Category: English

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

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New multifunctional spaces have opened in the academic building of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade. Andrey Rudskoy, Rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, attended the opening ceremony.

On this day, two facilities were unveiled: a complex for emotional and physical relaxation for employees and a modern lecture hall, created as part of the "BuildingOurHouse" project to modernize the IPMEIT academic building.

The new complex is a unique space designed for faculty and staff to recharge, de-stress, and enjoy a brief "reset." It helps them find inner balance and refocus on productive research and teaching.

The complex is located in the basement of the academic building and occupies 240 square meters. It includes four specialized rooms.

The Natural Harmony Zone is a space for meditation and inner rejuvenation, filled with a tranquil atmosphere. A relaxation and physical recovery zone, equipped with modern massage chairs and an artificial fireplace, creates a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. The Seclusion Room is a space for short breaks and quiet. The Active Relaxation Zone includes a ping-pong table and an electronic shooting range for dynamic relaxation.

The project was made possible through a combination of funding: the majority of the funds were allocated by the Institute of Mechanics, Technology, and the Environment, while the multimedia equipment was purchased through the Priority 2030 program and the massage chairs were provided with support from VTB Bank.

Another important facility was unveiled at the same time: a new lecture hall equipped with modern technology and designed for comfortable and effective learning. The space is designed to comfortably accommodate students. Ergonomic seating allows for more productive classes, meetings, and presentations.

The auditorium is equipped with a 5.5-meter LED screen, which displays materials from a computer and an interactive chalkboard. The screen supports handwriting input with both fingertips and markers, and features a unique feature for transmitting images to the interactive surface. Three movable microphones, two sound columns, and a camera with optical zoom are also available for recording lectures and live streaming events.

The new lecture hall will become a space where technology and content work in unison, helping students and faculty collaborate even more effectively. Vladimir Shchepinin, Director of the Institute of Mechanics and Technology, emphasized the importance of this work: "We are creating new spaces that help our staff and students develop, work, and feel comfortable. The opening of the emotional and physical relaxation complex is an effort to ensure the well-being of our faculty and staff, and the new lecture hall is a step toward an even higher quality of educational process. I am confident that both spaces will become growth points for our institute."

During the event, the rector also visited those areas of the building that were opened earlierParticular attention was paid to the renovated first floor, which now houses modern and comfortable areas for study and research. Nineteen renovated rooms with 320 seats are already operational, equipped in accordance with modern requirements for a digital educational environment.

These include the institute's new laboratories, such as the "Qualimetry and Modeling in Quality Management" laboratory at the Higher School of Service and Trade, which hosts practical classes for students from all IPMEIT programs studying Quality Management. Master classes and research are also conducted there. In this laboratory, students not only study lean manufacturing principles and qualimetric methods but also practice them using virtual simulators and real equipment.

Andrey Rudskoy also visited the specialized classroom, created with the support of industrial partners. The new space is equipped with educational displays and demonstration equipment for training undergraduate, graduate, and advanced training programs in energy management. The auditorium will become a hub for practical work, where students will be able to not only consolidate their theoretical knowledge but also master real equipment used in the energy industry.

Modernization of the academic building continues. New classrooms, currently in the final stages of renovation, are scheduled to open soon. Students and staff will have even more modern, equipped, and comfortable spaces for studying, working, and interacting. Future plans include renovating the cafeteria, which will fully adapt the space to modern standards.

The opening of the emotional and physical relaxation complex, a new lecture hall, and renovated spaces in the IPMEiT academic building marked a significant step in creating a comfortable, modern, and technologically advanced environment for the institute's staff and students.

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: Official website of the State –

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On December 5th, the entire planet honors volunteers—a holiday for those who choose to help those in need, not for reward, but because they cannot help themselves. The date's history dates back to 1985, when the UN General Assembly officially established Volunteer Day to formally recognize the contribution of volunteers to solving global problems and strengthening peace. In Russia, the holiday became a national holiday in 2017, when President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to that effect.

Humanitarian society

Volunteering is a deeply rooted phenomenon in Russian society. Its roots lie in community-based mutual aid, the tradition of caring for monastic orphanages, and the 19th-century campaign of the Sisters of Mercy. Under Alexander I, the Imperial Philanthropic Society was established, and during the Crimean War and the First World War, the unpaid work of nurses and orderlies became the norm.

The Soviet era gave the country another form of volunteerism—the Timur movement. After the publication of Arkady Gaidar's novella "Timur and His Team," millions of schoolchildren began helping the families of front-line soldiers, veterans, and the elderly—good deeds became part of the new Soviet culture.

Today, volunteerism is a complex, organized system. According to 2025 estimates, 32% of Russia's adult population participates in volunteer activities, meaning one in three residents has lent a helping hand to those in need at least once in their life.

It's in our blood

One of the largest volunteer projects in our country is the All-Russian campaign

On the eve of Volunteer Day, the "We Are Together" forum was held in Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the "Volunteer of the Year 2025" award to Anna Pluzhnikova for providing meals to volunteers cleaning the Black Sea after the environmental disaster near Anapa. In his speech, the head of state emphasized that volunteering is not just assistance, but an expression of national solidarity and civic maturity, rooted in a sincere desire to help others. This has been especially evident during the pandemic and during the Special Military Operation (SVO). "It's in all of our blood—helping our neighbors, supporting those in need," Vladimir Vladimirovich emphasized.

Festival of Good Deeds

Today marks the end of the nationwide "Week of Good Deeds"—a mass volunteer effort to make trench candles and camouflage nets for the SVO. Activists also visited lonely people, improved memorials, and held scientific and environmental volunteer days. The celebration of Russia's humanitarian community doesn't end there: tomorrow, the Mosart Gallery in Moscow will host a screening of the documentary "

The State University of Management deeply respects the volunteer movement. Students and staff of the State University of Management regularly participate in social, patriotic, and environmental initiatives—from mentoring schoolchildren to assisting veterans and mobilized personnel. Specifically, the Moscow City Branch of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps (VSKS), located on the grounds of the First Management University, regularly hosts master classes on weaving camouflage nets, making trench candles, and stoves for humanitarian aid, which the university sends to Russian soldiers serving in the Siberian Military District as part of the "SUM – To Ourselves" campaign, which began in January 2024 and is part of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science's public campaign "Universities for the Front."

For us, volunteering isn't a fad, but a practice of social responsibility, a form of true leadership. Because a true manager isn't just someone who solves problems, but also someone who is the first to respond when they see a need.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: December 5, 2025.

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 –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The Russian Ministry of Sport held a ceremony honoring the nominees and winners of the annual National Sports Award. The event traditionally summarizes the year's key achievements and recognizes the achievements of outstanding figures in the sports industry.

In the "Pride of Russia" category, swimmer and polytechnician Kirill Prigoda, a ten-time world champion, two-time European champion, world and European record holder, and Honored Master of Sports of Russia, was named Athlete of the Year.

At this year's World Short Course Swimming Championships in Budapest, Kirill won three gold medals in relays, one of which set a new world record, as well as three silver medals in individual events. In Singapore, he added a silver in the 50m breaststroke and two gold medals as part of the relay team.

My feelings are reserved, but I'm satisfied with the work I've accomplished. This is my first award. The realization hasn't set in yet, and it's unlikely it will, as all my thoughts are already focused on next season. 2025 was a productive year at all levels. The leadership's dedicated work and the athletes' eagerness to compete allowed swimming to become one of the first sports admitted to international competition. Next year marks the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, where our team will attend and conduct centralized training, Kirill said in an interview with our website.

Kirill Prigoda was also recognized as Athlete of the Year by the Russian Aquatics Federation.

The men's medley relay at the World Championships in Singapore, which Miron Lifintsev, Kirill Prigoda, Andrey Minakov, and Egor Kornev won with a European and Russian record, was named the Swim of the Year by the Russian Swimming Federation.

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 –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Polytechnic Days in Indonesia, SPbPU, Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, cooperation with Indonesia, Gunadarma University, University of Indonesia, international education, double degrees, joint programs, scientific cooperation, business competition, open lectures, academic mobility, Russian-Indonesian center, master's degree programs, postgraduate studies, sustainable development, smart cities, artificial intelligence, educational exhibition in Indonesia.

The program kicked off in Jakarta, where Tatyana Sytnikova, Deputy Head of the International Education Department, and Olga Yemelyanova, Head of the International Educational Programs Department, participated in a major educational exhibition hosted by Rossotrudnichestvo. They presented the university's core programs, including joint programs, and short-term programs to representatives of the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, as well as heads of local universities and recruiting agencies. They also organized on-site career guidance sessions for high school students at Jasporbi I Secondary School and Jakarta Public Secondary School No. 6. Polytechnic University staff introduced more than 150 graduating students to the opportunities SPbPU offers for international students.

The central event of the "Polytechnic Days in Indonesia" was the work on the campuses of partner universities. At Gunadarma University, Nelly Kozlova, Associate Professor of the IPMEIT Graduate School of Service and Trade, gave an open lecture, "Synergetic Interaction of Markets and Minds: A Cross-Cycle Approach to Studying Human-Centered Circular Economies in Indonesia and Russia," for master's students in the International Management program. This was followed by an international colloquium, where the master's students presented the results of their research.

A roundtable discussion was held at Gunadarma University's technology park to discuss the results of the joint cross-cultural project "Smart Agribusiness and Digital Marketing of Marigolds," which has been implemented since 2023 in collaboration between the HSE Institute of Meteorological and Economics and the Faculty of Economics at Gunadarma University. Participants discussed progress in agriculture and digital marketing, adjusted the roadmap, and set goals for 2026.

The program culminated at Gunadarma University with an international seminar on internationalization. Members of the SPbPU delegation presented papers on their respective areas of expertise. Irina Rudskaya, Director of the Gazprom Neft Scientific and Educational Center, shared her successful experience implementing corporate master's programs in cooperation with industrial partners. Vladimir Shchepinin, Director of the Institute of Mechanics and Technology, and Marina Petrochenko, Director of the Institute of Strategic Studies, presented the research and educational areas of their institutes, as well as the potential for joint programs.

Tatyana Kudryavtseva, Chief Scientific Secretary of the Scientific Certification Committee, introduced her Indonesian colleagues to the dissertation defense system and the list of active dissertation councils at SPbPU, as well as opportunities for collaboration in this area.

The seminar concluded with an official signing ceremony for an agreement to establish a Joint Russian-Indonesian Center for Training in Engineering and Entrepreneurship, as well as an agreement to implement a joint dual-degree master's program.

The day continued with a gala ceremony announcing the results of the International Business Pitch Fest 2025, an international business project competition on the theme "AI-based digitalization for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals." Twelve of the strongest student teams from Russia, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan participated. The HSE team, consisting of Alina Ermoolenko, Valeria Rogacheva, Victoria Vaitkus, and Natalia Reshnova, achieved significant success, advancing to the finals and winning the Best SDG Alignment from Russia category. Their project was recognized as the best in its alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, clearly demonstrating the social significance and depth of thought behind the student initiatives.

Indonesian students are extremely interested in studying in Russia and participating in joint educational programs and youth research projects. This was the focus of discussions between Ekaterina Belyaevskaya, Head of the International Interuniversity Cooperation Department and Head of the PhD Track for the Open Doors International Olympiad, and her Indonesian colleagues. An agreement was reached on coordinated efforts to work with talented graduates, specifically on holding a series of webinars for students from Indonesian universities who wish to participate in the Olympiad and enroll in full-time PhD programs at SPbPU.

"Cooperation between the Polytechnic University and Gunadarma University is demonstrating dynamic development," noted Dmitry Arsenyev. "In a short period of time, we have established a joint center and dual degree programs, are successfully developing a research project, and have facilitated youth collaboration. This is a shining example of how effective inter-university partnerships respond to the challenges of the global economy and promote the participation of Polytechnic University scientists in relevant scientific and socially significant international collaborations."

The "Polytechnic Days in Indonesia" program continued with a high-level meeting: a delegation from SPbPU arrived at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of Indonesia to meet with Minister Bryan Yuliarto and the heads of key departments within the ministry. Bryan Yuliarto emphasized the strong ties between the two countries in education and research and expressed gratitude to the Russian government for providing 300 scholarships to Indonesian students. For his part, Dmitry Arsenyev confirmed that cooperation with Indonesian educational and government agencies is a strategic priority for SPbPU. He also expressed confidence in the further intensification of relations, including increased academic mobility for faculty and students and the implementation of new joint programs with Indonesian universities. SPbPU representatives noted that the Polytechnic University has the largest number of Indonesian students among St. Petersburg universities—over 20 students—and that the Association of Indonesian Students was established at SPbPU.

I am pleased to hear about the dynamic development of relations between the leading universities of our countries and hope that this visit will contribute to mutually beneficial cooperation, the minister said.

Continuing the dialogue with the heads of key departments, the SPbPU delegation discussed the possibility of launching joint dual-degree programs, presented the potential of the Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project International Olympiad for the education of talented international students in Russia, the implementation of joint scientific research, and the possibility of opening a bilateral scientific grant competition between the Russian Science Foundation and relevant Indonesian scientific foundations.

The "Polytechnic Days in Indonesia" events were also held at one of the country's oldest and most prestigious public universities, the University of Indonesia. The central event was an official meeting with the university's leadership and a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding and a student exchange agreement.

During a meeting with the head of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Indonesia, Marina Petrochenko presented the key areas and achievements of ISI's graduate schools, the unique Metacampus project, and shared her experience implementing large-scale projects in urban management, energy efficiency, and cultural heritage preservation. Discussions on the possibility of implementing a joint program in the Construction program had already been held prior to the visit, and a personal meeting between the leaders allowed for a more detailed discussion of all the nuances of future cooperation.

At the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Indonesia, Marina Bolsunovskaya, head of the Industrial Stream Data Processing Systems laboratory, presented the Polytechnic University's potential in industrial artificial intelligence. The parties agreed to identify mutually beneficial areas for future joint projects in the near future, including a project to process earthquake data using the SPbPU digital platform.

Igor Ilyin, Director of the Higher School of Business Engineering, held talks with the heads of the Faculty of Mathematics to discuss the creation of a joint data center to support research in applied mathematics, industrial AI, and data engineering. The parties also agreed on joint research and publications, the preparation of a monograph on industrial AI, grant applications, and the launch of a dual degree program based on the Master's program "Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering in Business."

Dmitry Plotnikov, Associate Professor at the Higher School of Transport, delivered an open lecture for staff and students at the University of Indonesia on "Models of Land Use and Transport Interaction," outlining the key principles of designing effective urban systems. He emphasized that modern mathematical modeling based on spatial data allows for predicting population movements and improving the efficiency of transportation networks. Participants agreed that Indonesia's urban development requires a technological leap, including the integration of GIS into transportation planning.

Particular attention was paid to developing joint research in the field of "smart cities." An interdisciplinary team from SPbPU, coordinated by Angi Skhvediani, head of the System Dynamics Research Laboratory and associate professor at the Institute of Meteorological, Economics, and Technology (IPMET), has been successfully collaborating for several years with Mohammed Ali Berawi, head of the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure Development and professor at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Indonesia. During the visit, the parties finalized a megagrant application for the project "Development of Methodological Foundations, Computational Models, and a Decision-Making Platform for Designing Human-Centered Infrastructure for Urban Agglomerations," and also agreed on the possibility of submitting joint applications for the upcoming 2026 research support competitions under the auspices of the Russian Science Foundation and the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. Building on previous successful scientific collaborations, joint publication activities and collaboration between scientific journals will continue. Following the negotiations, Angi Skhvediani, the head of the interdisciplinary project, was appointed to the editorial board of the International Journal of Technology (IJTech) and appointed as the journal's official representative in the CIS countries. Their Indonesian colleagues have been invited to participate in a number of significant SPbPU conferences in 2026, and the results of their planned joint research will be published in highly ranked journals.

SPbPU Honorary Doctorate Professor Ali Mohammad Berawi noted: "This collaboration is a national strategic need. A scientific approach to integrating land use and transportation is essential for the sustainable development of Indonesian cities. Through collaboration with SPbPU, we are strengthening our research potential."

During the "Polytechnic Days in Indonesia," Dmitry Plotnikov and Angi Skhwediani hosted an internship program at the University of Indonesia. The program provided an introduction to current research in sustainable urban infrastructure, practical case studies from the Faculty of Mathematics in applied statistics in economics, and the organization of relevant master's and doctoral programs. The internship was supported by the "Priority 2030" program as part of the SPbPU "Center for Opportunities and Internships" project.

A meeting between the SPbPU delegation and the United Cities and Local Government Association took place in Jakarta. Angi Skhwediani presented a full-scale report outlining the Polytechnic's potential for addressing urban planning, transport logistics, and the digitalization of urban infrastructure. Following the discussion, an agreement was reached to organize an ongoing scientific and practical seminar on smart cities with the participation of the University of Indonesia, UCLG, and SPbPU, as well as to prepare a joint monograph for publication in Springer.

The SPbPU delegation continued the Polytechnic Days in Indonesia by participating in one of the largest educational exhibitions in the Republic. It was held in Surabaya. Over 70 universities from around the world presented their educational programs at the exhibition. Among them, the Polytechnic University stood out for its diversity and high quality of educational opportunities, attracting applicants and their parents throughout the exhibition.

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.