Index (code: RTStl), as well as the corresponding total return indices (codes: METLTR, METLTRN, METLTRR, RUTLTR, RUTLTRN, RUTLTRR), effective March 20, 2026. This suspension is due to the reduction in the number of issuers eligible for inclusion in the calculation base to two, while the methodology stipulates a minimum of three issuers in the calculation base.

Contact information for media: 7 (495) 363-3232PR@moex.com