On February 11 SSU Rector signed the cooperation agreement with representatives of PJSC “MMC Norilsk Nickel”. Before the ceremony they visited the SSU History Museum.
The meeting was also attended by Governor of the Saratov Region and Chair of the SSU Board of Trustees V.V. Radayev, State Secretary – Vice President of Government Relations at MMC Norilsk Nickel V.I. Gasumyanov, HR Director at MMC Norilsk Nickel D.A. Kryachkova, CEO of Nornickel’s Shared Services Centre (Nornickel – SSC) A.M. Lopatsinskii, local officials, staff members of Nornickel – SSC, SSU administration, professors, and students.
‘For half a year the staff members of the university and the company have developed the unique educational programme “IT-Support of Economic and Financial Company Departments”. 55 SSU students will attend that course, and the studies will be provided by the university professors and staff members of Nornickel – SSC. We believe Saratov University and Nornickel will cooperate for years, and together we will give students new opportunities in career and life,” said the ceremony host, Director of the Office of Priority Directions and Programmes M.V. Yerokhina.
SSU Rector, Professor A.N. Chumachenko welcomed the audience and spoke about the key events in the history of the last Emperor university, which will celebrate its 110th anniversary this year. The rector also reported about the university achievements in education and research.
‘There are many important pages in the history book of our university: Nobel Prize winners in physics visited SSU; a well-known geneticist Nikolai Vavilov gave lectures here; during the Great Patriotic War professors from Saratov University and their evacuated colleagues from Leningrad University worked together; after the Great Patriotic War strong electronic industry was developed in Saratov due to our researchers; our geologists found a new gas field; our students-programmers have gained the victory in world championships regularly, etc.,’ the rector marked.
Aleksei Nikolayevich pointed out that SSU had become a national research university, and this fact is the most significant for our university in the modern period. The rector reminded about recent crucial achievements of Saratov University. Thus, our leading researchers have won megagrants; new laboratories have been established due to megagrants and the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects; the university has been included into the QS and Times Rankings; SSU research journals have been inserted into the Scopus and the Web of Science databases. Moreover, A.N. Chumachenko touched upon SSU international work: the university has signed almost 70 cooperation agreements with organisations, funds, and scholarships of 26 countries.
Besides, he mentioned that the first Chair of the SSU Board of Trustees, Chair of the State Duma V.V. Volodin has always supported the university. New buildings, dormitories, and the Young Researcher House were built with his help. The governor of the region, the current Chair of the SSU Board of Trustees also plays an important role in the university life. A.N. Chumachenko pointed out that recently such a powerful company as Nornickel had become a university long-term partner, and he hoped the mutual educational project would be useful for both organisations and the Saratov Region as well.
Then Governor of the Saratov Region V.V. Radayev delivered a speech at the meeting.
‘Students of Saratov University have entered the educational programme which can help them become employees of Nornickel, and it is a key event for our region. The regional department of the company has multiplied its staff by 12 times (from 50 to 600 people) since 2017. It is planned to employ 300 more people in this year. The advantages of the partnership are the following: the most modern knowledge which can be applied at work, professional growth of the academic staff, graduate employment, and high competitiveness in the future. The project is unique because it is aimed at the business and young generation’s success. Being Governor of the region and Chair of the SSU Board of Trustees I am proud that our graduates are highly demanded in the IT-sphere. It means they and their contemporaries from the best Russian universities will head the global digitalisation and implement the national strategy,’ underlined the governor.
V.V. Radayev quoted the Russian President that ‘we need first-class researchers and personnel for our national projects so that the people will find new methods to boost economy, science, and technology in the whole country’. According to the governor, the cooperation of SSU and Nornickel contributes to such recruitment policy.
State Secretary – Vice President of Government Relations at MMC Norilsk Nickel V.I. Gasumyanov also highlighted the importance of the mutual cooperation. He noted the issues of youth policy are always in the focus of the governor’s attention.
Vladislav Ivanovich commented on the work of different company departments, its technological infrastructure, and the Nornickel’s role in the world economy.
‘This event is one of the elements of the company massive work. Our idea will be used by others in the future, and organisations will ask universities to teach students on demand. We are pioneers in that field, and we will be able to serve as an example. This partnership is very significant in terms of innovation, digitalisation, and acquiring knowledge. In addition, we establish new standards of personnel training and further company work,’ indicated V.I. Gasumyanov.
After that HR Director at MMC Norilsk Nickel D.A. Kryachkova gave a speech. The SSU History Museum made a pleasant impression on her, and on behalf of the company she said it would be glad to become a part of the university history.
In the HR director’s opinion, Nornickel has been the best employer among metallurgy companies in Russia and worldwide.
‘We understand that youth will definitely influence the future of the company. If you work here, it is not only prestigious and interesting but difficult. Our employees must perform many duties, and we help them constantly develop. Considering my own experience I think that the first working place after graduation is very important. It will influence your career in the future. And I am glad that we can give you such opportunities because our company is the best in metallurgy, finance, and IT. Due to our company you will get the best knowledge necessary for your professional sphere in a very short time,’ commented D.A. Kryachkova.
CEO of Nornickel – SSC A.M. Lopatsinskii spoke about the centre. He hoped that the future graduates of the mutual project would help make the company and the world better. Anton Mikhailovich thanked SSU Rector A.N. Chumachenko and Governor V.V. Radayev for the initiative support.
The educational programme developed by Saratov University and Nornickel was presented by CEO of Nornickel – SSC in Saratov K.V. Zakharinskaya and Head of the SSU Education Office S.V. Udalov.
‘We started developing the educational programme with Nornickel – SSC in summer. As the result, the programme contains all the information necessary for young specialists: modern knowledge in economics, financing, and SAP administration,’ marked Sergei Valeryevich.
K.V. Zakharinskaya added that labour efficiency of the company would be improved with the help of the programme. Saratov University had joined the SAP University Alliances programme, and SSU would be the only platform in Saratov like that. According to the CEO, it should help broaden the labour market in the city and prevent employee attrition from the region.
At the end of the meeting SSU signed the cooperation agreements with Nornickel and Nornickel – SSC.
It should result in HR development in the Saratov Region, make young specialists interested to work in prospective business spheres, create new working places, and provide youth with an opportunity to improve their region. The programme attendees will learn about SAP modules, SAP ERP accounting and tax accounting, and SAP HCM.
