Best of 215,000: gold medallists of the "I Am a Professional" Olympiad awarded at the National Centre RUSSIA

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The award ceremony for the gold medallists of the ninth season of the All-Russian Student Olympiad "I Am a Professional", a project of the Presidential Platform "Russia — Land of Opportunity", was held at the National Centre RUSSIA. The top award went to 133 participants. The gold medallists will receive cash prizes of up to 300,000 roubles, benefits when applying for the next level of education and opportunities for professional development.

First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia and Head of the Council of the "I Am a Professional" Association, Sergei Kiriyenko, sent a message of greeting to the gold medallists.

"The gold medallists of the 'I Am a Professional' Olympiad will become part of the country’s intellectual and talent pool. I have no doubt that you will not have to sit on the bench, because Russia needs bright talents and new leaders for breakthrough projects right now. Young people with new, progressive and unique ideas are needed everywhere: in technology and the digital sphere, in the humanities and exact sciences, in the arts and creative industries, in energy and industry, in diplomacy for a multipolar world and in the social sphere," he noted.

The Olympiad supports technological leadership, talent sovereignty and the training of young specialists for the country’s key development priorities. The ninth season set a record for the number of unique participants: 215,515 students from almost 1,100 Russian universities and branches tried their hand. Based on the results of the contests, 133 participants received gold awards. Students competed in 70 fields, from aircraft engineering and artificial intelligence to the history and culture of Russia, international relations and the psychology of inclusion. The organisers were 35 leading universities across the country.

"The career impact of the Olympiad is confirmed by the results of all its seasons. More than 300,000 participants have gained career guidance experience, and more than 100,000 students have found employment, including as a result of internships. The 'I Am a Professional' diploma works as real career capital," President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin emphasised.

Mentoring within the Olympiad becomes a way to pass on professionalism and values: experts help students see real work standards and take their first steps in their careers. The tasks are developed with real industry challenges in mind and make it possible to assess not only theoretical knowledge, but also students’ readiness to apply it in practice. In the ninth season, 753 employers joined the project, including 28 new companies. Business representatives take part in preparing tasks, career events, industrial tourism, internships and the selection of young specialists.

The Olympiad is an indicator of the quality of university training: the medal rankings show where students receive a strong academic foundation and the opportunity to solve practice-oriented tasks. The Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology became the leader in the number of gold medals, with its students winning 14 top awards. Representatives of the National Research University Higher School of Economics received 12 gold medals, while Lomonosov Moscow State University received 11. Students of Saint Petersburg State University and Far Eastern Federal University won six gold medals each.

In the ninth season, five fields were included in the Olympiad for the first time: "International Relations", "Psychology of Inclusion", "Green Metallurgy", "Product Management in Digital Business" and "The Russian Arctic — Territory of Professionals". Updating the list makes it possible to reflect changes in the economy and society, as well as to build a talent pool for new and rapidly developing areas.

Foreign participants are showing exceptional interest in Russia’s educational and professional environment. Over nine years, the Olympiad has brought together more than 30,000 foreign participants from 147 countries. The project has become part of a comprehensive system of opportunities for young people: participants can test their knowledge, define their educational and career path, meet potential employers, receive mentor support and join a professional community.

"Serious professional results can be achieved even at the very start of university studies. Among the gold medallists of the ninth season are 15 first-year students, who won 16 gold medals. Age and experience are not what matters most; what counts is drive and deep knowledge from the first days at university," Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Olga Petrova noted.

"I Am a Professional" is a space of traditional values: respect for work, responsibility for results, continuity, support from mentors and the desire to be useful to the country. For many participants, the Olympiad becomes an example of active patriotism, when love for the country is expressed through the choice of a profession, the development of skills and a willingness to work in Russia.

"Today, it is no longer enough to be strong in just one area. A true professional sees connections between different fields, knows how to combine knowledge and apply it to real tasks. This is exactly what we see in the gold medallists of the ninth season of the 'I Am a Professional' Olympiad: every fifth winner, 28 out of 133 people, received two or more medals. A generation of young people with a broad outlook and a readiness to take responsibility is growing in Russia, forming the country’s intellectual elite," said Valeria Kasamara, Head of the All-Russian Student Olympiad "I Am a Professional".

The All-Russian Student Olympiad "I Am a Professional" is a project of the Presidential Platform "Russia — Land of Opportunity". It is implemented as part of the national project "Youth and Children" with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia.