During the official opening, Vladimir Knyaginin addressed the Conference participants.,
The Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg: "You are motivated by your interest in developing your professional workshop, the organizations you represent, and the Russian professional education sector as a whole. We are waiting for professional recommendations from you. Broad discussions allow us to build a common understanding. A common understanding is a step towards making accurate decisions."
В ходе официального открытия к участникам Конференции обратился Владимир Княгинин, вице-губернатор Санкт-Петербурга: «Вами движет заинтересованность в развитии своего профессионального цеха, тех организаций, которые Вы представляете и в целом сферы профессионального образования России. Мы ждем от Вас профессиональных рекомендаций. Широкие дискуссии позволяют нарастить общее понимание. Общее понимание - шаг к принятию точных решений».
In his welcoming speech to the participants of the event, Rector of St. Petersburg State University of Economics Igor Maksimtsev emphasized: "I think that you and I will form concrete proposals. We all want Russia, the CIS countries and our friendly countries, which are also participating in our work today, to become stronger and more powerful. I am sure that the results of our discussions will be in demand."
The Architecture of University Education Conference brought together representatives of leading universities, business and government, becoming a space for dialogue on the transformation of higher education. The cross—cutting topic of all discussions was the development of human capital as a key task and the highest goal of the university system.
Participants and experts analyzed the challenges of digitalization and proposed new formats for interaction with employers, the development of continuing education systems and support for the professional and personal growth of students and employees. The importance of joint efforts in building a sustainable and adaptive educational environment was emphasized. Today, a university is not just an educational organization, but a platform that unites science, education, and upbringing, technologies and corporate practices that work towards the formation of sustainable human capital.
Today, there is a demand for the university as a community in which not only a professional, but also a citizen is formed. At the same time, the effectiveness of internal quality systems directly depends on leadership, team engagement, and dialogue with the external environment — employers, regions, and the state.
Special attention was paid at the Conference to the role of science in ensuring technological sovereignty and the development of engineering and economic education. In this regard, large-scale initiatives have been launched to create unified digital spaces and standardize solutions that can be replicated at the federal level. All this requires rethinking partnerships — flexible, personalized, and focused on long-term human development. Investments in additional professional education were considered as a tool for rapid response to the needs of the labor market, as well as as a space for building flexible and individual development trajectories for future specialists.
An important place in the program was occupied by the Youth Block - the All-Russian Foresight Workshop "Warehouse logistics of the oil and gas business". The youth block combined educational modules, practical cases, and strategic expertise and student teams from 15 universities in the country.
The workshop has become an example of effective partnership between business and universities, as well as a platform for the formation of professional skills that are in demand today. The youth acted as a full-fledged co-author of future solutions in key technological areas and worked out scenarios for the transformation of warehouse infrastructure.
Already today, the future is being projected with the intellectual capital of those who will soon embody this future.
During the 2 days of the Conference, more than 15 professional events took place: a plenary discussion, 9 discussion platforms, a closed meeting of the working group within the framework of the federal innovation project on engineering economics, a press conference, a youth block, 2 educational seminars, and a professional development program.
Alexander Beglov, Governor of St. Petersburg, sent greetings to the participants of the Conference: "St. Petersburg's intellectual potential allows us to discuss the strategy of human capital development. I am sure that you will propose new ideas for the integration of science and education, in accordance with the requirements of the labor market, state interests and public demands."
The Conference was attended by more than 500 delegates from Russia, Belarus and Uzbekistan. The regional representation is increasing every year, this year it has increased by 10%, and the number of senior and first-level managers has increased by 25%. For the first time, delegates from the Kemerovo and Ryazan regions participated.
The eighth national conference with international participation "Architecture of University Education: Strategies for the Development of Russian Human Capital" was held from April 17 to 18, 2025 at the Presidential Library and St. Petersburg State University of Economics.
"WITHOUT HUMAN CAPITAL, A BREAKTHROUGH IS IMPOSSIBLE"
Vladimir Putin