Human capital development in the era of digital transformation: St Petersburg University hosts the 9th Labour Forum

The St Petersburg International Youth Labour Forum at the Mikhailovskaya Dacha campus of St Petersburg University traditionally opens the largest event in the field of labour economics and the exchange of best HR practices. At the plenary session ‘The young generation as a driver of labour market transformation’, representatives of St Petersburg University, executive authorities, public organisations, and business will share their opinions on: how well academic programmes meet the demands of the labour market; how new technologies change employers’ skills requirements; how young people adapt to digitalisation; and how the values and expectations of young professionals influence their choice of profession and career path. 

The key theme of this year’s forum is ‘Human capital: investing in the future’. 

Leading scholars from St Petersburg University will present the results of research in the field of work and labour psychology, talk about the social responsibility of business in the new economy, the peculiarities of legal regulation of new forms of employment and remote work, and the impact of AI and automation on the labour sphere. The St Petersburg International Youth Labour Forum will also host a scientific conference titled ‘Human capital ecosystem: new forms of cooperation and interaction’. 

The participants in the Youth Labour Forum will be able to visit the St Petersburg University Spring Career Day and interact with representatives of major Russian and international companies and government agencies, and take part in training sessions, business games, and workshops. 

The 9th Labour Forum will host an international scientific and practical conference titled ‘Human capital: education, work, and employment in modern society’, organised by St Petersburg University with the support of the State Labour Inspectorate in St Petersburg. Its programme can be found in the attached file here. The plenary session will be opened by Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University. Leading occupational safety and health (OSH) experts and scholars of St Petersburg University will discuss: the new meanings of work and employment in the development of human potential; strategies of professional self-fulfilment; regulation of labour migration under the pressure of sanctions; corporate social responsibility in improving OSH standards; and other issues. 

Today, computer technology affects all areas of society, and work processes are no exception: digitalisation has made it possible to minimise the risk of occupational accidents and increase the intensity of work. Increased demands for occupational safety have led to a growing demand for academic programmes and online courses in this area. St Petersburg University’s experience in developing these will be shared at the panel discussion ‘Adapting occupational safety standards to new realities: from theory to teaching’ by Ruben Karapetyan, Director of the Graduate School of Occupational Safety at St Petersburg University. 

In the context of dynamic changes in the present-day labour market, companies are faced with the need to revise their approaches to human resources management: to ensure business competitiveness, it is necessary to invest resources in employee recruitment and development. Irina Shoshina, Professor at St Petersburg University and Chair of the Scientific Committee in the field of cognitive sciences, will present the possibilities of introducing innovative approaches to personnel assessment for successful human resources management during the scientific session ‘Personnel management of the future: integrating neuroscience into the processes of employee assessment and development’. 

This year’s Labour Forum programme includes a new track, ‘Our own’, dedicated to building the careers of participants in the special military operation and supporting their families. The participants in the business breakfast ‘Issues in re-socialisation and rehabilitation of special military operation veterans’ will discuss how to ensure the restoration of not only the physical health but also the psychological state of veterans returning from the combat zone, as well as their integration into society and return to normal civilian life. Lidiia Soprun, Associate Professor at St Petersburg University and epidemiologist at the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies of St Petersburg University, will take part in the discussion. 

The Labour Forum will host an award ceremony for the winners of the HR Brand contest, which this year includes a special nomination, ‘Responsible employment of teenagers’. It was created by the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Russian Federation, the Centre for Applied Sociology at St Petersburg University, and the Sociological Clinic of Applied Research at St Petersburg University. The nomination is aimed at developing youth employment in Russia and supporting organisations that implement vocational guidance and employment programmes for young people. 

The forum will also include panel discussions and round tables at various academic departments of St Petersburg University. Future economists, sociologists, lawyers, and other students who wish to express their views on the challenges of the present-day labour market will be invited to take part in these discussions.