New opportunities for IT education: St Petersburg University wins federal recognition

According to the results of an expert assessment conducted by the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation along with the Analytical Centre under the Government of the Russian Federation, St Petersburg University ranked fourth among 26 universities. Experts noted its successful integration of academic education, scientific research, and practical training. Due to its efforts, expertise, and experience, St Petersburg University is recognised among the top 26 educational institutions from 13 regions of the Russian Federation specialising in information technology education.

The results of the competitive selection highlight the University’s systematic and long-term efforts. We develop academic programmes to educate specialists for various economic sectors, including IT, leveraging the research and engineering achievements of our academic staff and industry partners.

Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University, Supervisor for the grant application, which was prepared and submitted by a large team of academics and research associates from departments of mathematical sciences at St Petersburg University

St Petersburg University is actively advancing studies in the field of information technology. It has introduced the study of high-performance computer systems and expanded cooperation with the industry leaders. This enables the University to produce highly sought-after specialists. Graduates of St Petersburg University are building successful careers in leading research and technology clusters, focusing on digital production, data processing, and mathematical calculations. Their achievements validate this approach: in 2019, St Petersburg University students developed a software complex for modelling and automating the control of oil refining processes using AI tools and techniques.

To further develop the professional skills of future IT leaders, the University has established an IT and Engineering Competence Centre. This centre involves partner organisations in the educational process and offers students internship opportunities at leading IT companies, including Yandex; Sberbank Technologies; Huawei; IBM; and HP.

St Petersburg University implements an interdisciplinary approach to education, offering a diverse range of academic programmes. These include: ‘Geophysics and Computer Technologies in Data Analysis’, ‘Applied Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine’, ‘Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Technologies’, ‘Project Management in Digital Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy’, ‘Digital Technology in Linguistic Projects’, and ‘Digital Technology in Chemistry’.

The advancement of digital technologies at the University is closely linked to expert support for scientific research and technological developments aimed at tackling the pressing challenges in domestic industry. In April of this year, Professor Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, met with Eugene Kaspersky, the founder and CEO of Kaspersky Lab. Eugene Kaspersky expressed interest in attracting specialists from tech-adjacent fields. For example, he emphasised the potential of involving linguists in developing anti-spam technologies, as the company’s experts plan to use detectors capable of identifying threats in multiple languages.

Furthermore, St Petersburg University is one of the leading educational institutions in terms of funding from the Russian Science Foundation. In 2022, St Petersburg University researchers received 112 grants, and in 2023, they secured 70 grants, affirming the University’s leadership and competitive edge. Notably, St Petersburg University won the nationwide grant competition for establishing an industry research centre focused on artificial intelligence technologies. Additionally, the University emerged as a winner in the federal project ‘Advanced Engineering Schools’, leading to the creation of the Advanced Engineering School at St Petersburg University ‘Interdisciplinary Research, Technologies, and Business Processes for the Mineral Resources and Raw Materials Sector of Russia’. The primary goals of the Advanced Engineering School are to produce well-educated, highly skilled engineers and conduct scientific research.

In early May of this year, St Petersburg University reaffirmed its position as a leading centre for education in artificial intelligence. It was recognised as one of the flagship universities in the Top Data Science selection, which represents the highest qualification category for AI specialists. Maxim Abramov, Associate Professor in the Department of Informatics at St Petersburg University and Head of the academic programme ‘Artificial Intelligence and Data Science’, has been leading the Grant Application Team for both previous and current projects.

For us, this is more than just winning a competition. It demonstrates that St Petersburg University is prepared to educate a new generation of AI developers. These developers will be equipped with systematic thinking, knowledge of architectural principles, and a deep understanding of how real digital products function.

Maxim Abramov, leader of the Application Team for Grants from the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation

As part of the grant aimed at addressing the current labour market needs, from 2025 to 2029, experts from St Petersburg University will educate top-tier developers in two key bachelor’s programmes. These academic programmes, ‘Programming Technologies’ and ‘Software Engineering’, are designed with the latest IT advancements in mind. Graduates of these programmes will gain the essential knowledge and competences needed to successfully integrate into the rapidly evolving IT industry.

The project integrates academic education with practical training, featuring mandatory internships, real-world case studies, and collaboration with potential employers. One of the selection criteria was securing funding from industry partners, which underscores the business community’s demand for St Petersburg University’s academic programmes. The University’s grant application was supported by the technology company YADRO, which will engage in the teaching and learning process by offering students opportunities to tackle practical challenges, work with modern technologies, and do internships.

By 2030, the national project ‘Data Economy’ aims to have produced at least 3,500 advanced IT developers across the country.