USUE has developed a roadmap for changeover to a new model of higher education

On October 3, a meeting chaired by the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Valery Falkov, discussed the need for changes in higher education, considering new requirements for specialists in economics and all spheres of life. Discussions included the development of student clubs, support for youth initiatives, and intensification of morale-building activities. Following the meeting, all universities were instructed to hold internal meetings to develop specific measures. Ural State University of Economics has complied with this instruction.

On October 31, USUE hosted a strategic expert session, “The National System of Higher Education: USUE’s Mission and Objectives.” The event held in the Mirror Hall marked an important milestone in defining the university’s future.

The session was opened by USUE Rector Yakov Silin, who, in his opening remarks, outlined the university’s strategic goal: not just to adapt to changes, but to actively shape the university’s future, improving its specialized programs.

The session was attended by Sergey Novikov, Vice-Rector for Academic Partnerships at the Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, a representative of the university taking part in the Russian Ministry of Education’s pilot project “New Model of Higher Education.”

The organizers arranged the work into six thematic groups, focusing on education (bachelor’s, master’s, and further professional education), human resources, and promotion. Each group had a particular task: developing a detailed mechanism for changeover to an education model for its specific area of activity.

The session participants carried out intensive work, where they:

• analyzed the best practices of pilot universities.
• identified internal barriers and outlined ways to overcome them.
• formulated specific measures, presented a roadmap for their introduction, and identified the necessary resources for implementation in 2026.

A particular focus in all discussions was on how to integrate the strengthening of the engineering and technology component into educational programs and academic work.

The group work culminated in a “World Café” session, where the leaders could evaluate and refine proposals of their colleagues from other groups, ensuring a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to future transformations.

The main result today is not just ideas but a plan of specific action, a roadmap. Experts outlined the steps and timeframes needed for USUE to strengthen its position as a leading university with a strong core, addressing the challenges of the times.

The proposals developed at the session will provide the basis for a university-wide program to change over to a new model of higher education.

A large-scale expert session of university leaders was successfully held at USUE