On October 28, 2025, a forum dedicated to the first anniversary of the Priority 2030 program continues in Moscow. The SUSU Rector Alexander Wagner and Director of the SUSU Institute of Engineering and Technology and head of the second Strategic Technological Project on the "Fundamentals of the Synthesis and Operation of Non-conventional Materials" Mikhail Ivanov represent SUSU at the conference.
On day one, conference participants summarized the preliminary results of the Priority 2030 program and, through discussions, jointly set the direction for the next decade of development of universities.
During the open discussion on the "Technological Leadership Universities: Challenges and Solutions", the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov shared his thoughts on the core idea of university modernization and the key challenge that engineering centres are facing.
"Engineering is a great calling!" Denis Manturov emphasized. "Initially, when the decision to create engineering centres was made together with the Ministry of Education, the main idea was that universities would be able to reduce the weak chain of actions associated with bringing R&D to the final result and market introduction. Most important are the people who work in these engineering centres. Unfortunately, over time, our understanding of what an engineer is has faded. An engineer is someone who has not only an idea for creating an industrial product but also the vision for its implementation. An engineer must embody all these qualities."
The Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, summing up the preliminary results of the Priority 2030 program as of 2025, noted:
"It was difficult for many universities to step outside their comfort zones, but now it's become the norm. And this has benefited them. This year, during a cross-university review, universities have received expert criticism and have taken a look at themselves from a different perspective. Universities agree with this criticism in some ways and disagree in others. And this is changing higher education for the better, keeping rectors and university teams on their toes. And that's the main result! Scale is also important! Today, we have approximately 150 universities participating in the Priority 2030 program. In total, we have approximately 1250 universities and their branches across our country, but their core today are precisely those participating in the Priority 2030 program."
During day one of the conference, participants also discussed universities' best practices and the updated concept of the Priority 2030 program, which focuses on technological leadership as a driver of university development.
Photos from the FSANU "Sotsiotsentr" community on VKontakte