A world first: Polytechnic University is developing a lattice for small modular reactors designed for 3D printing.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Engineers from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University are developing an improved mixing grid for a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR), designed for additive manufacturing. This development is unique worldwide. Using SMRs with optimized mixing grids will make it possible to provide lower-cost electricity to the most remote and inaccessible areas of Russia in the future. This work is being supported by the federal program "Priority 2030."

The economic efficiency of using nuclear power plants with small modular reactors lies in their long operating cycles, meaning that a single fuel load allows them to operate for several years without refueling. This makes them more cost-effective than traditional combined heat and power plants and fuel oil-fired stations, including by reducing the cost of fuel delivery.

Small modular nuclear reactors are based on the most common type of reactor in the nuclear power industry today, the pressurized water reactor (VVER). Their operating principle involves heating pressurized water through contact with honeycomb-structured fuel assemblies. A key component of such an assembly is the mixing grid, which is designed to enhance coolant mixing and reduce uneven thermal flow characteristics. On the other hand, bubbles form on the surface of the fuel elements (which make up the assembly), which can lead to boiling zones and overheating. Therefore, the second objective of upgrading the mixing grid, in addition to enhancing heat transfer, is to eliminate these boiling zones.

The uniqueness of the SPbPU team's development lies in the fact that they are the first in the world to design a new product directly for production using 3D printing. Traditional manufacturing technologies based on the processing of solid metal sheets have exhausted their potential for further efficiency gains. Additive manufacturing, on the other hand, allows for the creation of parts with complex internal geometries, the optimization of which significantly improves the hydrodynamic and heat-removal properties of the grid. Ultimately, the use of modernized mixing grids will reduce the cost of generated electricity by 5%.

The development of small modular nuclear reactors is a long-term project, actively supported by the state through its programs. Achieving technological leadership is impossible if we only address current challenges. Furthermore, Russia is currently implementing the national project "New Nuclear and Energy Technologies," which, among other things, aims to ensure sovereignty in the nuclear sector and develop small modular reactors, notes Nikolai Efimov-Soini, Deputy Director of the Computer Engineering Center at the Advanced Engineering School "Digital Engineering" at SPbPU.

SPbPU engineers are designing a mixing grid using the CML-Bench® digital platform for developing and applying digital twins. This platform is unparalleled in Russia in terms of the volume of digital and design solutions it offers (over 375,000), including for the nuclear industry. Using advanced digital twin technology not only reduces the cost of product development and production but also significantly reduces the number of required full-scale tests by conducting a large number of digital tests on specialized rigs and testing grounds.

The project is scheduled to last three years. Currently, the scientists are developing a digital design methodology that will determine all necessary parameters (including physical ones), their mutual influence, and the final result, as well as an improved design of the mixing grid itself with improved target function performance.

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.

Polytechnicians presented cutting-edge developments at the Metal Expo 2025 exhibition.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University participated in the Metal-Expo 2025 international industrial exhibition, presenting the latest solutions in laser, additive, and materials technologies. The university's exhibit attracted significant interest from the professional community and became a significant event for the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials, and Transport.

Anatoly Popovich, Director of the Institute of Metallurgy and Metallurgy at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Chief Designer, and Head of the Key Scientific and Technological Area "New Materials, Technologies, and Production," participated in the roundtable discussion "Metallurgy Today and Tomorrow. Challenges of the Modern Age," organized by Rosatom's Mechanical Engineering Division.

Anatoly Anatolyevich focused on SPbPU's leadership in engineering education in Russia. Currently, the Polytechnic University's educational model includes a multi-tiered training model with the ability to choose an educational pathway tailored to the needs of a specific employer. At the same time, the industrial partner is actively involved in the educational process at all stages, including developing requirements (professional competencies) for graduates during the curriculum design stage, participating in the admissions campaign (promoting applicants, implementing targeted recruitment, organizing seamless pathways in collaboration with affiliated colleges), organizing practical training at the enterprise, and conducting joint R&D.

A representative example is the corporate track created as part of the pilot five-year bachelor's degree program in the 22.03.01 "Metallurgy" program. This program includes both theoretical training with opportunities for networking and additional skills development at Cherepovets State University, as well as a six-month internship with the opportunity to gain a vocational qualification.

The Polytechnic's stand featured projects from three of the institute's research divisions: the Laser and Additive Technologies Research Laboratory, the Lightweight Materials and Structures Laboratory, and the Mechanical Engineering Technologies and Materials Research and Education Center.

Specialists from the LiAT Research Laboratory demonstrated industrial prototypes created using laser cladding, hybrid laser-arc welding, and direct laser deposition. The solutions presented included refurbished gas turbine engine components, power and aviation parts, and complex geometry samples manufactured using additive manufacturing methods.

Researchers from the Lightweight Materials and Structures Laboratory demonstrated a wheel rim printed using WAAM technology for the Magnetic Hydrodynamics Research and Production Center. It boasts increased strength and reduced weight. Forum participants also noticed a gas turbine impeller manufactured using WAAM technology for Gazprom PJSC as part of the Priority 2030 federal program. Creating the impeller using electric arc melting reduces production costs and allows for rapid configuration changes.

The Scientific and Educational Center "Mechanical Engineering Technologies and Materials" presented samples grown using selective laser melting (SLM). The developments showcased at IMMiT demonstrate its high potential for developing engineering solutions for power engineering, aviation, metallurgy, and industrial robotics.

The awards ceremony for the winners of the Young Scientists competition took place at the exhibition. This program gives talented specialists the opportunity to establish themselves, showcase fresh ideas, and introduce innovative technologies to metallurgy. Eight students and postgraduates from IMMiT were named laureates: E. O. Frolova, M. V. Larin, D. V. Kurushkin, S. A. Kuzin, L. S. Zhukova, K. A. Egorova, E. V. Volokitina, and A. A. Ananyev.

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.

"Kupecheskoe Razdolye" won: Polytechnic students won the Governor's Culinary Cup

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Egor Ivanov and Ekaterina Romanova, students of the Institute of Secondary Vocational Education at SPbPU, won the 5th St. Petersburg Governor's Cup "Best Junior of St. Petersburg Cuisine 2025."

Professional chefs and students (juniors) from St. Petersburg, Moscow, Orenburg, and Kostroma participated in the anniversary Governor's Cup.

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University was represented by students from the Institute of Secondary Vocational Education, Yegor Ivanov and Ekaterina Romanova. They demonstrated excellent professional preparation and determination in a thrilling competition.

The competition task involved preparing "Novomikhaylovsky cutlets" and a dessert—two dishes from St. Petersburg cuisine, served in a restaurant setting, using recipes from 19th-century cookbooks. One of the requirements was to use a specific list of ingredients, such as chicken and fresh lemons.

The competition jury consisted of leading chefs, restaurateurs, and recognized experts in the culinary arts and hospitality industry from St. Petersburg and other regions of Russia. Among the jury members were ISPO teacher Tatyana Tsvetkova — expert of the "St. Petersburg Cuisine" project and curator of the St. Petersburg Museum of the History of Public Catering.

Our talented juniors presented a set of dishes called "Merchant's Expanse." To prepare the main course, "Novomikhaylovsky cutlets with mashed potatoes, wine apples on a cheese bed, and creamy mushroom sauce," we adapted Pelageya Alexandrova-Ignatyeva's recipe from the book "Practical Foundations of Culinary Art." The chicken was chopped using a food processor rather than by hand, the cutlets were baked in a combi-oven, and served as a side dish: mashed potatoes with sautéed onions garnished with olives; apples poached in dry red wine with sugar; cheese mousse with fresh dill; choux pastry chips; and a creamy mushroom sauce made from dried porcini mushroom powder.

The "Catherine's Ring" dessert was based on Ignatius Radetsky's recipe for "Viennese Sponge Cake" from the book "St. Petersburg Cuisine." It was complemented with a ring of mango mousse, frozen in a blast freezer, strawberry sauce, and mascarpone cream for a delicate touch. It was garnished with mint leaves, blueberries, and dragon fruit cubes, representing the dice on the merchants' tables.

The jury praised the originality of the concept and execution. As a result, Yegor and Ekaterina became winners of the 5th St. Petersburg Governor's Cup "Best Junior of St. Petersburg Cuisine – 2025."

Egor Ivanov shared his impressions of the competition with us: "I'd like to commend the top-notch organization. It was very important for me to participate in the Governor's Cup final, as our institute is actively developing "St. Petersburg cuisine." The path to victory was very challenging: passing an internal selection process, searching for and refining historical recipes numerous times. My greatest thanks go to my assistant, Ekaterina Romanova, as well as the entire coaching staff for their collaboration, and to the students, faculty, and my family for their help and support.

Teacher Anna Selifontova and mentor Alexander Kulgin organized and prepared the students for the competition. They made a significant personal contribution and demonstrated exceptional skill during training and in developing the competition dishes. The institute also thanks Tatyana Pishtokova, Head of the Department of Catering, Economics, and Service, for the opportunity for students to prepare for and participate in professional skills competitions, and Nikita Baklanov, a student, for his assistance in organizing and assembling the team.

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.

The first training course in Russia for "qualified customers and contractors" was held at the Polytechnic University.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) has completed a unique continuing education program, "Qualified Customer – Qualified Contractor: Digital Modeling in Industry." The program was developed by experts from SPbPU and the Institute of Problems of Regional Economy (IPRE RAS) with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science and the Priority 2030 program. The program was led by Yuri Fomin, SPbPU Vice-Rector for Research.

The program's primary objective is to improve skills in developing technical specifications for digital modeling projects in industry and to train qualified university specialists. Particular attention was paid to the application of artificial intelligence in digital modeling processes.

The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Denis Sekirinsky, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Stepan Kalmykov, First Vice-Rector of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University Vitaly Sergeev, Director of the Institute of Regional Economic Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexey Shmatko, and others.

At the President's direction, we are implementing a major program to develop a talent pool for management in science, technology, and higher education. The fourth cohort has already launched. The program proposed by Polytechnic University should be a key operational and substantive element of the extensive personnel work we are undertaking at the President's direction as part of the Decade of Science and Technology, Denis Sekirinsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, told the program participants.

The speaker hoped that the audience would not only gain relevant knowledge and make useful connections, but also hoped that the training would provide impetus for the development of new projects for the benefit of Russian industry. The program is aimed at training key specialists—"qualified customers"—who are able to competently formulate technical specifications for the most complex research and development projects. Without these skills, Russia will not achieve technological leadership.

The very concept of a "qualified customer" was enshrined in the federal law "On Technology Policy in the Russian Federation" in 2024. However, St. Petersburg Polytechnic University has been building its interactions with high-tech companies through the format of qualified partnerships for a long time. Moreover, we not only adapted to the new norm, but also developed and successfully defended our own proven model of such partnerships at a strategic session before the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. Therefore, the development of our course is, on the one hand, timely, as it ultimately allows both customers and contractors to operate under the same concepts and speak the same language. On the other hand, it is a significant step in formalizing the very concept of a "qualified customer" and a direct consequence of our previous work, commented Yuri Fomin, Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU, on the relevance of the course.

A total of 68 applications were submitted for participation in the program, of which 30 were selected—representatives of academia (including representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science's personnel reserve), high-tech and knowledge-intensive businesses (for example, Gazprom Neft, Power Machines, and JSC UEC-Klimov), and the Ministry of Education and Science's personnel reserve.

A qualified client isn't just about science and development. We believe that any technology implementation should be accompanied by qualified training. Formulating a comprehensive request that integrates all aspects is the goal of developing technical specifications for students, added Dmitry Tikhonov, Vice Rector for Continuing and Pre-University Education at SPbPU.

Over the course of four days, participants attended lectures on computer modeling of materials and industrial AI. In particular, Alexander Sitov, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee for Industrial Policy, Innovation, and Trade, delivered a lecture on the role of the state in forming strategic partnerships between qualified customers and scientific organizations. Alexey Borovkov, Director of the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School and Chief Designer of the key scientific and technological area of "System Digital Engineering," spoke about the role of qualified customers and contractors in implementing advanced digital technologies at enterprises, presenting the experience of the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School.

The course's students also participated in discussions on the role of the state and grant funding mechanisms. They engaged in practical work in teams supervised by leading scientists, including experts from Skoltech and the Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia.

Additionally, program participants visited Geoscan's high-tech UAS production facility. As a result, program graduates acquired key competencies in developing technical specifications for complex research and development projects, deepened their knowledge of computer modeling and industrial artificial intelligence, and explored grant funding mechanisms. Through practical teamwork under the guidance of leading scientists and visits to high-tech production facilities, they learned how to build effective industrial and educational partnerships to achieve technological sovereignty in accordance with the requirements of the "qualified partnership" concept.

Participating in the program was a truly meaningful and practical experience for me. It provided a clear understanding of how clients can effectively work with contractors, and how contractors can accurately interpret the client's needs and offer well-founded solutions. The combination of analytical sessions and practical case studies was complemented by teamwork on preparing technical specifications for research and development, which allowed me to go through the entire process—from problem formulation to structuring requirements and coordinating the parties' positions. Understanding the university's role as a platform for experts, project teams, and industrial partners to meet was particularly important. I am grateful to the organizers for the high-quality content and practical focus of the training," said Leyla Gamidullaeva, Head of the Management and Public Administration Department at the Institute of Economics and Management at PSU.

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.

NSU scientists are creating a system for modeling the search for and determining the properties of new materials.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Specialists at the National Technology Initiative (NTI) Competence Center for "Modeling and Development of New Functional Materials with Predetermined Properties" at Novosibirsk State University have received a registration certificate for a computer program—a prototype software suite capable of integrating multi-scale atomistic modeling methods into a single platform. Its use will allow scientists to more quickly and accurately predict the properties of new materials. The development was carried out as part of a project funded by the National Technology Initiative Foundation.

"Modern computing technologies are advancing rapidly, and numerical modeling methods are advancing alongside them. Atomistic modeling methods, from quantum and classical molecular dynamics to Monte Carlo simulations, occupy a special place among them," said Vladimir Andryushchenko, PhD, a research fellow at the NTI Competence Center at NSU.

The above approaches, according to the scientist, are attractive because they are based on fundamental physical laws—classical and quantum mechanics. In practice, they allow for highly accurate calculations of processes occurring in matter at the atomic level, as well as predictions of certain macroscopic properties of the material. However, to date, each of these modeling approaches is implemented in separate, specialized programs, which require highly skilled and time-consuming work.

"A researcher has to work with a whole 'zoo' of programs, each with its own syntax and data format. As a result, a significant portion of time is spent on routine calculations and transferring information between programs. We set ourselves the goal of combining various approaches in a single system that would minimize errors and facilitate the work of a materials scientist or chemist," explained Vladimir Andryushchenko.

The software package being developed should not only integrate existing methods but also include elements of intelligent support. A recommendation module is being developed to help the user select optimal algorithms and calculation parameters.

"The user specifies the material properties to be determined and the required calculation accuracy, and the program, based on the embedded algorithms, suggests which methods to use. For example, whether molecular dynamics calculations with a classical potential are sufficient or whether the potential should be generated using machine learning methods. This approach significantly simplifies the modeling process and improves the quality of the results," the scientist noted.

The NSU NTI Competence Center team is currently finalizing the technical specifications and expanding its functionality. The prototype software package already enables calculations of gas and liquid interactions with various surfaces, as well as the study of the properties of carbon nanotubes and certain high-entropy alloys.

"We expect to release a full-fledged version of the program, which will enable us to solve a wide range of problems in materials science, within the next two years. Engineers, chemists, and researchers will be able to use it as early as 2026," added Vladimir Andryushchenko.

According to the developers, the project arose from the practical needs of the researchers themselves. The NSU team initially focused on modeling the properties of alloys and carbon materials, and during the process, they realized the need to create a tool that would automate some of the computational procedures and simplify data analysis.

The new software suite has the potential to become a universal tool for a wide range of industries—from energy and microelectronics to medicine and aerospace. The ability to predict the properties of materials before they are synthesized significantly reduces development time and costs, and also mitigates the risk of experimental failure. Such approaches are already being widely used in the creation of heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant alloys and carbon composites.

"We're focusing on the practical challenges researchers face. This software suite is being developed to make their lives truly easier," Vladimir Andryushchenko emphasized. "The more types of materials and calculation scenarios it can cover, the greater its value for science and 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.

Sergey Golovin, Director of the NSU Advanced Engineering School: "We have a whole range of formats for successful collaboration with large businesses."

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

A strategic session, "Tools for Creating Technology Development Plans in the Oil and Gas Industry," was held as part of the "Golden Valley 2025" scientific and industrial forum organized by Novosibirsk State University and supported by Gazprom Neft. Sergey Golovin, Director of the NSU Advanced Engineering School, moderated the session and commented on the event's results.

"The session was dedicated to discussing tools that allow you to understand the challenges facing large oil and gas companies, delve into these challenges, find applications for your ideas within this framework, or identify challenges you'd like to solve yourself. Then, test your solutions in collaboration with company specialists, create your own startup, secure grant or venture funding, and, ultimately, bring your product or solution to market," said Sergey Golovin.

He estimates that NSU currently has a full range of tools to complete each of these stages. These include the "Challenge Showcase" platform, launched by Gazprom Neft, which allows external developers to closely and productively collaborate with the company to assess its challenges and develop their own solutions.

Next, the opportunities offered by Industrix—a technology accelerator program launched by Gazprom Neft to identify, develop, and implement new solutions in the oil and gas industry—come into play. It allows for initial ideas to be tested and refined, including through pilot testing at the company's facilities, and, crucially, to confirm market demand for the proposed developments and potential investment.

The NSU Startup Studio, which recently emerged within the university's infrastructure, offers effective formats for launching new projects, helping to attract venture capital investment. And, of course, traditional mechanisms such as various types of grant funding remain.

"As a result, we're getting a comprehensive package of project support at all stages. And now the only thing needed is simply our active involvement in generating ideas, creating businesses, teams, and so on. We discussed this in more detail during the session, in dialogue with representatives of our industrial partners. Students were also present, and it was clear they were interested in this work and saw how these opportunities could be exploited. It's a shame there weren't as many students, but I think we need to more actively promote such events among them, because this is a huge window of opportunity for young professionals, launching their careers, and we must definitely take full advantage of it," concluded Sergey Golovin.

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.

The 8th All-Russian Student TIM Championship concluded 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.

Teams from 10 Russian universities participated in the championship: in person—SPbGASU, NNGASU, PNRPU, TIU, TSU, DVGUPS, and Vyatka State University; and remotely—NRU MGSU, SUSU, and TGASU. Each team worked on seven key competencies: architect, designer, heating and ventilation engineer, water supply and sanitation engineer, electrical engineer, estimator, and TIM coordinator.

Based on the expert jury's assessment, the SPbGASU team won the team championship, scoring 570.23 points.

The team from the Nizhny Novgorod State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (NNGASU) took second place.

Third place went to the team from Tyumen Industrial University (TIU).

Winners in the team nomination: 1st place — SPbGASU • architect — Yana Safonova • designer — Vasily Goryunov • OV engineer — Nikita Ufimtsev • VV engineer — Egor Kvasha • electrical supply engineer — Sergey Sergeev • estimator — Andrey Orlov • TIM coordinator — Grigory Vorozhtsov

2nd place – NNGASUMilana Sergeeva, Alexey Bezborodov, Alexander Larin, Anastasia Moseeva, Andrey Kostikov, Ruslan Nabiev, Ekaterina Zakharova.

3rd place – TIUDaniel Oksanen, Ivan Makagonov, Evgeny Malygin, Igor Kazachkin, Anna Yarullina, Andrey Zhidaykin, Kirill Ivanov.

Winners of individual competencies

Best Team Coordinator: 1. Ekaterina Zakharova (NNSUACE) 2. Kirill Ivanov (TIU) 3. Nikita Protskikh (TSUACE)

Best estimator: 1. Matvey Abramov (SUSU NRU) 2. Andrey Orlov (SPbGASU) 3. Ruslan Nabiev (NNGASU)

Best Heating and Ventilation Engineer:1. Nikita Ufimtsev (SPbGASU)2. Alexander Larin (NNGASU)3. Egor Izmestyev (National Research University MGSU)

Best Water Supply and Sanitation Engineer: 1. Egor Kvasha (SPbGASU) 2. Anastasia Moseeva (NNGASU) 3. Ivan Utrobin (PNRPU)

Best designer: 1. Vasily Goryunov (SPbGASU) 2. Igor Dodchuk (TSU) 3. Kirill Kanyukov (Vyatka State University)

Best Architect: 1. Yana Mishova (TSUACE) 2. Daniel Oksanen (TIU) 3. Yana Safonova (SPbSUACE)

Best Electrical Power Engineer: 1. Anna Yarullina (TIU) 2. Sergey Sergeev (SPbGASU) 3. Andrey Kostikov (NNGASU)

The championship concluded in a celebratory atmosphere. The ceremony was attended by the event's partners, who support the development of digital design and annually help build a professional community of young professionals. Representatives of the partner organizations addressed the participants with parting words, congratulated the winners, and noted the students' high level of technical preparation.

Victoria Vinogradova, Vice Rector for Continuing Education at SPbGASU, addressed the finalists with a welcoming speech, emphasizing the importance of the championship as a practice-oriented platform for training future specialists in the construction industry. "The TIM Championship is an opportunity to prove yourself in an environment as close as possible to real-life project work. It's not just professional knowledge that's important, but also the ability to work in a team, make decisions, and adapt to complex challenges. All participants demonstrated a high level of preparation and a desire to continue developing," noted Victoria Vinogradova.

She thanked the Championship's partners and presented the winners and runners-up with commemorative prizes and diplomas, thanking the teams and mentors for their outstanding results and contribution to the development of digital technologies in construction.

Denis Nizhegorodtsev, Director of the Digital Competencies Educational Center at SPbGASU, noted that the championship once again confirmed its importance as a platform for developing professional skills: "The TIM Championship allows students to apply their knowledge in practice, work in a team, and develop a comprehensive approach to digital design. This experience shapes future industry specialists," he asserted.

The organizing committee has approved the results and will soon send information about the winners to the State Information Resource on Individuals with Outstanding Abilities.

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.

The first St. Petersburg Forum of Continuing Professional Education was held at the Polytechnic University.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The first St. Petersburg Forum on Continuing Professional Education was held at the Polytechnic University. It focused on the practical development and implementation of continuing professional education programs based on Russian software. Participants explored the potential for integrating IT companies into the educational process, platform solutions, and teacher training to jointly shape the educational technology market of the future.

The forum was held as part of the "Priority 2030" strategic academic leadership program, where the creation and development of new models of continuing professional education is one of the university's priority areas of development. In this context, participants were presented with promising developments at SPbPU, including proprietary software simulators for engineering training, specialized educational kits for specialized schools, and adapted professional retraining programs for SVO participants. These projects demonstrate the transition toward creating a comprehensive ecosystem of practice-oriented educational products aimed at ensuring the country's technological sovereignty.

The forum was attended by leading experts in continuing professional education, representatives of executive authorities, leading domestic software developers, representatives of public organizations, universities, colleges, and schools.

"The role of continuing professional education has significantly increased, and without its development, it's impossible to quickly overcome staffing shortages. As a university actively working in this field, we recognized the acute need for a unified discussion platform in St. Petersburg—this is what prompted us to initiate this forum," emphasized Dmitry Tikhonov, Vice-Rector for Continuing and Pre-University Education at SPbPU.

The forum's key event was the plenary session, which featured speeches by Andrey Lavrov, Senior Director of the National Research University Higher School of Economics; Mikhail Shepel, Vice-Rector for Continuing Education at Tomsk State University; Ekaterina Sklyarenko, Head of Marketing at hh.ru Northwest; and Olga Chebunina, CEO of Agropromtsifra JSC and Deputy Chair of the Agricultural Research Center. During the panel discussion, participants discussed labor market trends, the digitalization of education, and ways to integrate continuing education into the educational process.

Continuing education isn't just a way to enhance knowledge, skills, and competencies; it's a way to solve business problems. Universities are now creating problem-based continuing education. When a business encounters a problem, the university finds solutions and immediately trains employees to do so. We believe this model of continuing education is very promising, noted HSE Senior Director Andrey Lavrov.

In today's world, new technologies are emerging at a rapid pace, so it's important to quickly adapt specialists to these changes. DPO programs are very helpful in this regard, emphasized Olga Chebunina, CEO of JSC Agropromtsifra and Deputy Chair of the Agricultural Research Center.

Following the plenary session, work continued in thematic sections, where discussions of DPO issues became more substantive and focused on specific areas.

Leonid Potapov, Head of ITAT Educational Program Development at Gazprom Neft, moderated the breakout session "Engineering Technologies and Domestic Software." The discussion focused on creating a holistic ecosystem for IT personnel training. Key aspects included integrating Russian software into educational programs and developing a practice-oriented approach to teaching. Particular attention was paid to building effective collaboration between universities and businesses to develop relevant competencies in students, as well as independent assessment of specialist qualifications through a voluntary certification system. All of this is aimed at developing a sustainable talent pool for the industry in the context of import substitution.

Dmitry Tikhonov, Vice-Rector for Continuing Professional Education at SPbPU, moderated the track "Continuing Professional Education as a Tool for Implementing National Projects and Achieving Technological Leadership." The track discussed the systemic role of continuing professional education in addressing large-scale national challenges. A key focus of the discussion was the need to develop a unified state-corporate architecture for continuing professional education, ensuring the standardization of competencies and the development of networked educational models. Participants emphasized that achieving technological sovereignty is impossible without close integration between the government, business, and educational institutions.

Pavel Kozlovsky, the project's chief engineer and the Scientific Laboratory for Strategic Development of Engineering Markets at the St. Petersburg Polytechnical School, moderated the section "The Production Framework for Continuing Professional Education." The key topic was building close integration between manufacturing companies, corporate clients, and educational institutions to develop practice-oriented programs. Participants emphasized the importance of adapting educational content to current technological trends, including the integration of domestic digital solutions and the development of data skills. This, taken together, forms a solid foundation for training highly qualified next-generation engineering professionals.

The "Innovative Educational Technologies in Continuing Professional Education" track discussed the practical application of modern digital tools to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of learning. Denis Kirikov, CEO of the Unmanned Aviation School, moderated the session. Participants examined specific case studies—from a management decision simulator for knowledge-intensive industries and virtual labs for engineering disciplines to the use of autonomous robots in education—demonstrating how these technologies are transforming the educational process.

The discussion focused on the development of an adaptive and practice-oriented training system within the "Characteristics of Modern Cybersecurity Education in an Industry-Specific Context" track. Denis Ivanov, Associate Professor at the SPbPU Higher School of Cybersecurity, moderated the session. A key topic was the need for close synergy between universities and the business community to develop educational programs that not only provide fundamental knowledge but also address specific industry requirements. Participants placed particular emphasis on integrating domestic solutions and standards into the educational process, which enables the development of specialists prepared for work in an import substitution environment and able to meet the challenges of modern cybersecurity.

A significant highlight of the forum was a large-scale exhibition area, showcasing developments from both the Polytechnic University itself and leading industry companies. SPbPU presented its solutions from the Advanced Engineering School, the Higher Engineering School, the Institute of Secondary Vocational Education, the Higher School of Power Engineering, and the Physics Department. External vendors included Bazalt SPO, UAVPROF, MGBOT, Razvitie, and Medviar. Visitors were able to not only learn about the latest developments in educational technology but also test them in real time, allowing them to evaluate the practical value of the solutions presented.

The forum also saw the signing of significant cooperation agreements. SPbPU and WINNUM, a developer of domestic software and equipment for digital production monitoring based on Industrial Internet of Things technologies, entered into a partnership agreement. This collaboration will enable the development of modern forms of supplementary education, the creation of new-generation research laboratories, and the incorporation of unique knowledge into the educational process.

The strategic alliance with Basalt SPO was also strengthened. At the ceremony, leading faculty members from the SPbPU Higher School of Engineering received "Basalt SPO Certification Expert" certificates, making Polytechnic the first educational center in Russia capable of certifying faculty for authorized training on the company's products. These agreements laid the foundation for training a new generation of IT specialists and developing the Industrial IoT.

Special attention was given to continuing professional education for participants in the special military operation. A comprehensive approach to supporting military personnel and their families was discussed at the closed panel entitled "SVO – Service, Labor, and Return to Civilian Life." Of particular importance in working with veterans is the creation of a comprehensive system of professional adaptation, where training programs are directly linked to subsequent employment. Irina Drozdenko, Director of the Leningrad Region Multicenter for Social and Labor Integration, participated in the discussion and presented a comprehensive support model that unites educational institutions and social services into a single coordination mechanism. The discussion focused on interagency cooperation and the development of personalized career paths to ensure a smooth and successful transition for military personnel to civilian professional activity.

The 1st St. Petersburg Forum on Continuing Professional Education allowed representatives of educational organizations and businesses to exchange experiences and find solutions for improving the quality of continuing professional education programs and their implementation in all sectors.

The forum's key objective was to bring together representatives from government, educational institutions, industry, and software vendors. This allowed participants not only to present their models and mechanisms but also to collaborate on new ideas. Another key goal was to create a strong partnership between qualified customers and qualified providers. This approach is critical to accelerating the market entry of continuing education programs, noted Dmitry Tikhonov.

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.

Representatives of SPbGASU attended a seminar on university youth policy

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Alexander Samodolov (sixth from left) and Irina Nuryeva (seventh from left) among the seminar participants

On November 12–13, a seminar on youth policy and educational activities was held at the Kazan Innovative University named after V. Timiryasov (KIU). The event was attended by Irina Nuryeva, Head of the Youth Policy Department at SPbGASU, and Alexander Samodolov, Deputy Dean for Educational Work at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Urban Management.

Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia, addressed the seminar participants with a welcoming speech. "I'm pleased that we have so many different universities and that we're getting to know each other, as this is very important for our community. This perfectly captures the phrase 'We are different, we are equal, we are together.' Unity and diversity give us strength," she said.

Participants discussed issues of civic and patriotic education of youth, working with student families, and studied the experience of the Tatarstan Volunteer Center. During the seminar, KIU Vice Rector for Youth Policy Ruslan Zagitov spoke about the university's internal system for motivating students to engage in extracurricular activities.

"Participating in the seminar allowed us to approach youth development issues from a completely new perspective. Sharing experiences with colleagues from different regions helped us develop an understanding of promising areas and effective methods. We explored various practices, and I would especially like to highlight the importance of discussing mechanisms for fostering youth civic identity," Irina Nuriyeva shared her impressions.

It should be noted that in 2025, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, a series of events was held aimed at presenting best practices in the field of youth potential development for leaders and specialists overseeing educational work and youth policy at universities.

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.

Internship for KRSU teachers and students at the Polytechnic: exchange of experience and skills

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

As part of the implementation of the "Roadmap" of joint activities between SPbPU and KRSU for the development of engineering education at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University named after B.N. Yeltsin, a scientific and educational internship was held for faculty and students from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering and the Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Construction at the institutes and laboratories of the Polytechnic University.

Eight faculty members, a graduate student, and eleven students spent a week actively collaborating at four SPbPU institutes: Civil Engineering, Physics and Mechanics, Computer Science and Cybersecurity, and Mechanical Engineering, Materials, and Transport. Each had their own, yet highly intensive, internship program. For the faculty, this included familiarizing themselves with the laboratories, studying teaching materials, and coordinating plans for joint work and projects. For the students, this included working in the laboratories, attending lectures and practical classes in their respective fields, and learning about the work of SPbPU's industrial partners.

Teachers and students from the "Construction", "Technosphere Safety", "Architecture" and "Architectural Environment Design" departments of the Federal Agency for Architecture and Construction of KRSU completed internships at the Civil Engineering Institute.

The internship began with an official meeting with the institute's leadership, which was attended by KRSU faculty members: Department of Ecology and Emergency Management (Head Erik Mambetov and Associate Professor Ermek Sharsheev); Department of Construction (Head Elmira Sardarbekova and Senior Lecturer Ivan Chernykh-Rashevsky); and Department of Architectural Environmental Design (Head Beisen Kariev).

The Civil Engineering Institute was represented by Marina Petrochenko, Director; Maxim Terekh, Deputy Director for Academic and Methodological Work; Asiyat Eliseeva, Deputy Director for Academic Process Organization and Student Affairs; Yuri Lazarev, Director of the Higher School of Public Administration and Design; Galina Kozinets, Director of the Higher School of Public Administration and Design; Andrey Andreev, Director of the Higher School of Technical and Architecture; Margarita Perkova, Director of the Higher School of Design and Architecture; and Mikhail Romanov, Responsible for International Affairs at the Institute of Civil Engineering. The guests were introduced to the infrastructure and key areas of educational and research activities at the Institute of Civil Engineering, exchanged information on research areas and educational opportunities for joint activities, and discussed organizational matters.

KRSU faculty held a series of meetings and joint working sessions with colleagues from relevant ISI Higher Schools. They discussed joint research, the implementation of educational programs within the framework of academic mobility, inter-university interdisciplinary final qualifying theses, and also worked on joint publication and project activities.

A meeting was organized for KRSU students majoring in Technosphere Safety with Mikhail Ryabukhin, head of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps, and Oleg Savoshinsky, head of the SPbPU Civil Safety Department. The students also visited the St. Petersburg State University of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia named after Hero of the Russian Federation, General of the Army E. N. Zinichev.

A master class on modeling buildings and structures using construction information modeling technologies, a master class on laser scanning, and a master class on visualizing design concepts using neural networks were organized for students majoring in Construction and Architectural Environment Design. KRSU students began implementing the first project of the student design bureau, sponsored by the IRBIS engineering corporation.

Beishembek Ashirbaev, Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, completed an internship at the Institute of Physics and Mechanics at SPbPU. Over the course of a week, colleagues from KRSU visited the institute's laboratories and participated in scientific seminars at the Higher School of Applied Mathematics and Computational Physics.

A meeting was held with Maxim Frolov, Director of the Higher School of Applied Mathematics and Computational Physics, and Konstantin Kozlov, Head of the Applied Mathematics and Computer Science educational program. The partners discussed the program's implementation and the potential for KRSU undergraduate students to complete a semester-long internship within the program.

KRSU representatives visited the Mathematical Biology and Bioinformatics Research Laboratory. They were shown equipment used to extract plant and fungal DNA. They discussed technologies for obtaining experimental data and its mathematical processing using machine learning. They also visited laboratories at the Higher School of Applied Mathematics and Computational Physics, where they learned about the operating principles of wind tunnels and shock tunnels and were shown several experiments.

A seminar on current research topics was held with the participation of Maxim Frolov. Faculty from the Institute of Physics and Mechanics presented their priority research areas, tasks, and projects to their colleagues from Kyrgyzstan. Another seminar was led by Sergei Lupulyak, Head of the Virtual Simulation Research Laboratory at the Institute of Physics and Mechanics. The seminar discussed the development of software for modeling various physical processes in the petrochemical, gas, and aerospace industries.

"Transport Process Technologies" and "Software Engineering" are two other areas where KRSU students and faculty have completed internships.

The internship for third-year undergraduate students of the Faculty of Engineering and Materials Science of KRSU, Ariadna Aksenova and Yulia Klets, lasted two weeks and took place at the Higher School of Transport with the participation of specialists from the Laboratory of New Materials and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (for the Aircraft, Shipbuilding, and Innovative Transport Industries) of the Institute of Metallurgy and Transport.

Students gained unique experience and new professional skills, actively engaged in building traffic models, which allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of traffic flow dynamics and the impact of various factors on their operation. The knowledge gained will form the basis for further study of complex transportation systems and the development of effective solutions for traffic optimization.

Furthermore, the students mastered geographic information systems, enabling them to visualize and analyze spatial data related to transport infrastructure. Introduction to transport macromodels was an important part of their training, as they enable higher-level traffic flow forecasting and informed decision-making in urban planning and transport management. The skills and knowledge they acquire will contribute to their professional development and prepare them for a successful career in transportation engineering.

The issue of adapting and aligning the curricula of SPbPU and KRSU in the areas of "Transport Process Technology" and "Transport Logistics" was also addressed. Dmitry Glazunov, Professor of the Department of Automobile Transport at KRSU's Faculty of Economics, held several meetings with Alexey Grachev, Director of the Higher School of Transport, and Dmitry Plotnikov, Associate Professor at the School. Glazunov learned about the infrastructure of the higher school, the course work plans for the educational areas, and discussed with colleagues options for aligning the curricula in the specialized areas to enable KRSU students to complete a semester of study at the Polytechnic University as part of the network educational program.

Tariel Jalalbekov and Eldin Nazhimidinov, two first-year undergraduate students from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering at KRSU, spent two weeks exploring the educational and scientific opportunities at the Polytechnic University. As part of the advanced IT education program "Development of System and Application Software for Modern Information Storage and Transmission Systems," implemented by the Higher School of Software Engineering at the Institute of Information Systems and Computer Science at SPbPU, the KRSU students attended lectures and workshops on algorithmization and programming, and participated in seminars organized by the program's industrial partners.

The students also learned about the Polytechnic's history, campus, and infrastructure. Following their first year at KRSU (2025/26 academic year), the possibility of organizing a semester-long course for these two students at the Polytechnic University in the same advanced IT education program will be considered.

In parallel with the student educational internship, Natalia Lychenko, Head of the Department of Information and Computational Technologies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering at KRSU, completed an internship at the Higher School of Software Engineering at the Institute of Software Engineering and Science. She studied the curricula and teaching materials for the Software Engineering program to more fully and seamlessly integrate the respective educational programs at SPbPU and KRSU. An agreement was reached to further develop a networked master's program and a joint undergraduate program in Software Engineering, with the potential launch of both programs in the 2026/27 academic year. The master's program will include lecturers from the Polytechnic University, while the undergraduate program will include one to two semesters of full-time study at SPbPU.

We highly value our partnership with the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University and are pleased with the successful completion of the internship. During this week, KRSU faculty not only exchanged professional experience but also began implementing research initiatives. It was especially valuable that the students immediately applied their acquired knowledge to a real-world project at IRBIS Engineering Corporation. I am confident that such educational projects make a significant contribution to strengthening international cooperation and training highly qualified specialists for the construction industry, noted Marina Petrochenko, Director of the Institute of Civil Engineering.

On the final day of the internship, a working meeting was held via videoconference between Yuri Fomin, Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU, and Evgeny Shekunov, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at KRSU. Representatives of SPbPU and KRSU research groups involved in joint research projects also participated in the meeting. The colleagues discussed the current results of the SPbPU-KRSU Roadmap activities related to research, agreed on work plans for the remainder of the year, and outlined promising activities for 2026.

All faculty and students of the B.N. Yeltsin Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University received certificates of completion of a scientific or educational internship at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic 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.