Published on: 2026-06-17
Source: Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University of Peter the Great –
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At the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University (KRSU), the final defense of student projects prepared within the framework of the course “Fundamentals of Project Activity” took place. The event concluded the pilot launch of the course in 2026 and brought together students, mentors, representatives of the university, college, external experts, and project customers.
The course is conducted in collaboration with the Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University of Peter the Great to develop students’ practical competencies: teamwork, interaction with clients, problem analysis, solution design, product preparation, and public presentation of results. During the semester, students progressed from task formulation to presenting the finished project.
Work on implementing the course “Fundamentals of Project Activity” at KRSU began in 2025. At that time, SPbPU held an in-person introductory seminar at the university on the development of project-based learning. Its participants familiarized themselves with the methodology of project activity, the experience of Polytechnic, and the possibilities of integrating project approaches into the educational process. Special attention was given to forming students’ skills in teamwork, critical thinking, independent solving of practice-oriented tasks, and the application of project tools in their future professional activities.
The next stage was the qualification upgrade program “Organization and support of students’ project activities,” which was conducted in the KRSU in October 2025 by experts from SPbPU. Sixteen mentors were trained, a pilot launch plan was developed, methodological recommendations were created, and the collection of project topics from internal and external customers began.
The pilot launch of the course included several stages, each accompanied by expert and methodological support from SPbPU specialists: an introductory webinar, previews, a methodological webinar for mentors, and a final project defense.
The expert commission for the final defense of projects from SPbPU included Senior Research Fellow of the International Academic Competence Center “Technologies of the Intellectual Enterprise” at the ISI “Digital Engineering” Anton Ambrazhey and Senior Lecturer at the Higher School of Project Activity and Innovation in Industry IMMIT Inna Seledtsova. From KRSU — Deputy Director of the College for Educational Work Olga Shevchenko, Director of the Center for Youth Policy Marianna Volodina, Associate Professor of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations Irina Gorina, and Head of the NTS KSO Department Irina Kurmanova.
A total of 13 projects were presented at the final defense. The topics of the works demonstrated the interdisciplinary nature of the course: students worked on marketing, digital platforms, educational services, design, banking positioning, entrepreneurship, media promotion, and analytical models. Commission members asked questions about the target audience, risks, performance metrics, result validation, demand for solutions, and implementation prospects.
So, the team of the project “Development of a marketing strategy for Infinity Sky stretch ceilings” presented a brand promotion strategy in Bishkek, highlighting social networks, contextual advertising, local platforms, partner marketing, and word-of-mouth radio as key channels for attracting clients. The experts recommended that the team confirm the results more thoroughly with figures, statistics, and screenshots of indicators before and after the promotion.
The project “Scenario for holding ‘Advertiser’s Day'” was presented as an interactive festival-simulator, where students and applicants not only attend the event, but also participate in contests, creative tasks, and professional cases. The team conducted a survey among students of the advertising and public relations department and collected 56 questionnaires, based on which they formed the event program.
The project “ESG-positioning of ‘FINKA-bank'” stood out because the team linked sustainable development with specific client “pains”: protection against fraud, support in difficult financial situations, accompaniment of senior clients, and the development of eco-friendly practices.
The Arlekino AI Assistant Marketplace startup was presented as a response to the problems of the electronic commerce market in Kyrgyzstan: distrust of online payments, regional disparity, platform fragmentation, and fraud risks. The team proposed to build a local ecosystem with AI search, social commerce, secure payments, and delivery.
As a result of the discussion, the jury noted four projects that stood out for the quality of development, understanding of the tasks, and the potential for further development:
- ESG positioning of “FINKA Bank”;
- Launch of the Arlekino AI Assistant Marketplace project;
- A web platform for a student startup competition — a digital solution for submitting applications, personal participant accounts, an administrative panel, and a notification system;
- Creation of the student theater logo of KRSU — a redesign of the visual symbol of the theatrical studio with an emphasis on modernity, minimalism, and the cultural interaction between Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
The team that prepared the promotional video for the advancement of the new specialties at KRSU College was separately noted. According to college representatives, this product is already being used in career guidance work and the admissions campaign, which underscores the practical value of the student project.
According to the results of the defense, experts emphasized that the competition demonstrated a high level of student work and a variety of project solutions. Special attention was paid to the importance of public defense skills: the ability to present the project, argue decisions, and take responsibility for the team result.
The OPD course has become not just a new academic discipline for KRSU, but a platform for forming a project culture. Students had the opportunity to work with real clients, create applied products, test ideas in the classroom, and see how academic assignments turn into solutions demanded by the university, college, business, and society.
The pilot launch showed that project-based learning helps students face professional challenges earlier, develop independence, initiative, and readiness for interdisciplinary work. This means that the defense has become not an ending, but the beginning of a new stage, at which student ideas can grow into full-fledged projects and startups.
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