Nguyen Thang

Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University and Taiyuan University of Technology (TYUT) have signed an agreement to establish a joint Russian–Chinese Mineral Resources Institute. This is one of the most significant examples of educational cooperation between the two countries, demonstrating a long-awaited shift from the large number of joint university projects being implemented towards a focus on quality. The document sets out the organisation’s aims and objectives, organisational structure and operating arrangements.

35 countries, 100 universities and 465 projects on smart energy, geology, climate engineering, ecology and biodiversity, chemistry of the future, mechanical engineering and other promising fields of engineering. The African Forum-Competition of Young Scientists, “Future Engineers of the World — the Foundation of Sustainable Development”, has concluded at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University.

What kinds of engineers does the world need today, who will train them and how, and what are young researchers focusing on? These and many other questions were discussed at a round table at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University. Held as part of the Russian–African Forum of Young Scientists, it brought together more than 500 participants: students, postgraduate researchers, and representatives of universities, scientific communities and public organisations from Russia and African states.

An agreement to establish a representative office of the Association of African Universities (AAU) at the National Center for Personnel and Scientific Support of the Mineral Resources Complex “Corps of Mining Engineers” was signed during the Second Russian–African Raw Materials Dialogue. This is an important step towards exchanging experience and knowledge between African and Russian universities, aligning educational standards and developing projects with a practical focus.

The Ministerial Session was the key event of the Second Russian–African Raw Materials Dialogue, held at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University. It brought together more than 70 senior representatives of relevant government bodies and the scientific and mining communities of Russia and countries across the African continent.

On Wednesday, 14 October, the Conference Hall of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University hosted the closing session of the Second Russian–African Raw Materials Dialogue, with a ceremony to adopt the declaration and sign the final documents.

This year, the now-established forum on partnership with African countries in subsoil use, hosted by Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, takes place ahead of the Third Russia–Africa Summit. The Summit will be held in Moscow on 28–29 October. It covers the broadest possible cooperation agenda, and last year the mineral resources sector was addressed only in passing. In 2026, according to Tatiana Dovgalenko, Director of the Department of Partnership with Africa at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it will be one of the central topics.

The Second Russian–African Raw Materials Dialogue, “Path of Development: Raw Materials and Personnel as the Foundation of Economic Sovereignty”, has opened at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University.

A Summer School for students from China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT, Xuzhou), a leading specialist university in China, has concluded at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University. The two-week course focused on modern technologies in the mining industry. One of the most sought-after specialisms in China is “Safety Science and Engineering”. Specialists in this field have an equally strong grasp of technology and fundamental engineering sciences, and can respond to emergencies, whether a mine accident or a fire in mine workings.

The Gorny Multifunctional Complex hosted the Interuniversity Diplomatic Assembly, a simulation based on a United Nations meeting. The participants — 143 university and school students from Moscow and Saint Petersburg with an interest in international affairs, diplomacy and public speaking — took on the roles of ambassadors and observers. Representatives of the Russian Federation, the United States, Ukraine, Israel, Türkiye, Germany, the People’s Republic of China, Greece and other countries sat down at the negotiating table.

Students of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University won the All-Russian competition for GIS project presentations “My Smart City.” Dozens of teams from universities across Russia, representing the fields of geology, ecology, mining, construction, transport process technology, cadastral registration, and land management, presented their geoinformation solutions designed to make cities more comfortable, safer, and more efficient.

Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University took part in the Russia–Vietnam Forum “Engineering Education, Science and Technology for Industrial Development”, held in Hanoi on September 21–24.

Who is a metallurgist? The recently celebrated professional holiday is a good opportunity to reflect on the essence of the profession. Under the 1834 Charter of the Institute of the Corps of Mining Engineers, the training of metallurgists was included among the mining specialties. Nothing has fundamentally changed to this day. A metallurgist remains a specialist responsible for the final stage of the technological process of obtaining the end product from mineral raw materials.

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.

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.

At Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Summer Schools for senior students from Donetsk National Technical University (DonNTU) have concluded. Similar short-term educational programmes are held at the University annually with the support of the International Competence Centre for Mining Engineering Education under the auspices of UNESCO. Upon completing the two-week programme, all participants passed an assessment and received certificates of completion in a formal ceremony.