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Innovations as the language of the future
On March 3, the final round of the nation-wide competition of projects in foreign languages “Innovative Solution” was held at Ural State University of Economics. Organized by the Department of Foreign Languages, the competition traditionally brought together students eager to demonstrate not only their proficiency in foreign languages but also their commitment to research and project work in the field of innovations.
This year, over 60 applications were submitted to the competition. The finalists included 25 participants from Yekaterinburg (students from USUE, UrFU, and USURT). Students from Sochi State University and Russian State University for the Humanities joined the defense online. Besides, there was a project from schoolchildren from Yekaterinburg Gymnasium No. 144.
The “Innovative Solutions” competition covers six areas: innovations in economy, education, social and legal spheres, management, and material and technical innovations. The relevance of this topic stems from the rapid pace of scientific and technological progress: under constant changes, the ability to generate and implement innovative ideas is becoming a key competency for modern professionals.
The competition final involves project defenses with option of online access and video presentations. Presentations are limited to 3–5 minutes, requiring participants to be clear in their wording, logical in their presentation, and proficient in a foreign language.
“Our department organizes this competition of projects in foreign languages annually, and this year we are pleased to welcome the finalists again. The students present projects dedicated to innovations in various fields: some analyze existing solutions while others propose their own developments. This is both a language practice and serious research, developing soft skills, and public speaking experience,” noted Irina Stikhina, head of the USUE Foreign Languages Department.
The topics of the projects presented in 2026 are diverse, reflecting a wide range of modern challenges. Participants analyzed the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of accounting, the prospects for the development of high-speed railway transport, the potential of marketplaces as innovative solutions in retail, and the role of content marketing in promoting regions. In the material and technical area, they considered neural interfaces and implants, water filtration technologies, and devices that reduce salt intake without sacrificing the taste of food. In the social and educational areas, ideas were voiced for the implementation of interactive technologies and service improvements in the restaurant and hotel industries.
Many USUE students are participating in the competitions of projects in foreign languages not for the first time. and admit that they enjoy the opportunity to show their diverse abilities and knowledge.
Kirill Kazakov, a third-year student, group GD-23: “Participating in competitions improves my portfolio, which will help me when applying for master's degree. And overall, it's just interesting! I was impressed by the variety of topics presented at the competition. I presented on content marketing as a way to promote tourism in the region and won third place."
Daniil Parfenov, group UK-24-1: “I try not to miss good opportunities. This is my second year participating in the “Innovative solutions”. It's helpful for developing language skills and gaining confidence. There were some interesting presentations today, especially the one about an electric spoon that adds salt to food. The friendly atmosphere at the competition is also worth noting. I presented on China's newest development, the CR450 high-speed train. I felt genuine interest and support from the audience. I took second place. I'm very pleased with the result and the experience I gained."
In the English Language Section, the jury awarded a first-place diploma to Artyom Rakhmanov (group BUA-24, USUE) for the project “The impact of artificial intelligence on the future of accounting”. Second-place diplomas were awarded to Daniil Parfenov (group UK-24-1, USUE) with the project “CR450 – the future of railway transport” and Polina Nyakhina (group TPOP-24-1, USUE) for the project “Electric salt spoon”. Third-place diplomas were awarded to Yegor Yuryev and Valeria Vorobyova (FC-24, USUE) for their project “Marketplace as innovative solution”, and to Kirill Kazakov (GD-23-1, USUE) for the work “Content marketing as an opportunity to promote a region”. Elizaveta Grudnova and Maxim Meleshenko from Russian State University for Humanities (Moscow) with the projects “Innovation in the social field” also received third-place diplomas.
In the Second Languages Section, diplomas were awarded to USUE students: Elizaveta Petukhova, GD-22 (1st place), Andrey Zaytsev, GD-23 (2nd place), Alena Tsaregorodtseva, VTD-23, and Dmitry Mezenin and Valeria Goryaynova, GD-23 (3rd place). The projects were presented in Spanish and French and demonstrated the participants' high level of preparation and intercultural competence.
The competition's winners and runners-up are awarded diplomas, and all participants receive certificates. The final of “Innovative Solutions – 2026” once again confirmed that proficiency in a foreign language in the modern educational environment is not only a communication tool but also a means of professional self-expression. The participation in the competition allowed students to feel part of an academic community focused on finding solutions to hot problems and fostering innovative thinking.
