The future of education today: St Petersburg University reveals AI assistant for universities

The meeting gathered over 60 students from different universities in Greece. Valeriia Stoliarova is Assistant Professor in the Department of Informatics at St Petersburg University, Junior Research Associate in the Laboratory of Applied Artificial Intelligence of the St Petersburg Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences. During this event, she emphasised the significance of advancing modern technologies in the educational sector. Valeriia Stoliarova elaborated on how artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionise traditional teaching approaches. 

"The subject of artificial intelligence and its application in various fields remains highly relevant. Recognising the potential of AI in education is crucial as it can enhance educational standards and broaden access to learning opportunities. I am therefore glad that students from different cities of Greece are interested in the achievements of Russian science in the field of artificial intelligence," Valeriia Stoliarova noted. Additionally, she emphasised that modern systems that use innovative technologies have the capability to analyse educational and scientific texts. This analysis enables them to identify key concepts, associate them with user inquiries, and notably expedite the learning and research procedures.

The Representative Office of St Petersburg University in Thessaloniki, Greece, has been working efficiently on the basis of the Centre of the Russian Language and Culture "Russian Word" since October 2019. Its primary objectives are fostering international educational collaboration and showcasing the educational, professional, and research competencies of St Petersburg University.

During the webinar, the central focus was on exploring the functionality of the Telegram bot "AI assistant for universities". It is based on the cutting-edge Russian neural network GigaChat, designed to tackle a range of academic tasks from essay writing to image creation. Valeriia Stoliarova highlighted that the purpose of the bot is to simplify the process for users seeking information on administrative and organisational matters linked to educational institutions, thereby streamlining the educational procedures. She remarked, "Students frequently spend substantial time on sourcing answers to queries, even in routine circumstances encountered during their university studies. With the aid of the developed AI assistant, responses can now be acquired within seconds." 

Valeriia Stoliarova, Assistant Professor in the Department of Informatics at St Petersburg University, highlighted the bot’s capability to analyse inquiries and present information in a user-friendly manner. For instance, it can suggest the most relevant sources for exam preparation, reinforce acquired knowledge, or assist in organising academic research. Parents keen on their children’s prospects can discover prospective employers for graduates. Prospective students can inquire about specific fields of study and promptly receive a list of universities and academic programmes. Students encountering challenges with failed tests or exams can receive recommendations for their next steps. Furthermore, teachers can inquire about incentives and acquaint themselves with the remuneration policy within the educational institution. 

Moreover, at the event, students displayed a keen interest not only in the technical aspects of using artificial intelligence but also in the ethical considerations associated with its incorporation into educational and professional domains. These concerns ranged from safeguarding data confidentiality to contemplating the possible effects of AI on employment opportunities.

To date, nine representative offices of St Petersburg University have been opened in: the Republic of Korea (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies); China (Harbin Institute of Technology); Spain (the Cultural Foundation "Russian House in Barcelona"); Italy (the University for Foreigners of Siena); Greece (the Centre of the Russian Language and Culture "Russian Word"); Thailand (Walailak University); Iran (the University of Tehran); Moldova (Slavonic University in the Republic of Moldova); and Uzbekistan (the Navoi Free Economic Zone).

On the basis of the St Petersburg University representative office in Greece, annual state testing in Russian as a foreign language is conducted. Students actively participate in the St Petersburg University International Online Olympiad and international events in a variety of fields, ranging from documentary film festivals to linguistic conferences. Collaborating with the Centre of the Russian Language and Culture "Russian Word", online courses on Russian-Greek history and the exploration of national traditions are currently under development, alongside specialised academic programmes in translation tailored for Greek specialists. International students are also provided with the opportunity to visit St Petersburg University, with educational trips arranged specifically for this purpose.