Published on: 2026-05-21
Source: Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University of Peter the Great –
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The Polytechnic has passed the milestone of opening the third labor semester of student brigades. Polytechnic students have gone out to the season already 78 times. Currently, there are 26 brigades at the university, working in seven different areas: construction, pedagogical, archaeological, agricultural, service, production, and guide brigades.
At the beginning, candidates of 2026 from the number they represented at the off-site event “Breathe with the student squad” spoke to the honorary guests, fighters, candidates, and veterans of the student squads.
The first student squads appeared in 1948 at the Polytechnic University. Over the past years, the squads have formed a rich history, the memory of which is preserved through photographs and video recordings in the Polytechnic History Museum.
Words of encouragement to the fighters and candidates were spoken by the chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the RAN, rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy: In a student squad, you can learn to work in a team, courage, and endurance. These are important qualities that will be useful to you in the future. I am proud that over all 78 years, the politicians have never missed a working season. Even in the 1990s and 2000s, when the movement faded, our university remained its center. During those years, we accepted many fighters also from other universities of St. Petersburg. You will remember the time in the student squad for your entire life.I myself was for a long time involved in this movement, working at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Power Station. To this day, the student work brigades represent for me the brightest, most unforgettable, and important time. The brigades helped me to develop as a person, a scientist, a leader, and, most importantly, a politician.
I was 14 years old in your place, and before us veterans also performed. I couldn’t even imagine back then that someday I would be standing in your place, before you, and speaking the parting words. I remember the construction of the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP, when you stand at a height of 250 meters, and below you there is a well, and millions of tons of water break there. From the side, it looks like a man-made Niagara. If the sun shines, you stand in a rainbow. And at this moment you realize that in this well there are cubic meters of concrete laid by you and your friends. And this is a time of absolute happiness. And I wish you to experience the same feeling.”This is the best that can happen in student life,” noted Vitaliy Maizel, the leading specialist of the History Museum at SPbPU.
After the welcoming speech, Andrey Rudskoy handed out vouchers for the third labor semester of 2026 to the command staffs of all squads of Politekh. This year, 26 politekh squads in seven directions will go for the season. For the first time, the production squad “Svarog” will present itself. The new squad will be engaged in mixing components of various materials, cutting fabrics sharply, applying glue, assembling and grinding parts at the factory.
Last season, the Political Headquarters received a letter of appreciation from the Vice Governor of Saint Petersburg for their contribution to the development of student squads in Saint Petersburg. The headquarters’ press service won the Audience Choice Award in the “Best Press Service of Student Squads in Saint Petersburg” contest, and three squads were recognized as the best in their respective directions.
It should also be noted that fighters and candidates from student squads have been actively helping Politechnical University throughout the year. During the May holidays, the squads annually organize work on the university campus. Gratitude was expressed by the director of the student town Vyacheslav Olshyevsky: Many of you returned not so long ago from the construction site that took place at the regional educational facility. On behalf of our entire team, we sincerely thank you for your tireless work!Thanks to your help, the recreation bases are ready to receive guests, among whom will undoubtedly be your comrades, friends, and groupmates. And we will proudly say that this comfort and order were created by the hands of politicians.
In the 2026 season, the tire workers will test a new production unit and evaluate its effectiveness. They also plan to increase the number of movement participants, the quantity of objects, and the volume of work completed. Currently, the search for new permanent employers is underway, and the partnership network is being strengthened to ensure stable employment for the units in future seasons.
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