‘Taking part in the Olympiads ensures that you can test what you know and prepare for entry to a university’: Aleksandr Babich, Vice-Rector at St Petersburg University

The Russian News Agency TASS has held a press conference that focused on developing a system for identifying and supporting gifted children and talented young people in St Petersburg. Aleksandr Babich, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Admissions at St Petersburg University, spoke about a role the Olympiads are playing in attracting talented and gifted young people. He also encouraged school pupils to take part in the University’s Olympiads.

Registration for the qualifying round of the Olympiad for schoolchildren at St Petersburg University is open until 12 January 2022. Last year, more than 100,000 schoolchildren from across Russia took part in the Olympiad. 'The Olympiad for schoolchildren at the University has a long history and traditions. It has been held since the 1930s. The first Olympiad was the Olympiad in mathematics in the Soviet Union. Today, the Olympiad covers 18 subjects and is available for schoolchildren from across Russia and over 30 countries worldwide,’ said Aleksandr Babich.

Every year, the University develops and improves teaching materials that aim to help participants better prepare for an intellectual competition and test their knowledge, said Vice-Rector Aleksandr Babich.

It is always useful to test what you have achieved and see what level of knowledge you will be required to study at the university.

Aleksandr Babich, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Admissions at St Petersburg University

Cooperation between St Petersburg University and other educational institutions ensures that future applicants have an opportunity not only to participate in the Olympiads, but also to study the material that is quite difficult to learn at school, said Aleksandr Babich. This summer, St Petersburg University signed an agreement with the Academy of Talents, which consolidates and develops cooperation in terms of identifying and supporting gifted schoolchildren. 'With the Academy of Talents, the University is carrying out a large-scale project in relation to preparation for the All-Russian Olympiad for schoolchildren. The profile-specific session “Olympic Law” and other intellectual competitions contribute to the development of talents in schoolchildren,' said Vice-Rector Aleksandr Babich.

Cooperation between St Petersburg University and the Academy of Talents is set to help gifted children who may be later among the University students and contribute to improving the teaching competencies of students who can try themselves as mentors for schoolchildren, said Ingrid Pildes, Director of the Academy of Talents. 'When a pupil is motivated and has an example of a student who is a mentor, it is easier to build a professional path. Engaging the University academic staff in this process can give tremendous results,' said Ingrid Pildes.

The press conference was also attended by: Maksim Pratusevich, Director of the Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No 239; Stanislav Moldovanov, Deputy Chair of the St Petersburg Committee for Culture; and Irina Zhuravleva, Acting Head of the Department of Educational Work and Additional Education of the Committee for Education of St Petersburg.