Another eventful and fruitful year in the history of South Ural State University is coming to an end. During this period, significant advances have been made in education, research, innovation, and youth policy. We will remember 2025 for the implementation of major joint projects with industrial partners, victories in competitions for participation in federal educational programs, outstanding sporting achievements, and big-scale creative events. At the same time, the outgoing year has ushered in major changes within our university and in the Russian science and higher education system as a whole.
"We have identified three key objectives for the near future. The first and most fundamental one is the transition to a new model of higher education, which entails a fundamental rethinking of the entire educational process. The second goal is to achieve technological leadership for the university in our region and our country, including by focusing SUSU's resources and development programs on projects that align with national goals. The third is a world-class campus in the Chelyabinsk Region. Construction is currently on the final and most significant stage: building of the Research and Education Complex, which will become the core of scientific and educational life. As our university, we must not only develop cutting-edge technological and educational products, but also be prepared to adapt them to the current challenges of our industrial partners," notes Rector Alexander Wagner.
Continuation of the implementation of the PRIORITY 2030 Project
On November 24th, the results of the selection process for the Priority 2030 program were announced in Moscow. 106 universities participating in the program will receive grants for their development programs, including SUSU. As part of its commitment to technological leadership, our university is developing projects in three key areas: "Intelligent Manufacturing", "Fundamentals of the Synthesis and Use of Non-conventional Materials", and "Ecology of Industrial Agglomerations". Emphasis is placed on the "Intelligent Manufacturing" project and the development of robotics. SUSU has launched an internal structural transformation to strengthen its contribution to technological leadership and the development of engineering education in Russia. Specifically, during the defence, emphasis was placed on the "Industrial Robotics" area within the "Intelligent Manufacturing" strategic technology project.
Transformation of the higher education model
Big-scale work on the transition to a new higher education model is being carried out in accordance with the instructions of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. In 2023, in his address to the Federal Assembly, the head of our state had emphasized that significant changes are needed in higher education, driven by new demands on specialists in the economics and social sectors. At the same time, it had been fundamentally emphasized that the best of the Soviet education system and the experience of recent decades must be incorporated. To this end, a pilot project had been launched that same year, aimed at testing the key changes that would subsequently be extended to the entire higher education system.
Staff and teachers from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology at South Ural State University completed training under the "Academic Programmes Code" project from the Skolkovo School of Management. This marks the first time the program has been jointly developed with an industrial partner, the KONAR Industrial Group. Participants in the intensive program developed a set of teaching aids for training foundry and mechanic engineers at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology. A strategic session was held at SUSU late in October. Six working groups, including university vice-rectors, directors of schools and institutes, researches, faculty and academic staff discussed and designed a new higher education model for the university's advanced divisions.
The Rector also held a major meeting with student representatives. During the open dialogue, students got interested in the topic of higher education transformation and shared their vision for optimizing the educational process, practical, and extracurricular activities.
By a decision of the University Council, the following departments will serve as priority units for developing a new model of higher education at SUSU: "Heart of the Urals" Advanced Engineering School of Engine Building and Special Equipment, the School of Economics and Management, and the VirtUm and Digital Ural top-level specialist training centres.
Opening of the SUSU Industrial Robotics Development Centre
On April 4, 2025, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov, together with Governor Alexey Texler, visited the SUSU Industrial Robotics Development Centre. Alexander Wagner introduced the visiting dignitaries to the unique scientific and educational project our university is implementing with its industrial partner, demonstrated the first tangible results of the collaboration, and outlined the future plans.
Denis Manturov instructed the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Russian Ministry of Education and Science to support the submitted projects, as well as the further development of scientific, industrial, and educational cooperation in robotics in the Chelyabinsk Region. As part of the Means of Production and Automation national project, the Russian Federation is expected to rank 25th in the world in terms of robotic density by 2030.
In August 2025, in close cooperation with the Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant and the Russian Robot Plant, and with the support of the Governor and Government of the Chelyabinsk Region, the Industrial Robotics Development Centre of South Ural State University was established. The project is one of the satellite centres in a federal network headquartered at Innopolis University. The centre has become the first and only point of attraction and development of industrial automation competencies for hundreds of enterprises in the South Ural region.
The centre's mission is multifaceted and addresses the most pressing challenges of our time. Its purpose is to integrate industrial robotic systems into real-world production, develop new technological solutions, and train highly qualified personnel for the industrial robotic systems developer and integrator market. The centre's specialization focuses not only on the implementation of domestic robots, including those by RusRobot company, but also on substitution of imported industrial robots in key and strategically important industries: machining, forging and pressing, foundries, and paint lines.
Opening of a network of engineering classes for the transport industry
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South Ural State University has received a federal grant to establish a network of engineering classes in the Chelyabinsk and Kurgan regions, which aligns with the goals and objectives of the Youth and Children national project. Training is held at general education institutions, and school students master the latest engineering and transportation technologies, such as environmentally friendly modes of transport, intelligent transportation systems and passenger transportation, digital traffic management technologies, and traffic monitoring.
This work is supported not only by South Ural State University but also by its industrial partners: the Kurgan Road Machinery Plant and the Ural Automobile Plant. Nine engineering classes have been opened using the "school-university-enterprise" model, including two in rural areas of the Chebarkul District, three in Miass in the Chelyabinsk Region, and four in Kurgan—with a total enrolment of at least 220 students. New spaces for schoolchildren have been created—two project-based activity centres for engineering students: "Arctic Transport" in Miass and "Innovative Unmanned Transport" in Kurgan.
The new classes have joined the existing network. Their students will be able to participate in case championships, engineering competitions, and university Olympiads. Industrial partners actively introduce school students to real-world industry challenges.
Opening of the VirtUM Centre for High-level Academic Programmes in Artificial Intelligence
The VirtUM Centre for High-level Academic Programmes in Artificial Intelligence has opened at South Ural State University. The project is being implemented with grant support from the federal Artificial Intelligence program, as well as with the participation of industrial partners, who are providing co-financing and curriculum development. The educational modules were developed jointly by the SUSU faculty and business representatives.
The first 155 students, who successfully passed the competitive selection process, began their studies in September. The programme is aimed at training world-class AI specialists who meet the requirements of high-tech industries. Training under the programme takes six years. During this period, industrial partners will actively participate in the educational process, ensuring the integration of current practices and technologies into the curriculum.
Opening of the Digital Ural Centre for Training Top IT Specialists
The Digital Ural Centre has become a foundation for developing students' professional competencies in information technology. The project is being implemented with the financial support from the Russian Government. During their training, students collaborate closely with Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant and OOO Kompas Plus, solving real-world problems for partner companies. From their first year, students begin working on projects ranging from web application development to industrial robot programming.
The Digital Ural Centre opens new horizons for those seeking a career in information technology. The project aims to catalyse the development of our region's IT industry and train specialists capable of meeting the challenges of the digital era.
Meeting of the Council on Artificial Intelligence chaired by the Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region
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The first meeting of the Council on Artificial Intelligence of the Chelyabinsk Region, chaired by Governor Alexey Texler, was held at School 21 of South Ural State University. The event brought together digital technology experts, representatives of science, education, and business. According to the Governor, the Chelyabinsk Region is placing special emphasis on the development of artificial intelligence, actively implementing the decree of the President of the Russian Federation and the provisions of the Artificial Intelligence federal project.
Grigory Borisenko, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media of Russia, noted that by the end of 2024, our region had been among the top 10 regions for digital transformation and had actively participated in developing key solutions for their implementation in public administration at the regional level. The goal of developing artificial intelligence in the Chelyabinsk Region is to improve the quality of life and enhance our region's competitiveness through the effective use of AI technologies in key sectors of the economy, social sphere, and public administration.
Today, South Ural State University successfully operates dozens of specialized departments and 15 research and education centres and laboratories. They employ over 400 researchers and train over 2000 students. For the sustainable development of AI in our region and our country as a whole, large-scale capacity building in the application of artificial intelligence technologies in all areas of specialist training is crucial."
SUSU proposed, as part of the Council's work, to explore the possibility of establishing a Chelyabinsk Region cyber range on the Inter-University Campus. Several of our university's partners are already prepared to collaborate on this. A mirror laboratory and cyber range at Innopolis University could be chosen as the base model. The Rector also emphasized that modern digital infrastructure will provide a significant incentive for the development of educational programmes and technical projects: a Shared Use Data Processing Centre should be established on the Inter-University Campus.
South Ural State University is a centre of culture and creativity
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2025 has brought new victories for SUSU's creative teams. The Ladies Band vocal studio represented the Chelyabinsk Region in the finals of the Univervision National Music Project, and the Choir of the Faculty of Automotive Engineering won the "Singing Male Brotherhood" All-Russian competition. In November, with the support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, as part of its family policy, our university held an Interregional Student Ball, which was open to young student families. In December, with the support from the Chelyabinsk City Administration's Department of Culture, the "Christmas Blues" joint project was held featuring musicians from the SUSU jazz band and the "Baby Jazz" municipal children's jazz studio.
The Chelyabinsk Region's finest ensembles performed at the SUSU venues: the Chelyabinsk State Philharmonic presented a summer concert with the Ural Dixieland, and the beginning of the traditional season of the student philharmonic was marked by a performance by the State Symphony Orchestra of the Chelyabinsk Region. International stars performed on stage of SUSU Assembly Hall: as part of the 8th International Music Festival, our university hosted a concert by Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists chamber ensemble, with the support of the Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region.
Meet-the-artist event with Nikita Mikhalkov
On October 4th, a meet-the-artist event with famous Russian director, actor, and public figure Nikita Mikhalkov took place. The event gathered a full audience of students, teachers, and Chelyabinsk residents who came to meet the master of cinema in person. The Chelyabinsk Region Governor Alexey Texler and State Duma deputies Iana Lantratova and Aleksandr Babakov were also among the guests of honour.
Nikita Mikhalkov, Hero of Labour of Russia, People's Artist of the Russian Federation, director, artistic director of Workshop 12, and author and host of the "BesogonTV" program, came to share his thoughts and reflections. He believes such meetings allow people to experience the time, space, and other people around them, and to understand what truly interests them. The questions asked by the audience can be complex and profound—and this is valuable, while the opportunity for communication is inspiring: when you answer a specific question, there is always hope that the listener truly cares about what you are saying.
The director spoke about his work on his most significant films, shared memories of the beginning of his career, and reflected on the role of cinema in shaping society's worldview. He also screened excerpts from his films, vividly revealing insights into the on-set experiences through engaging stories that were greeted with bursts of laughter and applause. At the end of the evening, the audience, most of whom were SUSU students, asked questions to Nikita Mikhalkov. The young audience was interested in the stages of the master's creative journey, his views on art and contemporary cinema. And, of course, they expressed gratitude for the engaging conversation and his creative work.
"17 Values of Russia"Youth Media Forum of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
South Ural State University has joined the "17 Values of Russia" federal project, an educational passing-the-torch event organized by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Its goal is to discuss traditional spiritual values at specialized Student Media Centre venues across our country.
On November 18th, our university launched a media forum focused on Humanism. The federal event united 17 regional venues, each representing one of our country's key values. SUSU, as our region's leading university, picked up the torch, bringing together students, education experts, and social policy experts. The forum became a unique platform for dialogue between students from Chelyabinsk's universities and vocational schools, as well as guests from other regions.
Delegations from Volgograd State Technical University and Plekhanov Russian University of Economics participated in the event. The media forum program included panel discussions, master classes by leading experts, and project group work. Participants made videos and posters on social topics, exploring the modern understanding of humanism in education, science, volunteering, and everyday life.
South Ural State University is named the Youth University of the Year
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Our university received this title in December 2025 at the Youth Assembly of the Chelyabinsk Region, where the "SUSU Intellectual Creativity Workshop" student association was named the best youth organization of the year, and a graduate student and member of the SUSU Extracurricular Activities Office team was recognized as the professional of the year in the field of youth policy.
The achievements by SUSU students were recognized at the regional and federal levels. On December 25th, 14 undergraduate and graduate students of our university were awarded the Chelyabinsk Region Governor's Prize for outstanding achievements in their academic, creative, social, scientific, and experimental design activities. Previously, two SUSU students had been awarded the Governor's Prize in Youth Policy for their contribution to creating harmonious and favourable conditions for the development of the younger generation.
Student projects have won awards in city and regional competitions. SUSU students won the "Chelyabinsk Region – That's Us!" youth project competition held by the Legislative Assembly of the Chelyabinsk Region.
A record number of projects developed by the university students received grant support from the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs: 21 projects were named among the best social projects in Russia in the All-Russian Competition of Youth Projects among Individuals. SUSU student Aleksey Bystrov won the "Your Move" All-Russian student project under the Presidential Platform "Russia Is a Land of Opportunities", implemented by Rosmolodezh with the support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. Aleksey received 1 million roubles for the implementation of his project.
SUSU's academic achievements have also been recognized at the federal level: students have received prestigious scholarships, including scholarships from the President of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Russian Federation. The university itself has received a letter of acknowledgement from Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education, for its contribution to the development of the education system and active participation in the scholarship program.
SUSU is a sports university
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The eponymous sports festival took place at SUSU in May, bringing together over 3000 students, athletes, guests, and residents. This year's event commemorated the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and was held in the spirit of the legendary Olympics 1980.
In 2025, our university has hosted the Chelyabinsk Region Youth Hockey Cup. This exciting sporting event, which pitted the Chelyabinsk Region Student Ice Hockey League team against the "Belye Medvedi" Youth Ice Hockey League team of Traktor Ice Hockey Club, was held with the support of the Chelyabinsk City Administration and the Chelyabinsk Region Government in September. Hockey teams from universities of the South Ural region, including SUSU's Politekhnik, played as part of the Student Ice Hockey League team, and approximately 3000 students from our city gathered to support the student sports.
Throughout the year, the university athletes demonstrated outstanding success in other sports as well: the indoor football team became the Russian champion among students; the badminton team (which includes SUSU students) won the 2025 Cup of the National Badminton Federation of Russia, and the SUSU chess boxing school athlete Amina Akhmadullina became the world champion in this sport!
Development of the university infrastructure
In December 2025, the grand opening of South Ural State University's first mother-and-child room took place. The decision to open the room had been made in response to the needs of student families and young families of the university faculty members. A large number of young couples with small children live on campus, and the room, which combines several multifunctional spaces and was created as part of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education's "Help Mum Study" program, has become a new focal point for our university's young families.
All these achievements demonstrate SUSU's high level of potential and confirm its contribution to the development of Russian science, higher education, industry, economics, and the humanities.
The year that is about to end has demonstrated South Ural State University's ability to meet modern challenges, maintain a leading position in higher education and science, and shape future trends.