Nguyen Thang

— Here’s English for you. Learn it from cover to cover — I’ll come and check! — Why do we need English? — We’re going to rob an embassy! This was the motivational speech delivered by the Assistant Professor to his ”wards” in the cult Soviet comedy Gentlemen of Fortune. The takeaway: even criminals, bandits, and other “unconscious” citizens acknowledged the authority and potential of learning a foreign language.

One of the key events at this year’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum was the Russia–Africa Business Dialogue. Its central theme could be summarized as the pursuit of economic sovereignty by the countries of the African continent.

The conference “Responsibility of Global Leaders in Mineral Reserves and Extraction for the Sustainable Development of the Global Economy” brought together representatives of regulatory authorities from the Russian Federation and several African countries, companies in the mineral resource sector, as well as specialized educational and public organizations.

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the world’s largest island nation, Brian Yuliarto, paid a working visit to Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University. In January of this year, Indonesia joined BRICS and has shown strong interest in joint projects with Russia.

Domestic expertise in the field of efficient subsoil use will contribute to strengthening the technological sovereignty of the continent. Participants of the one-year full-time professional retraining program “Management of Subsoil Use Facilities” will include employees of resource extraction companies, government authorities, and universities from Africa. Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University has launched the selection process for the program.

When the scientists of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University planned their two-month trip to the People’s Republic of China, they understood that although the primary objective was scientific research, the visit would be incomplete without exploring innovative enterprises and industrial sites. Bridging the gap between fundamental science and production is a crucial prerequisite for economic development through technology transfer—something well understood in China.

In April–May 2025, nine postgraduate students from Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University completed a scientific internship at Taiyuan University of Technology. Upon returning to their alma mater, they shared the results and impressions of their trip with colleagues — deans, department heads, students, and fellow postgraduates — during an academic seminar. Setting the tone and direction of the event, the university’s rector, Vladimir Litvinenko, cited Pyotr Kapitsa: “Science must be a cheerful, captivating, and simple endeavor.”

The Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University was visited by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Trương Thanh Hoài. This visit can be considered an ”echo” of the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Tô Lâm, in May 2025, when the leaders of the two countries adopted a Joint Declaration on the main directions of Russian-Vietnamese relations in the framework of comprehensive strategic partnership.

A distinguished delegation from Taiyuan University of Technology met with the leadership of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University. The main agenda of the meeting was the creation of a joint educational institution that will train engineering specialists for both countries.

A crucial indicator of economic development is the amount of energy required to produce one unit of gross domestic product. For example, simply replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs can reduce lighting costs by eight times. This is just one of many ways to improve energy efficiency.

In early May, 16 first- and second-year students from Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University became the first in Russia to complete a scientific internship in Iran. Shiraz University organized a lecture course on cybersecurity for the future specialists, and professors from the university discussed scientific projects with the young St. Petersburg students, some of which have already begun or are planned for international collaboration.

Young scientists from St. Petersburg have been interning in the People’s Republic of China for over a month. In addition to conducting joint research with colleagues from Taiyuan University of Technology (TYUT), they continue to intensively explore the country’s manufacturing sector by visiting landmark enterprises and industrial sites. Next on the list is TZCO, one of the largest factories in the country for the production of mining and construction equipment.

Iran and Russia share a similar aspiration — to actively develop science and industry under the conditions of Western sanctions. However, the Islamic Republic has significantly more experience, given its 44 years of living under restrictions and without access to advanced foreign technologies. Russia and Iran are now working together on promising projects, with the collaboration between Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University and Shiraz University playing a special role in this process.

Students of the first and second years at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University became the first in Russia to complete an in-person scientific internship at Shiraz University in Iran, conducted in English.

Less than two months remain until the awarding of diplomas at Russian universities. The labor market will be replenished with thousands of engineers, but not all of them will be in demand by multinational companies.

In June 2021, a major accident occurred on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the United States due to the thawing of permafrost. The pipeline supports began to bend, creating a risk of rupture. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources responded to this challenge by installing thermosstabilizers on the pipeline. These contain a refrigerant that helps maintain the low temperature of the soil around the support.