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Self-restraint and patience
Dmitry Karkh, USUE Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Teaching Methods and Quality of Training, answered questions about admission to Ural State University of Economics, the educational process, and student career prospects.
- Dmitry Andreevich, this year USUE plans to admit over 6,600 students—It is impressive! In your opinion, what new features applicants and their parents should pay attention to?
First of all, I'd like to point out that this year, the main admissions process is conducted through the Portal of Government Services (Gosuslugi). Currently, the Admissions Committee's role is more of an operator's one: we act as an "operator" who helps applicants correctly upload documents through the government's online service. Personal accounts at universities have been abolished. Secondly, the Admissions Committee's primary function is to provide consultations: our staff provides detailed information to applicants and their parents about training areas and specialties.
This year, for the first time, so-called "days of silence" are being introduced—August 3 and 7. During these days, it will be impossible to withdraw documents from the university. And most importantly, applicants need to be patient and resilient. They simply need to wait for the results.
Regarding changes to the admissions rules for Russian citizens, there are no significant differences compared to last year. While it was previously possible to apply to five universities for five majors, this rule remains. However, be sure to pay attention to individual achievements: each university sets its own additional points. Some universities consider achievements and wins, while others do not. The main change concerns graduates with secondary vocational education. Now, when applying to a university, they must consider the specific area of training they have received. For this purpose, a specialty matching calculator has been set on the university website, which helps you check which programs of study are eligible for admission based on internal entrance examinations (without providing Unified State Exam results).
I'd especially like to emphasize the importance of carefully submitting your documents: we're currently facing incomplete uploads through the portal, which results in documents being returned for revision, and the process is delayed. But there's still plenty of time and applicants will get everything done.
- There's quite a competitive environment for universities today. What do you see as USUE's key competitive advantages, and how do you position the university in the educational market?
We are one of the leading specialized economic universities in the Ural region. This year, the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education decided to focus on profilisation and reduction of training areas with regulating the allocation of fee-paying places in economics and law. Naturally, the number of our competitors among universities in the Sverdlovsk region has decreased.
In fact, we currently compete seriously with Ural Federal University in economics, and with the specialized university in jurisprudence.
And all non-specialized universities simply have no places in economics and humanities. Parents should be aware that due to restrictions on admission to fee-paying places in economics, humanities, and law, competition in the region will be quite high.
Another advantage of USUE is its high adaptability to market conditions. We have very close ties with employers and established good business relationships with many partners. The largest number of professors and associate professors in economics work for our university, as we are the leading specialized university in the Ural region.
- The university offers over 80 educational programs. How do you update them, and what role do employers play in it?
Educational programs are adjusted annually. However, due to the ongoing education reform in the country until 2030 (we are transitioning to the traditional post-Soviet education system): there will be no bachelor's or master's degrees, but rather basic higher education and specialized education. The Ministry has selected 17 universities to participate in a pilot project, which is currently testing new educational standards. We are preparing for the introduction of a new framework curriculum in 2027.
Regarding employers, our university closely cooperates with companies, and they actively participate in programs updates. We currently offer approximately 20 partnership academic programs with major key partners, who provide us with internship placements. We always coordinate our course curricula with employers. Furthermore, representatives of our partners are always present at final exams. Throughout the academic year, we hold numerous career guidance events, to which they are always invited, including open days and career days. Besides, the university is constantly expanding its collaboration with practitioners who teach courses and help adjust programs to changing market conditions.
Of course, we can't prepare a graduate for every organization. But we have a targeted recruitment system, where employers use the “Work in Russia” portal to form a pool of applicants who will work for specific companies after graduation. Students receive not only a theoretical but also a practical education, taking into account current economic trends.
- Dmitry Andreevich, with which employers are you building the closest interaction today? Can you name the key companies with which the university has strategic partnerships?
There are many. Our College, for example, has a joint academic program with the Hyatt Hotel. Last year, the first student recruitment took place, and this year they will complete internships at the hotels, where classes will also be held. They are then committed to employing our graduates. This year, we are launching a new program, Information Systems Operator, in collaboration with the Multifunctional Center (MFC). Part of the educational process will be conducted according to MFC standards, and internships will also be provided at their facilities. Furthermore, they have their own training center. This collaboration will allow our students to begin working at the MFC immediately after receiving their diplomas.
We offer online undergraduate programs in IT. We collaborate with SKB Kontur and other IT companies. In logistics, we partner with CIT Terminal, the largest employer in the Sverdlovsk region. For students majoring in foreign economic activity and quality management, we have an agreement with the Customs administration. The university has many partners, so most programs are offered online.
- Targeted education is currently one of the priorities of government education policy. Could you please explain what key aspects should applicants consider applying for a targeted quota? And how is this process organized at USUE? How is the education of targeted students structured, what benefits do they receive, and what risks might they face?
All admissions processes for targeted training are handled through the "Work in Russia" portal. Employers post their vacancies, applicants log in, select the organization they would like to work for, and sign a contract. This is a separate quota, allocated to 10 percent of the budget-funded places.
What does such an applicant benefit in this case? Firstly, there's a high chance of being accepted to a state-funded place, as there are relatively few state-funded places in economics. The employer is obligated to provide support: most typically pay an additional scholarship and cover internships. And we, as an educational institution, are obligated to inform the client about the student's academic performance, because, if a student performs poorly, the contract may be terminated.
A targeted student, of course, also has certain obligations: in addition to performing well academically, after graduating, he or she is required to work for three years for the company. Otherwise, penalties are imposed on the party that terminated the contract—whether the student has changed his mind or the employer no longer needs the graduate. The system is quite transparent and is currently very popular. The student already has a specific job, receives social support, and understands where he will be completing the internship. This guarantees employment at leading companies. After all, state-owned companies are eligible to participate in targeted recruitment, which means stable employment and career advancement.
- Does the university offer the option of signing a targeted training agreement with an employer while still paying tuition? What forms of interaction are possible between the university, the student, and the employer in this case?
If we're talking about the first year, targeted students are primarily funded by the government. However, during the academic year, we have a practice of concluding targeted training agreements for fee-paying students. For example, a student does an internship, a company evaluates him and says, "You're a good fit for us. We won't wait four years. You have two left, let's sign a contract." And the employer begins paying for the tuition. We also have such options, especially for master's programs, which are shorter, but such contracts are also concluded in the third year of bachelor's programs. This is more beneficial for the company because time plays a significant role. Apart from that, in their third or fourth year, students are more conscious of their choices: they understand what they want to do, where they want to work, and how attractive the company is. This model is also gaining popularity, and it's not prohibited by law.
- USUE consistently ranks among the top universities in Yekaterinburg in terms of its graduates employment. What specific mechanisms are in place to ensure such high demand for graduates in the labor market?
For most of our educational programs, we have targeted and joint academic programs with major employers who commit to hiring our students. We also have a Career Center at the university, which hosts career-focused events, such as career diving and job fairs. Key employers visit our university twice a year, and we refer third- and fourth-year students to them. Students learn about job openings, ask questions about salaries, and attend interviews and castings.
Employers actively participate in the state diploma defense system. They attend, listen to students' presentations, and can choose the best specialists for employment on the spot. We have corporate scholarships, for example, from Alfa-Bank: students complete specific tasks, the bank selects the best and offers them jobs.
Throughout the year, we invite employers to various competitions, and they organize their own events. This also establishes direct contact between students and companies.
But most importantly, we are a practice-oriented university. We encourage students to begin seeking employment as early as their second year. By the time they reach their third or fourth year, most are already working and have extensive practical skills. Therefore, only a handful of students experience problems finding employment after graduation.
This kind of active, comprehensive interaction with employers precisely allows us to ensure a high level of employment and decent wages.
- Concluding our conversation, what would you like to wish to today’s applicants?
I'd like to wish them, first and foremost, self-restraint and patience, as sometimes this plays a decisive role in admissions. Those who start “jumping” from university to university, choosing where to enter, may find themselves without a place at all. If you've made your decision and are applying to our university, you need to be realistic: if you see that you're in the admissions rankings, you just need to wait for the right moment. Rankings are constantly changing, but if you have good Unified State Exam scores, your chances of getting in are much better than if you start rushing around.
I also ask applicants to pay attention to the conditions the university offers. Many choose to attend Moscow universities, but it's important to understand that even if you're admitted on a state-funded basis, you'll incur significant costs for accommodation and travel, as not all universities offer dormitories. Therefore, I'd like to encourage students to remain in the Sverdlovsk region, receive an education here, and work for the benefit of our region. And most importantly, I repeat: self-restraint and patience!
