On April 8, the expert group of the Social Centre began working at Saratov State University. During three days, SSU is to host the project session of the operator of the Priority 2030 programme of the Russian Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Its main purpose is to assess the progress of the programme and the work of the team as part of the project, as well as outline prospects for further development of the key areas.

The expert team consists of:

- an expert of the Social Centre, Candidate of Technical Sciences (Chemical Technology) Alexei Kuzmin;

- Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of Volgograd State Technical University (Volgograd), Associate Professor of the Department of Materials Science and Composite Materials, Candidate of Technical Sciences (Materials Science) Alexander Fetisov;

- Head of the Research-to-Development Department of Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (Arkhangelsk), Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (Physical Electronics) Sergei Ryabchenko.

The first meeting with the project team had taken place online a few days before the experts arrived. They discussed the issues related to the implementation of the SSU strategic projects. It was also about the university requests on focusing on the project session. It was decided to concentrate on the issues connected with the university partnership in the implementation of the Programme.

At the meeting on April 8, Rector Alexei Chumachenko marked the SSU staff was ready for fruitful work with experts. ‘The Priority 2030 has successfully set up the university staff to actively participate in the implementation of the programme. Saratov State University has always been doing high-quality fundamental research, and over the past two years, SSU has shown good dynamics in the development of applied areas of science. Due to the interaction with federal experts and the Russian Ministry of Higher Education and Science, we have restructured the university research, as well as improved the cooperation with partners and interdisciplinary work at the university.’

The expert of the Social Centre Alexei Kuzmin noted that he would like to involve the SSU staff in a detailed study of the Priority 2030 programme, taking into account the tasks of the university. ‘In the next three days, you will indulge into the work of the university strategic projects, consider the development programme thoroughly, and understand how to make organisational changes for its sustainable improvement. Every year, the requirements for the university are growing, and our main task is to try to figure out how to continue dynamically developing the university and fulfil all the plans of the Priority 2030. Surely, task-oriented communication at the design and analytical session will help unite with SSU in the long term.’

He defined the key guidelines of the project session namely human capital management, the systemic organisation of the university, and the development of partnerships. Due to it, the university will successfully meet the requirements of the Russian Ministry of Higher Education and Science.

Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of Volgograd State Technical University Alexander Fetisov noted that the experts in 2023 had helped to work out the task in more detail for the current project session.

Head of Priority Projects and Programmes, SSU, Elena Yelina pointed out that the six teams of the project session had included both experienced and young SSU staff who implement stratprojects, manage finance, partnership, affairs, and do research at the university. The participants will be able to discuss the SSU development programme, offer their ideas on key areas, and receive an assessment from the Social Centre experts.

This year, the groups will focus on the following areas – Partnership Management System, Scientific Policy: Research and Development, Strategic Projects: Impact on External Cooperation, Strategic Projects: Impact on the University, Educational Policy, and Target Model, Management System, and Financial Policy.

The members of the session will present their developments on the projects proposed by the experts in four cycles – Current Projects, Target Model, Problematisation, and Organisational Solutions.

The session will last for three days. It is planned to visit the laboratories and the centres, show the university development program and the presentations of the Social Centre experts on the Priority 2030 strategic academic leadership programme, as well as discuss the results of the work.

The expert groups of the Social Centre will last at Saratov State University until April 10.