Rustam Minnikhanov: Tatarstan traditionally puts much emphasis on work with talented young people

On March 12, in Izhevsk (the capital of the Udmurt Republic), speaking at the Council meeting on implementation of measures aimed at identification, support and development abilities and talents of children and young people and their personnel promotion in the regions of the Volga Federal District, chaired by Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Volga Federal District Igor Komarov, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said Tatarstan traditionally puts much emphasis on work with talented young people.

Minnikhanov emphasized that Tatarstan is one of the leaders in the number of winners at All-Russian School Olympiads. Additional grants are paid to the winners, who have become university students in the republic. There is a system of state grants and awards for scientific youth.

“The Algarysh programme for the training, retraining and internships of young people has been implemented at leading Russian and foreign research and educational centers since 2006. Sozvezdie-Yoldyzlyk festival movement, a laureate of Russian Government Award, is actively developing. Over a million children and young people took part in the festival during 20 years. Proper conditions are being established to support young athletes. Salat social movement for identifying talented youth has been successfully operating for a quarter of a century in the republic,” Tatarstan President said.

Minnikhanov reported on many other programmes implemented in the republic aimed at identifying and supporting young talents.

In particular, he told the meeting participant about the Kazan Open University of Talents 2.0, led by the Supervisory Board and the Board, which includes heads and deputy heads of the ministries and agencies of the republic.

Winners of one of the prestigious contest can be invited to study at the University. Tatarstan Government adopted the list of 206 contests, whose winners can be included in the database and invited to the University.

Every year up to 1,500 people become winners and prize-winners of contests from the List.

The information and communication educational portal of the University of Talents is the further step of studying.

The portal has two data bases: open one (external) is for all those interested in searching and accompanying talents, and also closed one (internal) - for students, mentors and teachers of the University. The student opens his own personal account on the portal, chooses a mentor and has in-depth interviews and tests of his over-subject competencies.

“The list of competencies is based on the best international and Russian practices. According to the results of the tests, an individual student development plan is established. It includes compulsory and arbitrary educational modules, available in online and offline modes. These modules include project creativity, internships and traineeship in well-known companies, lectures and individual forms of education. The personal involvement of students in the work of the university is encouraged and expands their educational opportunities. A contest is annually held in four areas: engineering and technical area, business, research and social areas,” Minnikhanov noted.

Mentors play an important role in the University system, Tatarstan President said. These are teachers and representatives of interested participating companies. Each mentor can have up to 10 students, he added.

He noted that the partner network plays an important role in the work of the University. To date, there are over 150 organizations - participants. Employment in partner companies or running own business projects is the completion of the student learning process.

Minnikhanov emphasized the importance of continuous interaction with federal institutions of talent development.

The experience of Tatarstan in establishing a system of support for talented young people “The University of Talents” was recommended for study and introduction in all regions of the Volga Federal District.