Advisory Board of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University assesses 2024 results and outlines 2025 development priorities
A meeting of the Advisory Board of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University (GSOM SPbU) has been held in Moscow. The University experts, along with representatives from authorities and the business community, reviewed the year’s results for 2024, approved the primary areas of the business school’s strategy for 2025, and laid the groundwork for the development of the new GSOM SPbU Strategy 2030.
In his opening address, Sergei Ivanov, a graduate of St Petersburg University, Chairman of the Advisory Board of GSOM SPbU, Member of the Board of Trustees of St Petersburg University, and Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport, commended the business school’s achievements in 2024.
The Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University confidently maintains its status as one of the leading business schools both nationally and globally. This is evidenced by the top positions of its academic programmes in the Forbes Education, EdUniversal, and RAEX rankings.
Sergei Ivanov, a graduate of St Petersburg University, Chairman of the Advisory Board of GSOM SPbU, Member of the Board of Trustees of St Petersburg University, and Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport
"The Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University continues to deliver high-quality education, a fact attested to by both graduates and employers. We proudly hold our 'triple crown' of international accreditations. The business school sets a high standard for the entire business education system in the country, not only producing top-tier specialists but also implementing large-scale projects focused on the sustainable development of territories. A year ago, at the meeting of the Advisory Board of GSOM SPbU, the initiative proposed by the Governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Mikhail Kotyukov, to collaborate with GSOM SPbU was supported and launched. GSOM SPbU and the Krasnoyarsk Krai Administration have made significant progress — a three-year cooperation plan aimed at benefiting the development of Krasnoyarsk Krai has been approved and is now being implemented," said Sergei Ivanov.
Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev underlined that the high rankings of the Graduate School of Management in global lists are a testament to the outstanding work of the University’s academic community.
We are proud of this success and believe that the best practices of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University should be applied to advance business education nationwide. Today, many practices first implemented at GSOM SPbU have been integrated into the University academic departments and are actively used to enhance the teaching and learning process.
Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University
"One notable practice is the methodology for creating a universal configuration of hybrid classrooms, which we share with other Russian universities. This contributes to the spread of a digital educational environment across the country’s higher education institutions. The approach enables St Petersburg University to meet the current demands of the state," shared Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University.
In her progress report, Olga Dergunova, Deputy President and Chairman of VTB Bank Management Board and Director of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University, highlighted that the year 2024 marked another significant milestone for GSOM SPbU in achieving its Strategy 2025. The business school showed progress in meeting its strategic goals, with a particular focus on sustainable development, digitalisation, alumni support, and the expansion of international cooperation.
The proportion of academic disciplines incorporating sustainable development topics surpassed 40%, demonstrating the deep integration of these values into the business school’s degree programmes. The increase in the number of graduates to 14,300 people (+56% compared to 2023) indicates that the educational initiatives of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University are highly sought after in the Russian education market. At the same time, we achieved key milestones in the digitalisation of academic programmes and in engaging alumni in GSOM SPbU activities.
In 2024, the number of graduates from GSOM SPbU’s academic programmes reached 14,300, marking a 56% increase from 2023. A total of 170 students were admitted to master’s programmes — the highest figure in the past six years — with 63% of first-year master’s students having a specialised academic background. Concurrently, the quality of admissions to bachelor’s programmes also improved; the average Unified State Examination score of enrolled applicants increased by four points compared to 2023, reaching 227. Sustainable development topics were integrated into the business school’s academic programmes, with the cross-cutting indicator achieving an optimal value of 40.4%.
"Create knowledge. Develop leaders. Change the world for the better. This is GSOM SPbU’s mission; and our commitment to sustainable development principles is a key part of this mission and our contribution to educating a new generation of responsible leaders. We believe it is essential to equip students with the knowledge to drive positive change based on these values. In collaboration with the business community and the government, we develop the knowledge and skills needed for our graduates to become high-profile specialists who can be instrumental in bringing positive changes in both the corporate sector and government agencies," said Olga Dergunova.
One of the year’s standout achievements was the 100% employment rate of graduates in their major fields of specialisation, made possible by integrating real-world business experiences into the teaching and learning process. St Petersburg University graduates are highly sought after across various sectors, including culture, education, and science, with many receiving job offers even before completing their studies.
This is made possible by the University’s close collaboration with partner companies. Currently, St Petersburg University has over 1,000 partnership agreements, and employer representatives are included in the councils of academic programmes. They actively participate not only in the development and implementation of these programmes but also propose topics for students’ graduation projects.
In 2024, the Teaching Excellence Lab in Business Education at the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University made significant strides: its audience reach increased by 30% compared to 2023, with over 1,000 people completing the Lab’s academic programmes in 2024. Thus, over 230 higher education institutions across the country gained access to the latest teaching methods.
In 2024, the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University was recognised as the flagship among Russia’s leading business schools with the highest global prestige by Forbes Education. It also secured the top position among business schools in Russia, receiving five palmes of excellence from the EdUniversal evaluation agency.
Additionally, in the past year, the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University took the top place in the People’s Ranking of Russian business schools, according to a survey of MBA and Executive MBA graduates conducted by MBA.SU.
Concurrently, several of the University’s management training programmes gained recognition and topped the EdUniverse rankings. Notably, the Master in Business Analytics and Big Data programme secured the 14th position among similar programmes offered by business schools globally.
The Master in Management and Master in Corporate Finance programmes were recognised among the top 5 business school programmes in Eastern Europe. Additionally, the non-degree programme "Management Essentials" received the Crystal Pyramid Award for the Best Online Learning Programme in the Higher Education Institution — Educational Service Provider category.
The integration of VR/AR technologies and gamification elements became a significant step in transforming the educational experience. Throughout 2024, the VR/AR format was incorporated into the degree programmes, with over 1,400 students participating in training using augmented reality simulators. Digital tools and gamification tools were also employed to engage with the University’s applicants. In collaboration with PJSC Gazprom, the University’s experts developed and conducted a geological Minecraft quest for school students.
During the meeting, the Advisory Board of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University highlighted key initiatives for the coming year. These include: developing innovative teaching methods and digital solutions based on artificial intelligence; strengthening cooperation with Donetsk State University; continuing projects in Krasnoyarsk Krai; and scaling up successful initiatives of the St Petersburg University Career Centre.
The primary objective for the coming year will be to develop the new GSOM SPbU Strategy 2030, which will outline further trajectories of growth and enhancing the business school’s international influence. The Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University remains at the forefront of Russian business education, poised for new challenges and achievements.