Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University hosted the ‘Komi: A Region of Action’ career forum. It brought together 190 students from the north studying at 24 universities in Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. The event was held with the support of the Representative Office of the Komi Republic in the Northwestern Federal District.
According to the organisers, their main aim was to help young people take the first steps towards future employment in their home region. Guests included representatives of the regional government and leading organisations: VorkutaUgol, Gazprom Transgaz Ukhta, LUKOIL and the Northwestern Bank of Sberbank PJSC.
Mining University Rector Vladimir Litvinenko welcomed the forum participants. He recalled that Komi had historically developed around coal mining and that, during the Great Patriotic War, miners’ labour underpinned the country’s energy security. Today, however, the region’s subsoil resources remain insufficiently developed, despite their immense wealth: rare-earth metals, gold, vanadium, manganese and other resources. The Rector expressed the hope that most of the young men and women would return to their home region after graduating.
- Your region is exceptional. In my view, however, only 5–10% of its potential is being used today. Once oil was found in your region — and Ukhta oil was historically the first in Russia — geological work was almost entirely abandoned. At one time, attempts were made to formulate a development strategy, but it remained unfinished. Komi has unique deposits, possibly of tantalum — currently the most valuable rare-earth metal. But this requires work. The future depends on each of you. With the region’s support and your own diligence, you have every opportunity to achieve what matters most: to find your calling and become truly passionate about your work, - Vladimir Litvinenko told those present.
Главная тема проходящего в городе на Неве ПМЭФ в 2026 году — «Прагматичный диалог — путь к стабильному будущему». Участники делового события обсуждают, как ускорить технологический прогресс и добиться глобальной стабильности, которая во многом зависит от рационального управления минеральными ресурсами. В рамках общей стратегической повестки как никогда актуальным стало подписание соглашения о сотрудничестве между Санкт-Петербургским горным университетом императрицы Екатерины II и Республикой Коми.
Sergey Emelyanov, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Komi Republic, conveyed greetings from the Head of the Republic, Rostislav Goldstein. He invited the students to consider undertaking practical placements in the republic — at enterprises, government bodies and public institutions — so that they could work in their chosen field and gain experience before graduating.
- Komi is setting itself new economic objectives today, and we have a great need for young professionals. As you approach your final thesis defence, be sure to consider undertaking a practical placement in our republic. We are ready to facilitate this and offer you guidance and support – Sergey Emelyanov noted.
The forum’s extensive programme included business simulation games, workshops on CV writing and self-presentation, and networking — making useful contacts and building professional connections. Depending on their specialism, participants could choose one of six tracks: ‘Young Teachers’, ‘Young Government and Municipal Administrators’, ‘Young Entrepreneurs’, ‘Young Engineers’, ‘Young Scientists’ and ‘Youth Media’. On each track, they met representatives of relevant organisations from the Komi Republic, ranging from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology.
Following the forum, each participant received an individual invitation to undertake an internship from the Public Youth Career Centre at the Representative Office of the Komi Republic in the Northwestern Federal District.
- Many interesting speakers have gathered here today: representatives of government, business, youth policy and the media. I am sure there will be plenty of new contacts, valuable experience and direct dialogue with experts. We have a very strong community of people from our home region. I am from Syktyvkar, and almost all my friends in Saint Petersburg come from different parts of Komi; we maintain very close ties. It is wonderful that my university works closely with my home region. For example, a unique agreement was recently signed concerning the study of oil genesis in the Timan-Pechora oil and gas province, - says Vladimir Ivanov, a first-year student in specialised higher education at Mining University’s Faculty of Mineral Processing and a participant in the Young Scientists track».
Konstantin Serditov is a second-year student at the Faculty of Bioecology of Saint-Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine, studying biology and animal genetics.
- I am from Borovoy, a settlement in Ukhta. The Komi Republic is more than a region producing raw materials and extracting minerals. Reindeer husbandry and the agro-industrial sector are also very well developed. My field will therefore be in demand there; there is clearly a shortage of specialists with this profile. I decided to attend the forum to make new contacts and find career opportunities and practical placements. Of course, it would be interesting to work at leading companies such as LUKOIL and Gazprom. I know they will be at the forum today, so there will be an opportunity to speak to their representatives, and I will not miss it. I will ask whether they have opportunities and facilities for professional development in my field.
Anna Tutrinova comes from Syktyvkar and is a second-year student at the School of International Relations of Saint Petersburg State University. Her love of languages began in childhood, and in addition to four foreign languages, she knows a little Komi.
-The Komi language is a rarity today. It is not spoken much in the towns and cities, although street names and bus announcements are given in both languages. In the villages, however, Komi remains the main language of communication. I learned what I know from my father, who comes from a village and often uses everyday phrases in Komi. The rest of the family do not speak it. I love my region — its nature, cuisine and culture. But Komi’s greatest wealth is its people. There is a problem today: how to attract and retain young professionals. My specialism lies at the intersection of history, economics, law and foreign languages, so I want to work for a large international company to develop professionally. At this forum, I hope to learn more about career prospects after graduation. Perhaps I will find an opportunity for a practical placement or internship, for example in a government body in Komi, in an international relations department, - Anna reflects.
It was no coincidence that Mining University hosted the event. A year ago, the two sides signed an agreement on cooperation in education and research. Among other things, it provides for joint programmes to train specialists for the mineral resources sector, as well as efforts to attract talented applicants. In September this year, Dmitry Bratynenko, Chairman of the Government of the Komi Republic, made a working visit to the Sablino-Gorny Research and Education Centre for Technological Facilities to learn about opportunities for students of Ukhta State Technical University to receive training in additional competencies.
The Sablino–Mining Research and Education Centre for Technological Sites was visited on a working trip by Dmitry Bratynenko, Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Komi.
