Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University has launched the selection process for candidates to participate in the international professional retraining educational program "Management of Subsoil Use Facilities." The project is being implemented with the support of the International Competence Centre for Mining Engineering Education under the auspices of UNESCO.
The target audience is middle- and senior-level executives of government bodies, sectoral companies, and scientific and educational institutions of the mineral resources complex from countries of the African continent.
The selection of participants is carried out in several stages. Initial filtering is conducted by the relevant national ministries, followed by Russian state agencies, with the final interview conducted by the administration of the Mining University.
Even though the application process is not yet complete, several hundred applications spanning a very broad geography have already been received for just twenty available spots. To date, the highest number of application forms has come from the Republic of South Africa (RSA)—the most economically developed country on the continent, possessing relatively strong global positions and rich mineral resources. Sudan and Rwanda are also among the leaders in the number of applications.
«The average age of applicants is around 35, although overall the age range varies from 22 to 55. Among those wishing to take part, there are quite a few young people, including some who have not yet graduated from higher education institutions. However, important criteria for selection for the grant are industrial experience and recommendations from national sectoral ministries. The Mining University's program is positioned as an official, intergovernmental initiative implemented within the framework of the 'Russia-Africa' summit. First and foremost, we set ourselves the task of training personnel specifically at the request of partner countries. Therefore, even if a person has a strong desire but lacks either specialized education, experience, or official support, this is not sufficient», - explains Evgeny Lyubin, Vice-Rector for International Activities of the university.
Last year, funding was provided exclusively at the university's expense. This year, preliminary support was also obtained from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for the allocation of additional funding specifically targeted at this program. At the same time, during the interviews, many of the candidates stated that they are ready to consider covering all necessary expenses independently.
For example, during the interview, a leading geologist of the Geological Service of Sudan explained his initiative by pointing to the high significance of Russia’s experience in developing the mineral resources sector, as well as his desire to use the knowledge gained in the future to strengthen the sovereignty of his country and build effective cooperation with our state. Despite his age — 52 — and the seniority of his position — the third-highest position in the entire agency — he is ready to come to Saint Petersburg for an extended period.
Some of the applicants learned about the program from relevant ministries and embassies, while others found out from their colleagues who are already completing their studies this year.
For the first time, a one-year program was developed and launched by the university in September 2025. Twenty specialists from seven countries arrived in the City on the Neva: the Republic of South Africa, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Republic of Sudan, the Republic of Mali, the Republic of Niger, and the Republic of Burundi.
During their studies, the participants resided in comfortable university dormitories located in close proximity to the academic buildings. They were provided with study areas for independent preparation, as well as access to library collections and electronic educational resources.
In addition to professional disciplines, the program included a mandatory course in Russian as a foreign language, alongside disciplines in rhetoric and business etiquette. The educational component was structured on a modular principle and entailed no fewer than 864 classroom hours. Twice as much time was allocated to practical training — internships at production facilities, in laboratories, and at the university’s training and research sites.
The first stage of practical classes consisted of geophysical training at the "Kuzmolovo" facility and drilling practice at the "Sablino" training site. These facilities are equipped with equipment corresponding to real production conditions, making it possible to practice exploration and drilling skills without risks to industrial safety.
In December 2025, an off-site module took place in Moscow. The participants visited key specialized institutions responsible for regulating subsoil use and coordinating international cooperation in the mineral resources sector.
The most intensive off-site stage was a one-week internship in the city of Almetyevsk—the administrative center of oil production in the Republic of Tatarstan. The choice of location was determined by three factors: the headquarters of the "Tatneft" company is located here; directly beneath the city lies the Romashkino oil field—the second largest in terms of reserves in Russia and the thirteenth in the world; and the Almetyevsk State Technical University "Higher School of Petroleum," which trains personnel for the extractive industry, operates here.
The goal of the program is the formation of competencies across two blocks.
The technological block includes geology, exploration and evaluation of deposits, digital technologies, oil and gas engineering, mining extraction, mineral processing, metallurgy, industrial safety, and ecology.
The managerial block encompasses the economics of subsoil use, corporate finance, international reporting standards, legal regulation, risk management, lean production, and sustainable development.
Additionally, the participants completed an interactive course delivered by former Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Karin Kneissl on the topic "The Ongoing Scramble for Africa." Following the completion of the modules, all exams were passed with "excellent" marks.
Each participant completed a thesis project based on mineral samples brought from deposits in their home countries. The topics varied from the implementation of remote sensing systems for geological supervision to models of public-private partnerships in the development of solid minerals.
Upon completion of the training, the graduates will receive a diploma of professional retraining, conferring the qualification of "Master of Business Administration" in the field of managing subsoil use facilities. The document follows an international format and is issued in Russian and English.