Published on: 2026-09-24
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
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At Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, the fourth season of the federal program “Learning Through Service” has started. The event took place in the format of a Unified Action Day: students met with representatives of government authorities, social organizations, and program partners, and got acquainted with the tasks they will work on in the new academic year. The meeting was organized by the Humanities Institute of SPbPU.
The “Training in Service” program is implemented at the Polytechnic as part of a comprehensive system of educational and volunteer work. It combines educational opportunities, the expert potential of teachers, and the requests of social partners, allowing students to participate in solving real problems and see the practical results of their activities. This format contributes to the development of social responsibility, project thinking, and competencies necessary for specialists of the new generation.
SPbPU Vice-Rector for Personnel and Youth Policy Maxim Pasholikov shared with the students memories of his own student experience, emphasizing that university years become a serious stage in the formation of personality and professional orientations. He noted the importance of involving students in volunteer activities, which allows them to apply knowledge in practice, gain new experience, and see real results of their work.
“Today, the university is responsible not only for imparting knowledge but also for shaping individuals capable of applying this knowledge to address societal challenges. The ‘Learning through Service’ program creates a space where students gain practical experience, see the results of their work, and reflect on it. It is through this kind of reflection that the transition from knowledge to skills and competencies occurs, enabling future specialists to understand the importance of their professional activities and their impact on societal development.” — noted Maksim Pasholikov.
The director of the Kalininsky Teen and Youth Center, Pavel Goryunov, spoke about the start of cooperation with Polytechnic, highlighting the university’s role in unlocking the potential of young people.
Acting Director of the Humanities Institute of SPbPU, Director of the Higher School of Media Communications and Public Relations Marina Arkannikova emphasized that service is an activity aimed at fulfilling public and professional duties with a high degree of dedication.
Do not forget that service is not only social but also moral, and this requires constant inner work of the soul, — emphasized Marina Arkannikova.
The coordinator of the program at SPbPU is the Center for Volunteer Projects “Harmony” of the Humanities Institute. It facilitates interaction among students, teachers, and social partners, helping to carry out socially significant projects.
“The main value of the federal program ‘Learning through Service’ lies in the consolidation of education, volunteering, and practical work on social projects. For students, this is an opportunity not only to test their skills in solving current issues but also to understand how professional knowledge can work for the benefit of society” — noted Tatiana Nam, director of the Harmony Volunteer Projects Center, associate professor at the Higher School of Linguistics and Pedagogy, and curator of the “Service Learning” program at SPbPU.
A representative of the Association of SVO Veterans, Vasily Alekseytsev, emphasized that participation in volunteer activities, the development of professional skills, and readiness to apply them to solve real-world problems are an important part of modern education.
The head of the psychological and pedagogical assistance department of the Center for Social Assistance to Families and Children of the Kalininsky District of St. Petersburg, Irina Arkatovskaya, thanked the students of Polytech for their high level of engagement and participation in projects aimed at supporting the center’s wards.
More details about the implementation of such projects at Polytech were provided by Anastasia Savina, assistant at the Higher School of Linguistics and Pedagogy, head of the mentoring and psychological-pedagogical support direction at the Harmony Volunteer Projects Center. She shared how immersion in practice helps students realize their role in the profession not sometime in the future, but already today.
Also, as part of the Unified Action Day, a presentation was held on the adaptation module for freshmen through volunteer activities. Students learned about the areas of the Dobro.Center “Harmony”, educational programs, and opportunities to participate in Polytechnic projects.
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