"The country’s task is to train professional patriots": Olga Petrova spoke at a panel discussion at the National Centre RUSSIA

A key task facing the higher education system is to train not just professionals, but professional patriots — citizens with an active civic stance. Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, said this during an EISR panel discussion on the topic "Knowledge about the Country’s Achievements: To Whom and How Should It Be Properly Communicated?", held at the National Centre RUSSIA. 

"A key task facing the higher education system is to train not just professionals, but professional patriots — citizens with an active civic stance who understand they have much to be proud of. The emotion of pride is fundamental; it underpins our initiatives with students and faculty," said Olga Petrova.

The Deputy Minister noted that an active student with a civic stance can only be educated and "graduated" by a teacher who embodies the same qualities. Accordingly, the work guided by the Decrees of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is aimed not only at creating opportunities for students’ self-realisation, but also at staff development.

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"Here the vice-rectors’ community plays a key role — it is the backbone for educational work and the implementation of youth policy at universities. We pay special attention to this: just recently we held the latest ‘August conference’, where we jointly defined the core meanings and formalised the system, ensuring its dissemination across universities," she explained.

Olga Petrova added that working with faculty is equally important. She reminded that last year a values and worldview-oriented professional development programme was launched, with 11,500 participants completing the training.

"We are continuing this work this year, understanding that it is teachers — through their personal example and daily interaction with students — who become genuine civic educators. It is they who must bring the right, up-to-date agenda into the classroom, aligned with the tasks facing the higher education system," the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education concluded.

Also taking part in the discussion were Valery Fedorov, Director General of the Analytical Centre of VCIOM; Irina Karikh, Deputy Director General of the Russian society Znanie; Yulia Gryaznova, Head of the Directorate for Strategy, Analytics and Research at ANO "National Priorities"; Yulia Ablets, Deputy Director General of ANO "Dialogue Regions"; Gennady Guryanov, First Deputy Director General of the presidential platform "Russia — Land of Opportunity"; Antonina Selezneva, Director of the Department of Educational Outreach at EISR; and Nikita Setov, Deputy Director General for Government Relations (GR) at Polylog.