The meeting "Key Vectors and Tasks for the 2025–2026 Academic Year" launched at the National Centre RUSSIA

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The first day of the working meeting "Key Vectors and Tasks for the 2025–2026 Academic Year" has opened at the National Centre RUSSIA. The event, with the participation of vice-rectors and staff responsible for youth policy and educational activities at universities ahead of the new academic year, is being held by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia for the second time. The National Centre RUSSIA is hosting the Meeting for the first time.

At the solemn opening, welcoming remarks were delivered by Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; Yuri Leskin, Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs; Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA; and Valery Fadeyev, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights.

"I would like to say thank you to the National Centre RUSSIA for becoming the venue for our event; for us this is a great honour and of great significance. This place was supported by President Vladimir Putin. And the experience accumulated here, in my view, will certainly help make the working meeting useful — so that we can discuss and develop strategic directions for our activities, which we will implement in the next academic year," noted Olga Petrova.

In her speech, she emphasised the role of universities in the context of Presidential Decree of the Russian Federation No. 309 "On the national development goals of the Russian Federation for the period until 2030 and for the future until 2036". This document sets out the following goals: preservation of the population, health and family support; the realisation of every person’s potential; a comfortable and safe living environment; environmental well-being; a sustainable and dynamic economy; technological leadership; digital transformation.

Valery Fadeyev, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, in his speech spoke about the importance of forming a broad outlook and worldview among the younger generation, as well as about opportunities for students to develop their potential.

"Outstanding Soviet and Russian scientist Nikita Moiseyev wrote in 2000: 'It is necessary to liberate the individual as soon as possible, to create opportunities for every capable person to unlock their creative potential. A new civilisation must begin with new scientific knowledge and new educational programmes, and for this not only specialised but also humanitarian education is necessary.' I agree with this," said Fadeyev.

He emphasised that the 21st century will be the century of the humanities, and that the task of teachers is to help students flourish.

"For us it is a great honour to welcome you at the National Centre RUSSIA. This format is already familiar to us: in December the Congress of Vice-Rectors was held here, and it became clear — such meetings should become regular. For it is here that ideas can be openly discussed, positions compared, and a shared vision formed. Quite recently, on 19 August, the All-Russian Pedagogical Congress concluded within our walls. It brought together more than 1,300 participants and became a platform for discussion of the education development strategy until 2036. This once again confirmed: the National Centre RUSSIA is precisely the place where important decisions for the future of the country are born," said Anastasia Zvyagina.

She reminded that branches of the National Centre RUSSIA will soon open in different parts of the country and suggested working together with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to develop a special programme so that children and young people can learn about the great country right in their homeland.

As part of the meeting, presentations of new federal initiatives will take place and the priority tasks of youth policy for the upcoming academic year will be defined.

More than 600 people are taking part in the event, among them vice-rectors and deputy directors of university branches responsible for implementing youth policy and educational activities.