Published on: 2026-10-19
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
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Signing of the partnership agreement. Vladislav Ruzavin, Alexander Filatov, Yuri Belenky, Alexandra Ivanova, Vladimir Mozgovoy, and Victoria Vinogradova
On October 8, an engineering and construction class was opened at Murinsky Secondary General Education School (SOSH) No. 8. SPbGASU traditionally became one of the project’s partners, which introduces schoolchildren to construction and engineering professions and helps them decide on their future educational path. Other project partners are ISG “MAVIS”, “Lenoblsoyuzstroy”, Saint Petersburg Architectural and Construction College (SPASK), and SPb GBPOU “Metro Construction College”.
Help decide on a specialty before graduating from school
About 30 students will study in the new engineering and construction class. Ninth graders will be able to study specialized subjects in depth and learn about the features of construction professions. Eighth-grade students, who are already engaged in the advanced ‘Sirius’ program, have also joined the project.
Vice-Rector for Continuing Education of SPbGASU participated in the opening ceremony Victoria Vinogradova.
The curriculum will focus on developing technical knowledge and preparing students for further studies in construction and engineering fields, including programs in architecture, digital design, and building information modeling. In addition to an advanced study of mathematics, physics, and other specialized subjects, students will be able to interact with university and college instructors and specialists to learn about training areas and opportunities for obtaining higher and secondary vocational education.
As noted by the principal of Murino School No. 8 Alexandra Ivanova, The opening of the class marked the beginning of long-term cooperation with partners. According to her, this format allows teenagers to try themselves in the chosen field even before entering professional educational institutions and to approach the choice of their future profession consciously.
“We give them the opportunity to understand who they want to become and what they want to do,” emphasized Alexandra Ivanova.
The project is implemented with the support of a grant from the Governor of the Leningrad Region. The project’s goal is to promote the training of specialists in technical fields that are in demand in the region, and to help school students get acquainted with the construction industry even before finishing school.
Heads of partner organizations signed an agreement on promoting construction specialties and early career guidance for schoolchildren.
From getting acquainted with the profession to digital competencies
The opening of a class at School No. 8 in Murino, Leningrad Region, is part of SPbGASU’s work on cooperation with schools and fostering interest in engineering and construction specialties. The university participates in supporting more than 30 construction classes, helping to establish a connection between school education and further professional training.
One of the areas of cooperation is being developed jointly with the developer “Glavstroy Saint Petersburg.” Since 2024, an educational project “Construction Classes” has been operating at school No. 142 in the Vyborgsky district, implemented jointly with the school and the Center for Advanced Professional Training of St. Petersburg. In the new academic year, the program received a digital direction: students began studying information modeling of residential buildings.
As part of the course, the students learn to work with the Renga Professional software, create digital models of architectural solutions and engineering systems, and work with source data and regulatory documentation. Practical training is complemented by excursions, workshops, and participation in the SPbGASU conference. Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to receive a certificate for the profession of “Draftsman-Designer.”
Another joint initiative of the university and the company is the program “Architectural Horizons: The Path to a Profession,” which started for the fourth time in 2026. Professors from SPbGASU conduct lectures and practical sessions for seventh and eighth-grade students, organize excursions and team workshops. The program introduces schoolchildren to the basics of architecture, helps develop spatial thinking, and understand the relationship between architectural and landscape solutions. Over 100 students from School No. 142 have participated in the project during its implementation.
At the beginning of the current academic year, with the participation of SPbGASU and the support of the Committee for Construction of the Leningrad Region and the Rastsvetay Group of Companies Engineering and construction classes have opened at the Yanin Educational Center.
Continuous preparation – from school to university
The importance of consistent training of future specialists using digital technologies was emphasized by the director of the Educational Center for Digital Competencies at SPbGASU Denis Nizhegorodtsev. At the meeting of the Open Source Consortium in the construction sector, held within the framework of the XIII 100+ TechnoBuild Forum, he presented practices of end-to-end application of information modeling technologies in construction education.
The proposed approach involves the sequential development of competencies at all stages of education. In schools, these are digital construction classes and the All-Russian school TIM championship; in colleges, the TIM elective course, held jointly with the SRO “OsnovaProekt” with the support of the founders of the industry Consortium for Secondary Vocational Education in construction; at the university, students can participate in the All-Russian TIM championship and engage in project activities based on real tasks from industry partners. The final stage of this trajectory may be the defense of the graduation qualification work in the format of a team TIM project.
Cooperation between SPbGASU and schools, colleges, and construction companies helps build an interconnected system for workforce training. Schoolchildren have the opportunity to get acquainted with the profession in advance, acquire initial specialized skills, and decide on further education, while the construction industry helps in forming the competencies needed by future specialists.
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