Fifty high school students from schools in the Belgorod and Kursk regions — participants in the University Shifts educational and career guidance project — have arrived at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University. This is already the University’s second group of “temporary students” this year. In June, the programme was attended by students from the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.
At Saint Petersburg Mining University, the outcomes of this year’s first season of the federal project ”University Shifts” were finalized, featuring the participation of 45 tenth-grade pupils from the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. The participants were able not only to rest but also to feel like students of a top-tier higher educational institution: to acquire new knowledge, interact closely with professors and university students, and—for some—to firmly decide on their future profession.
The programme aims to give teenagers aged 14–17 an opportunity to learn more about different professions and immerse themselves in a new academic environment. Experience shows that after completing the programme, students’ attitudes towards learning change dramatically: subjects such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics, which may initially seem difficult, become much more engaging.
Over the next 12 days, the participants will have an opportunity to experience student life at Russia’s oldest technical university, stay in a student residence, and communicate with graduates who have already built their careers. They will learn about the history of mining, explore the opportunities and prospects offered by engineering education, and discover the diversity of engineering specializations.
The University’s management and the participants’ supervisors welcomed the guests in the historic hall of the Mining University. The supervisors will assist the students and accompany them throughout their stay until their departure.
- This is where the higher engineering school was born, and cadet corps officers once studied in this very hall. Interestingly, in the past, obtaining an officer’s rank required several years of work in industry — and today we are returning to this system in the training of young specialists. We are proud of our traditions and our moral code. If you see young people wearing our uniform in St Petersburg, know that they are ‘miners’ who will always be ready to help. We are known both in Russia and abroad, and we consistently rank among the world’s top five technical universities, - said Vladimir Borzenkov, Director General of the International Competence Centre for Mining Engineering Education under the auspices of UNESCO.
Dmitry Tananykhin, Vice-Rector of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, added that mining today is very different from what engineers imagined a century ago, although the foundation laid by the great pioneers remains unshakable. Nevertheless, in the 21st century, high technologies, IT, automation, and artificial intelligence are playing the leading role.
-That is why we have tried to make the programme as practical as possible. You will see how modern enterprises operate, how digital twins are being introduced into production, and how environmental standards are becoming an integral part of engineering solutions. I would like to emphasize that engineering is not simply a profession; it is a way of thinking. It is the ability to identify a problem, analyse it, and find an effective solution that benefits society. We want you to leave here not only with new knowledge, but also with a clear understanding of what you are capable of achieving.
The programme developed for the University Shifts participants by leading professors of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University is indeed unique. It is not a repetition of the school curriculum, but an immersion in real-world engineering challenges.
- This approach allows us to overcome the barrier of ‘academic isolation,’ when a school student sees only a textbook rather than the real economy. We give them an opportunity to experience the full scale — from a drawing on a computer screen to a multi-tonne machine operating in the extreme conditions of the Far North, - explains Yury Zhukovsky, Dean of the Faculty of Energy and academic supervisor of the University Shifts programme at the Mining University.
On the very first day, the school students were taken on a tour of the Mining University’s key laboratories. They were shown equipment used to model deep drilling processes, introduced to robotic systems, and told how modern digital technologies make it possible to control processes hidden kilometres below the surface. The guests also visited the Mining Museum, one of Russia’s oldest museums.
Until October 2, the school students will take an intensive express course featuring lectures on electric power engineering and mechanical engineering, practical sessions, exercises using mining machinery simulators, hands-on work in the laboratories of partner companies, and educational trips. The programme is designed to demonstrate the multifaceted nature of the mining engineer’s profession — from design and economics to machinery operation.
The educational programme covers three areas: energy, automation, and additive technologies. The key partner of the programme will be BELAZ, while the school students will be invited to take on the role of design bureau employees. The senior students will attend specialized workshops and lectures on computer modelling in industry and information security at industrial facilities, discuss the skills required of future engineers, and analyse real-world cases. They will also have an opportunity to communicate with BELAZ employees, including the chief designer and the head of the strategic development department.
- We will show that a modern engineer is not a narrow specialist, but a person capable of working on complex projects. Students often graduate from university and feel lost because, during their studies, representatives of different specializations — electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and programmers — have little interaction with one another. Our programme eliminates this gap, allowing school students to try themselves in the role of participants in a real production process in advance, - explains Yury Zhukovsky.
The programme also includes a visit to a unique training site operated by another academic partner of the Mining University, PJSC Rosseti Lenenergo. It features specialized equipment that enables professionals from various electrical engineering fields to acquire the necessary skills in conditions close to those encountered in real-world operations. The young participants will be shown how modern energy systems are designed and operate, which is particularly important as modern mining machinery is becoming increasingly electrified.
And, of course, the teenagers will visit the Sablino Research and Education Facility, where Mining University students undergo practical training and learn to work with the most advanced equipment.
- During trips like these, school students begin asking the right questions: ‘Why exactly this material?’, ‘How will this system be maintained at -50°C?’, ‘What data does this automation system collect?’ This is the first sign that a child’s engineering mindset has been awakened, - says Yury Zhukovsky.
The educational module will conclude with a case study based on a real-world trend — the mining industry’s expansion into northern regions. Teams will be asked to think creatively and propose modifications to the design of a machine so that it can operate efficiently in the Arctic zone in autonomous mode with minimal human involvement.
The academic programme will be complemented by sports and wellness activities prepared by Mining University students and coaches: ballroom dancing and first-aid workshops, swimming and water polo sessions, and yoga. Representatives of the student community have prepared activities of their own — a creative evening, a media workshop, an intellectual quiz, and the “Muzmotiv” music game. Particular attention will be paid to the development of so-called “soft skills”. The participants will take part in training sessions on communication and project management.
The Centre for Student Creativity has also prepared its own programme for the guests. The school students will be introduced to the basics of jewellery making and enamelling, learn about 3D printing, and work with stone. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, they will make souvenirs with their own hands — pendants, key rings, and other items.
And, of course, the participants of the programme will have the opportunity to explore St Petersburg through walks and excursions. In addition to the Hermitage and Peterhof, they will visit the unique natural landmark of the Sablino Caves and an oceanarium.
Participants in the University Shifts programme shared their first impressions:
Ulyana Svekolnikova, an 11th-grade student at School No. 3 “Bolshaya Medveditsa”, Belgorod:
- This is my first time taking part in the University Shifts programme. I had to go through a competitive selection process, which required me to write an essay about what I want to become and why it is important. I wrote that I plan to become an economist, but I am also interested in the technical field. I am glad that the programme includes aspects such as the economic justification of projects. This is important so that students can understand the technical complexity and life cycle of equipment. Overall, the programme is very interesting; it is a great opportunity to immerse yourself more deeply in a particular field. I used to think that mining engineering and geology were something very distant from me. But after the museum tour, I started wondering: perhaps I should reconsider my views? Maybe mining is more interesting than economics. I want to figure that out over these two weeks!
Alexander Ryazantsev, School No. 59, Kursk:
- I am interested in engineering and programming, and I came here to learn more about the specializations offered here. I am considering computer science. I hope that over these two weeks I will be able to decide where I want to go. It is important to me that a university gives students a clear understanding of what they can do with the knowledge they gain after graduation. If a university meets modern requirements, I am ready to study there. I know that students here study for 5.5–6 years. I consider that a plus. If the programme is genuinely high-quality and provides a solid foundation, then that time is justified. The main thing is to see the prospects and understand that you are not simply ‘spending’ those years, but becoming a specialist who will be in demand on the labour market.
Alexander Lata, Belgorod:
- In the 10th grade, I chose a social and economic profile, but by the end of the year I realized that it was not for me. Now I really want to develop in engineering, and I am actively studying physics because it is one of the core subjects in this field. The Mining University really impressed me with its rich history and excellent infrastructure. Most importantly, the University is among the world’s top five in its field and trains the ‘elite of engineering’. That is a high status, and I would definitely like to become part of this community.
The University Shifts project was first launched in 2022. Its organizers are the Movement of the First, together with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), and the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation.
