St Petersburg University opens the Centre for Online Non-Degree Programmes for managers

The development and implementation of the programmes of the Centre is an important part of the GSOM SPbU Development Strategy until 2025.

Effective short courses of the Centre will assist students in acquiring knowledge and skills in key managerial, functional and digital competencies in management. A convenient online form gives an access to the best international practices in education and business for companies from all regions of Russia and member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The educational products of the Centre will make it possible to ensure a high level of mastering the programme even in case of simultaneous training of a significant number of students.

The average growth rate of the online education market in the world is 20-30% per year. The task of the business school is to set a high educational standard in this field based on its own scientific base and extensive experience in business education.

‘In the corporate environment, a request has been formed to increase the level of education of line managers and department heads. Here at the Graduate School of Management, we have combined our scientific base and the practical experience of experts from leading companies. As a result, we have got a unique educational product where theory meets practice, which is convenient for adapting to specific business tasks. And most importantly, managers who have completed the training will be able to immediately apply effective modern tools in their current work,’ said Iuliia Timofeeva, Director of the Centre for Online Non-Degree Programmes.

The Centre has already successfully launched the following programmes:

• Management Essentials — fundamentals of managerial skills for newly appointed managers (the programme won the Smart Pyramid Award in the "Best Online Learning Programme" category)
• Digital Essentials: Digital Transformation — competencies in the field of digitalisation to improve the quality of investment decisions
• Digital Essentials: Data Analysis — theoretical knowledge in the field of data analysis and practical skills for its implementation
• Finance Essentials — fundamentals of finance for managers of non-financial professions who regularly interact with the financial function

Pilot projects of the programmes have been implemented at such companies as Sistema, Gazprom, VTB Bank, Lanit Group of Companies, and the Federal Tax Service of Russia. The first results showed a high level of satisfaction of students with the quality of content and support (98%), and the share of those who completed the course was 100%. This is significantly higher than the average market indicators.

‘100% completion rate is an unprecedented figure for an online programme, since on average only 59% of students reach the final of training. Such high indicators are achieved, among other things, due to the institute of tutors who: are interested in the results of each individual student; guide them through the course; motivate them; answer questions; and help them complete the training,’ Iuliia Timofeeva explained.

In 2022, the Centre for Online Non-Degree Programmes will offer the market new programmes in digital competencies, project management and soft skills.