On the eve of the professional holiday, Teachers' Day, a conference on the "Modern Digital Technologies in Education" was held at the campus of School 21 of South Ural State University for the heads of general education institutions in Chelyabinsk.
Vitaliy Litke, Minister of Education and Science of the Chelyabinsk Region, addressed the conference participants and noted that the integration of different levels of education is key to the successful future:
"I'm delighted to be here. It's gratifying that we're seeing how different levels of education integrate, collaborating on various projects and events. Understanding that the education system is one big team tells us how we should convey these values to children. It's important for students to see this interaction and understand how to build their life strategies. I would like to thank South Ural State University for working with us on this project, and our partners, Sber and School 21, for organizing these events and demonstrating how the education system is reaching new heights in its development. And of course, a huge thank you goes to all the teachers, because what you do is key to the success of our region and our entire country."
One of the conference's events included a formal awarding of certificates of appreciation and gifts by Sber. Andrey Ruchai, manager of Sber's Chelyabinsk Branch, presented awards to the heads of educational institutions whose employees distinguished themselves in the "Golden Thousand" competition. This competition evaluates teachers' personal and professional achievements and their ability to implement original teaching methods in the educational process. In 2025, 28 teachers from the Chelyabinsk Region were included in the "Golden Thousand."
"I'm glad to welcome you at School 21. This is an innovative project that symbolizes modern digital education and the development of essential competencies. My congratulations to you on the upcoming Teachers' Day. It's not just a profession, it's a calling," Andrey Ruchai addressed the teachers. "You energize children, ignite a spark of curiosity, and believe in them more than they believe in themselves. You build the foundation on which character and personality develop. And it is with your help that children will become successful in life!"
During the meeting, the SUSU Rector Alexander Wagner awarded directors of educational institutions with certificates of appreciation for their active support and training of engineering personnel and the development of engineering education. Alexander Wagner addressed the teachers and emphasized continuity in education:
"Today, we have many joint projects within the education system, which is helping us better understand each other and exchange information, challenges, and tasks. I would like to thank Vitaly Litke and the Chelyabinsk Region Government for such close cooperation. The goals and meanings of education are changing, and we understand that, school education, secondary vocational and higher education are not separate stages, but rather one long journey along which we develop joint approaches to learning. Our collaboration is focused on the children growing up in our region and receiving their education here. We want this journey to be characterized by continuity, as this is what will help the younger generation become professionals. I wish you new projects that will enrich you and help your children develop!"
Following the formal ceremony, participants enjoyed an interactive lecture with practical elements on "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Work of a Modern Teacher" given by Svetlana Antonova, Candidate of Sciences (Pedagogy), Honorary Worker of Education and Upbringing of the Russian Federation, lecturer at the Znanie (Knowledge) Society, and methodologist at the Directorate of Methodology and Methodological Support at OOO "SberObrazovanie" company.
The conference closed with a workshop on using GigaChat to solve routine tasks, where participants were able to get a better understanding of artificial intelligence technologies.