Eight students from St Petersburg University are gold medallists of the 5th season of the Olympiad "I am a Professional"

Valeriia Kasamara, Head of the Olympiad, summed up the results of the anniversary season of the project and addressed the winners: ‘Over the past five years, we have seen different lives of our diploma winners and follow our graduates. We are not indifferent to their success. The Olympiad is not just a competition. It is a community that brings together the whole country. For someone, it is a source of inspiration, while for others, it is an opportunity to confirm their abilities, to take a step towards ambitious goals. Over five years, the Olympiad continues to become stronger. Many of us have grown up with it by participating from the first season. In the 5th season, 136 participants became gold medallists. In just five years of the Olympiad, 17,227 participants became diploma winners. We are happy to congratulate you, dear medallists, on your victory. Ahead of you are new heights, new opportunities. You are already on the right way to become true professionals!’

The All-Russian Student Olympiad "I am a Professional" is held for bachelor’s, specialist’s and master’s students at Russian universities. The aim of the project is to support talented students in different areas of study to enable them to continue their studies at Russia’s leading university or start a career in a large company. 2021 and 2022 have seen the 5th, anniversary season of the Olympiad. Participants could take part in one or even several of 72 areas from philology to robotics.

The organisers of the Olympiad are: the Association of Organisers of Student Olympiads "I am a Professional"; the Independent Non-Profit Organisation "Russia is a Land of Opportunities"; the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP); and leading Russia’s universities. Additionally, among the organisers of the Olympiad are Russia’s leading companies: Sberbank; Pipe Metallurgical Company; VTB Bank; ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation; Russian Agricultural Bank; PJSC Inter RAO; Gazprombank; AI Alliance Russia; and PJSC Polyus. The technical partner of the Olympiad is Yandex. In total, more than 500 Russian companies are involved in organising and holding the Olympiad.

The Olympiad is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The Olympiad "I am a Professional" of the Russia is a Land of Opportunity platform is part of the national project ‘Education’ of the federal project "Social Elevators for Everyone". It is included in the plan of the main events of the Year of Science and Technology.

The gold medallists from St Petersburg University are: Ekaterina Avdeeva (Law); Elizaveta Korotkaia (Ecology); Stanislav Krymskii (Mathematics); Daniil Boreisho (Law); Anna Khlystova (Design); Nikolai Chausov (Psychology); Mikhail Itkin (Philology); and Dmitrii Sharaev (Geology). In total, 35 University students won medals at the Olympiad. As a result, St Petersburg University took the third place in the medal ranking of participating universities across Russia.

The diploma winners were congratulated by representatives of Russia’s leading universities and companies-partners of the Olympiad. Among them are: Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University; and Aleksei Viktorov, Doctor of Geography, a representative of the partner organisation of St Petersburg University, a member of the Academic Council of the Russian Geographical Society, Deputy Director for Research at the Sergeev Institute of Environmental Geoscience. Marina Lavrikova awarded medallists in Philology and Linguistics. Aleksei Viktorov honoured the medallists in Geography.

Today, the ceremony has brought together the most talented and motivated young people who are the best students from different regions of Russia. You are the engine of progress, the future of our education, our science, our country. I am sure that the experience of participating in the Olympiad "I am a professional" taught you a lot. Everyone could show worthy results that you can be proud of. Let the victory inspire bright achievements in studies, science, and career. Set new goals for yourself and do not be afraid of difficulties!

Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University

The diploma winners of the 5th season of the Olympiad will receive benefits when applying for master’s programmes, doctoral programmes, and clinical residency programmes at leading Russian universities, including St Petersburg University. Additionally, they can do an internship at a major company in their area of study. The strongest participants in the Olympiad, i.e. bronze, silver and gold medallists, will also receive prizes from 100,000 to 300,000 roubles.

The award ceremony was the end of the competitive stage of the season. Yet the participants of the Olympiad are still waiting for educational and career events. On 11 to 17 July 2022, St Petersburg University will hold an Educational Socio-Humanitarian Forum. Talented students from all over the country will learn about current trends in the labour market; the development of social sciences and the humanities; and get introduced to employers in Russia.

In the 5th season of the project, St Petersburg University organised four courses. Among them are: traditionally, Law and Philology. The new ones are Linguistics and Geography. The science of state and law during all stages of the contest was the most popular among the participants.

In September 2022, a ceremony honouring the diploma winners of the Olympiad "I am a Professional" for students of St Petersburg University in all areas will be organised. The awards will be given to medallists, winners, and awardees of the intellectual contest.