On May 26, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Olga Petrova visited Saratov State University, where she met with the university management and the students-activists. The working visit took place on the day of the official start of the Russian Student Spring in Saratov.

The guest of honour at Saratov State University was greeted by Chair of the Rectors’ Council of Saratov Region, SSU Rector Alexei Chumachenko, Deputy Minister of Education of the region Lyudmila Grigoryeva, and Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Organisational Work Anton Golovchenko.

The event in Bldg. 10, SSU, was attended by the activists of the student self-government, the volunteers of various organisations, the participants of the World Youth Festival and the Russian Student Spring, the members of the student scientific society, the international students, the prize-winners of sports competitions, and the activists of the Movement of the First.

‘I want to congratulate Saratov on becoming the city where the Russian Student Spring is taking place. About 3,500 students have come to you – this is a great opportunity for them to get to know their peers, like-minded people. Give your guests your positive attitude and share the most positive emotions with them. I would like to thank you for your willingness to implement important youth initiatives. I hope you will remain careful as long as possible – to create, change, and overcome the impossible! By your example, you show that unity is the strength of our country,’ Olga Petrova noted.

The activists discussed with the deputy minister their participation in youth projects, shared their experience in implementing their volunteer, educational, scientific, and sports initiatives. The conversation was moderated by Maria Chevtayeva, a master’s degree student at the Institute of History and International Relations, Chair of the Movement of the First at SSU.

The students commented on the preparations for the University Shifts project in Saratov for schoolchildren from the People's Republic of Donetsk. Also, Olga Petrova presented the plans for the organisation of the PRO100 All-Russian forum, which was attended by more than 100 participants from 46 regions of the country last year.

The movement of Russian Student Brigades was discussed at the meeting – the regional headquarters of the RSB ais located in SSU.

‘More than 3 thousand members are working in several areas, including the priority ones – pedagogical, construction, and service,’ Sergei Kulik, Head of the Saratov regional branch of the RSB, a student of the Faculty of Economics, said.

Special attention was paid to the SSU Volunteer Headquarters #WEARETOGETHER, where humanitarian aid for military personnel and mobilised citizens, as well as residents of new regions, is collected. Irina Navarnova, Head of the SSU Volunteer Centre, marked that young people have joined the staff since February 2022 and are now actively continuing to help people.

At the meeting, the students shared their successful experience of participating in All-Russian youth projects. So, Olesya Simanovich, a student of the Faculty of Law, presented her project A Very Simple Discovery, which won the Your Move contest and received the prize of 1 million roubles.

‘My idea is aimed at helping schoolchildren and students to reveal their abilities and talents by conducting a contest of social videos on current public topics about patriotism and universal values. The initiative has received a wide response from my peers who want to contribute to the development of the country,’ Olesya Simanovich said.

Olga Goryacheva, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry at SSU, spoke about science among young people.

‘Due to the support of the Priority 2030 programme, the youth research office was opened at the university. Now, students have become even more active in joining science, establishing close contact with their scientific supervisors. The office conducts research in various fields – nanomaterials, analytical systems, biomedicine, quantum dots, and others. Today, scientists-to-be are mastering the writing of grant applications for internship trips and scholarships,’ Olga Goryacheva said.

A young family of SSU postgraduates, Larisa and Maxim Shipilov, told Olga Petrova about the support provided to new social units. Studying at the university provides them with various social assistance and the opportunity to live in the House of SSU Young Scientists.

The members of the SSU Sports Club spoke about the development of student amateur sports at the meeting, and international students commented on the experience of social adaptation in Russia. The participants also found out about the Abilimpics regional volunteer centre of SSU, which trains volunteers in inclusive etiquette and accompanies people with disabilities at various events.

The participants of the SSU Student Club, Alexander Zhumagaliyev, a student of the Institute of Chemistry, and Varvara Ananyeva, a student of the Institute of Philology and Journalism, spoke about the development of student amateur arts at the university.

Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, was actively interested in the details of each project, offered students her ideas for developing initiatives, and talked about existing projects of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science that can help them scale their activities.

At the end of the meeting, the participants took a shared photo.