Corporate Training

Educational Events and Materials – October 2025

Original in Russian: blog.skillbox.by
Educational Events and Materials – October 2025 / Skillbox Media

Contents:

Training with a guarantee of employment: "Methodologist from entry-level to professional"

Find out more

Should the development of soft skills be considered a priority in higher education?

Dmitry Livanov, Rector of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Daud Mamiy, Rector of the Adyghe State University, Irina Martusevich, Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, and Ilya Obabkov, Rector of the Ural Federal University.

Venue: during a discussion at the IX SberUniversity conference entitled "More than training", dedicated to the topic "Cognitive potential: how to teach students skills that are not available AI?

Artificial intelligence is significantly transforming approaches to the educational process. AI technologies can automate routine tasks, allowing teachers to focus on more important aspects of learning. For example, AI-based systems can analyze students' knowledge levels, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. This, in turn, helps develop individualized curricula that better meet the needs of each student.

Furthermore, AI opens up new horizons for interactive learning. With the help of adaptive platforms, students can study at their own pace, receiving instant feedback and support. Such technologies promote deeper learning, as they take into account the unique ways each student perceives information.

The implementation of artificial intelligence also makes it possible to create virtual assistants that can answer student questions at any time. This significantly expands access to educational resources and promotes greater student engagement in the learning process.

Thus, the impact of AI on education is manifested in the improvement of the quality of education, its increased accessibility and adaptability, which opens up new opportunities for both students and teachers.

This discussion examined various aspects that have arisen for higher education in light of the advent of generative neural networks. One of the main questions was what it means to be a thinking person in the modern realities; this topic became central to the conference "More than Learning", held in 2025. What are the responsibilities of universities in preparing such specialists? How can the necessary level of preparation be achieved, given that students have increasingly the opportunity to imitate the learning process in core subjects? Perhaps it is worth reviving oral exams and handwriting? Or should the development of cultural capital be integrated into the educational process? Is it necessary to emphasize communication skills, teamwork and other soft skills?

Most of the discussion participants came to the consensus on the need for significant changes and additions to the higher education system. In particular, extracurricular activities are an important element of the educational process, as they develop skills needed in the modern world. However, MIPT Rector Dmitry Livanov expressed a more critical view of these proposals. He believes that artificial intelligence, like any previous technology, including even the simple transition to ballpoint pens, does not change the essence of the educational process, but only affects its external aspects. Livanov also does not perceive the development of soft skills as the primary goal of university education, arguing that they develop naturally in the right environment. He also shared his views on the fundamental differences in the thinking of representatives of the humanities and technical disciplines. You can learn more about his views on the appropriate environment for intellectual development from the discussion recording.

Read also:

Artificial intelligence can be compared to a medicine that should not be used thoughtlessly.

The Role of Communities in Corporate Learning: Goals and Application Methods

Maria Bolotskaya is a specialist in educational communities and an expert in training and development (L&D).

Venue: OTUS conference organized by Netology and School of Education, entitled "Quality EdTech: From Creation to Implementation" (starting at 00:13:50 in the recording).

Community-based learning is gaining popularity due to its ability to create interaction and support among participants. This approach allows not only to share knowledge but also to form strong connections between people, which contributes to a deeper understanding of the learning material.

To effectively implement such training, it is necessary to consider several key aspects. First, it is important to create a favorable atmosphere where each participant feels comfortable and can freely express their opinions. Secondly, it's important to provide access to a variety of resources and tools that will help participants share experiences and learn from each other.

Furthermore, it's important to actively encourage collaboration by providing opportunities for group work and joint projects. This approach not only improves information retention but also develops teamwork skills. Finally, it's important to regularly assess progress and receive feedback to adjust the learning process based on the needs of the participants.

Therefore, the successful implementation of community-based learning requires attention to the atmosphere, resources, collaboration, and assessment of results.

Maria Bolotskaya begins her short lecture by describing the factors driving the growing popularity of community-based learning (CBL) in the business world. She highlights that one of the main aspects of this trend is the blurring of the boundaries between different professions. Professionals across diverse professional functions increasingly need to share skills, and they require a suitable environment for effective collaboration.

Before discussing specific approaches and frameworks related to community-based learning, Maria will address the question of which activities and formats often cause confusion in the context of CBL. However, the main topic of her presentation will be developmental practices that can be effectively used in communities, as well as the role of these communities in the creation of corporate training programs. According to Maria Bolotskaya, community engagement can occur at all stages of program development in accordance with the ADDIE model. Her presentation will include examples illustrating how this is implemented in practice.

Read also:

Professional communities: ways of organizing for employee training and growth.

Motivating technology leaders to invest in educational Initiatives

Daria Kozlova is the Director of Yandex Education.

In the podcast "This is my job" from Yandex.

The interaction between tech companies, educational institutions, and schools faces a number of significant challenges. One of the main difficulties is the difference in approaches and goals of these organizations. Tech companies, striving to quickly implement innovation, often face the slower processes typical of the educational sector, where changes require time to study and adapt.

Another barrier is a lack of mutual understanding. Business representatives may not always understand what skills and knowledge future specialists need, while educational institutions may not be aware of the latest trends and technologies in demand in the market. This leads to a gap between the theoretical knowledge students receive and the practical skills necessary for a successful career.

Furthermore, financial constraints also play a role. Educational institutions don't always have sufficient funds to implement joint projects with companies, which can hinder the integration of modern technologies into the educational process. It's also worth noting that the time required to coordinate joint initiatives can become a significant obstacle to productive collaboration. Thus, effective interaction between technology companies, universities, and schools requires overcoming these difficulties, which will require joint efforts and open dialogue. This rich podcast episode discussed several fascinating topics. One of them was the personal educational and career path of Daria Kozlova, who currently combines managing educational initiatives at Yandex with her work at ITMO University, although her career began in professional sports. Another interesting topic was innovative educational programs in information technology, such as the AI360 bachelor's degree. The main challenge in developing such courses is that the future of graduates' professional careers is shaping and changing before our eyes. Students enrolled in these programs immediately become researchers: it's impossible to become a highly skilled AI specialist without participating in international research.

The podcast also touched on more general topics, including the differences between the business and academic environments in terms of professional work. Daria admitted that the transition from university to the corporate sector was a real challenge for her—she discovered that even the most modern and innovative educational institutions operate completely differently from tech companies. Despite this, the guest shared a number of management practices that she has successfully employed at various stages of her career.

The final part of the episode focused on the global transformations in educational institutions, both schools and universities, that are taking place under the influence of artificial intelligence. Various competitions for teachers and students were discussed, and the issue of how students and their parents perceive high-quality higher education and what changes to the higher education system could be proposed by modern companies was also raised.

Read also:

The higher education system faces serious challenges: what's new We learned this from Horizon reports.

Reasons why university scientific research remains unclaimed

Participants include: Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education, Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Industry and Trade, Dmitry Bakanov, Director General of Roscosmos, Mikhail Gordin, Rector of Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Alexey Vashkevich, Deputy Head of the Department for Technological Development of Exploration and Production at Gazprom Neft, and Dmitry Zauers, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprombank.

In a podcast dedicated to issues of technological leadership.

The topic of discussion concerns how large industrial companies form the key areas of their scientific research and how they interact with universities in this process.

This is not about the field of education, but about the scientific and technological activities of universities and its practical significance. During discussions involving representatives from corporations and government agencies, the question arose about the reasons why the research results of most Russian institutes and universities remain unclaimed. All participants agreed that the country has strong research groups and sufficient intellectual potential, so answers were sought elsewhere. Could the problem lie in a lack of funding, poor goal setting, a lack of a clear system of priorities, or other factors?

Some argue that no university has the necessary resources to solve the technological problems of even a single large company, let alone work with an entire industry. Moreover, most higher education institutions do not receive orders from industrial companies, making them unable to act as independent participants in innovation development.

In this regard, the Ministry of Education and Science emphasizes the need for universities to collaborate both among themselves and with research institutions. Large companies, for their part, strive to strictly prioritize research funding, avoiding simultaneous support for multiple projects related to the same topic. They also ensure that research groups at partner organizations focus on their specialized areas of research and do not interfere with the work of other partners. In addition, in some industries, according to a number of participants in the discussion, the state could take on the functions of regulating and identifying leading scientific organizations responsible for monitoring developments in specific areas.

Read also:

An unusual prospect: close ties between universities and the commercial sector can turn into serious consequences.

Modern trends and challenges in corporate training in Russia

The founder of the Digital Learning community is Pavel Bezyaev.

In the podcast of the educational platform True Education, which is called "Trulala".

The Digital Learning Community was created with specific goals aimed at developing digital learning and sharing knowledge in this field. Initially, its goal was to unite people interested in a modern approach to learning using technology. Over time, the community has evolved, adapting to new challenges and member needs. Today, it strives to be useful by offering resources, support, and a platform for sharing experiences, helping its members develop their skills and apply innovative teaching methods.

In a conversation with Marina Voytovich, Product Director of True Education and podcast host, Pavel Bezyaev discusses a variety of topics. He touches on the widespread question surrounding artificial intelligence—whether generative neural networks are truly beneficial in learning or just a fad—as well as the pressing issue of communication both within organizations and competitively. Pavel notes that widespread digitalization, which has led to most communication now taking place in chat rooms, has negatively impacted the quality of communication. Despite the convenience of online reviews and voting, he emphasizes the importance of face-to-face meetings with colleagues. These conversations allow for a deeper understanding of each other's opinions and perspectives.

The highly specialized discussions touch on topics such as the organization of the Digital Learning Award and its impact on participants and laureates, as well as the role of communities and the "solutions zoo" as a result of the digital transformation of corporate learning. Pavel Bezyaev notes that advances in neural networks only exacerbate the existing "solutions zoo" problem, which was already quite pronounced. Previously, there were dozens of different programs, each of which developers sought to create a full-fledged LMS around, but now a multitude of similar LMSs are appearing on the horizon, each with added artificial intelligence features, which is not always justified. It is not yet clear how to proceed in this situation, but the podcast guest believes that the initiative to integrate solutions from different developers should come from large clients in the field of corporate training.

Read also:

Artificial intelligence and the participation of representatives of generation Z: the main directions of development of corporate training in Russia in 2025.

The True Nature of the Learning Organization: Myth or Reality?

Artem Soloveychik is a psychologist and educator, as well as the head of the Education Industry Center at Sberbank.

Venue: a TED-talk presentation at the ninth SberUniversity conference entitled "More than Learning."

The topic is how a company can foster a culture of growth and create a mechanism for continuous learning.

In recent years, the concept of the "learning organization" has gained significant popularity in the field of corporate training and development. It is much discussed, but it is rare to actually encounter such organizations. The essence of the idea is that only in such structures can creative and truly innovative thoughts arise, as well as ensure the continuous development of employees, which occurs thanks to their own desires. However, in practice, realizing this ideal proves quite difficult, as its primary condition is the creation of a free and inspiring environment conducive to development.

As a rule, the description of an ideal environment includes many conditions. However, Artem Soloveychik, in his speech, highlighted one key requirement: a successful self-learning organization, where each team member develops and strives for new, truly breakthrough ideas, is created in an atmosphere where people are allowed to be themselves. The speaker also noted that such a model is quite difficult to implement, especially within traditional business corporations, where such an approach is not the norm.

"People are truly strong and full of energy when they remain true to themselves and do not try to embellish their essence. <…> When a person begins to recognize their true nature, ideas and aspirations awaken within them that were previously inaccessible until they lived in harmony with themselves, were under pressure, and did not feel like the master of their own lives. "They begin to actively interact with what's happening around them," asserts Artem.

According to the speaker, the main goal of learning is not only the acquisition of new knowledge, which is obvious, but also the process of self-discovery. True growth occurs not when a person strives only to accumulate information, but when they begin to discover themselves. The period of self-discovery leads to rapid development. At this point, motivation no longer depends on external goals, control, or evaluations, but comes from internal resources. This becomes especially significant for the development of truly innovative ideas, since established external evaluation criteria for them do not yet exist.

Why is it critical in this environment to avoid pressure and imposition? Let's talk about whether Artem Soloveychik has encountered similar examples from his own experience - all this can be heard in his speech.

Read also:

Six key components that contribute to the transformation of a company into a self-learning one organization.

Reasons for Passionate Learning Among Teenagers: What Motivates Them?

The founders of the Lectorium project are Yakov Somov, who also holds the position of methodologist at the Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 239, and Olga Kolzina, who is a career guidance specialist and business coach.

Place: in the podcast of the Federal Adolescent Center called "Who Am I Talking To?"

The question of how schools, clubs, and parents can contribute to the learning of teenagers is very relevant. Educational institutions can create a supportive and stimulating atmosphere, offering a variety of forms of learning and activities that will help students develop their skills and interests. For example, introducing interactive teaching methods, organizing extracurricular activities, and providing opportunities to participate in competitions can significantly increase the motivation of adolescents.

Clubs and sections also play an important role, allowing young people to explore new interests and develop their talents in an informal setting. Such activities can promote team building and strengthen social connections, which, in turn, has a positive impact on students' learning and self-esteem.

Parents, in turn, can provide invaluable assistance by supporting the learning process at home. This includes creating a comfortable environment for study, engaging in discussions of academic topics, and encouraging independent knowledge discovery. It is important for parents to show interest in their children's academic achievements and also help them cope with the difficulties they may encounter in the learning process.

Thus, the interaction between schools, clubs, and parents creates a holistic support system that promotes successful learning for adolescents and their personal development.

The title of today's issue raises an important question: are adolescents really unwilling to learn? At first glance, this may seem rhetorical, since, according to developmental psychology, the primary activity during adolescence is not related to learning. So, one might assume the answer is obvious—yes, it's true. However, another question arises: why do some schoolchildren not only master the material successfully, but also do so with obvious enthusiasm? Is there a way to spark interest in learning in your children and students?

Experts in this field offer varied opinions on these issues, but their views overlap considerably. Olga Kolzina emphasizes the importance of choosing the right teaching methods, noting that during this period of life, it's important to consider the significance of communication and self-determination for adolescents. Yakov Somov, in turn, argues that children, including adolescents, are interested in the same things as adults. Therefore, if a teacher is genuinely passionate about their subject, students will also be interested in learning.

Sometimes, indeed, pedagogical approaches don't meet the needs of a particular teenager. However, according to Yakov, drastic decisions such as transferring a student to another school should not be made immediately. In some situations, it may be sufficient to organize additional classes or clubs for him, where he can interact with like-minded people and gain experience in solving complex problems.

The podcast also discussed the importance of creating a suitable learning atmosphere for teenagers, whether modern school graduates are overwhelmed by the variety of options, and the role parents can play in shaping their children's educational path.

Read also:

Nine key factors that determine academic success among middle and high school students.

Basic principles of designing modern educational institutions

Natalia Suvorova holds the position of head of research projects at the development company Brusnika.

In the podcast called "You are the worst class!"

The topic of discussion concerns the implementation of modern trends in educational architecture in Russia. In this area, there is an active use of innovative solutions aimed at creating a comfortable and functional learning environment. Architects and designers strive to integrate flexible spaces that promote collaboration and communication between students.

In addition, the emphasis is on the use of environmentally friendly materials and technologies, which is in line with global trends in sustainable development. New educational institutions are designed with the needs of modern students in mind, including areas for relaxation, creative activities, and group study.

Thus, Russian experience in educational architecture reflects global trends and aims to create a more effective and inspiring learning environment.

This podcast primarily focuses on global trends in the design and construction of educational institutions. It addresses aspects such as the multifunctional use of spaces, the accessibility of infrastructure for local residents, as well as attention to environmental issues and the psychological well-being of students. The conversation features numerous inspiring examples, including a school that completely meets its energy needs thanks to a façade covered in solar panels.

Can similar examples be adapted to the Russian education system? Natalia Suvorova is confident that this is entirely feasible and does not require significant investment. In fact, the cost of building good and bad school buildings is roughly the same, but the former utilize space more efficiently, while the latter are characterized by bleak and empty hallways. The program's host shares examples of her company's projects, as well as those of other well-known educational institutions in Russia. She also touches on the topic of outdated and reasonable sanitary standards, expressing the opinion that meeting certain requirements, such as the size of a school library, may require it to occupy a significant portion of the building. The discussion also touches on the balance between safety and the public function of schools. However, some of the proposed practices, such as installing a glass roof to increase light transmission in snowy winters, may seem difficult to implement in Russia. However, many sound ideas were still voiced.

Read also:

The book "School Environment as an Object of Research" by Vitold Yasvin examines various aspects of the educational environment in schools. It analyzes important parameters that influence the process of teaching and education. The author emphasizes that the school atmosphere plays a key role in shaping educational outcomes and social interactions between students and teachers. Yasvin suggests considering the environment as a dynamic system in which all elements are interconnected, and changes in one of them can lead to significant consequences for the entire educational process.

Methods of Teaching Literature in the School System and the Difficulties of Interacting with Students That Teachers Face

Artem Novichenkov, who is not only a teacher and writer, but also a literary scholar, and also a host of a program on the Mayak radio station, together with Nikita Isaev, a literature teacher and podcast host.

In a podcast called "From Bell to Bell".

The topic of discussion concerns the specifics and nuances of teaching literature in a school context.

Identifying the main topic of this dialogue turns out to be quite difficult. The topic touches on not only issues related to the personal and professional boundaries of teachers. The episode can best be described as a conversation between two literature teachers, which is important for understanding their experiences—they are men working in Moscow schools and their interests.

This episode's guest avoids discussing general issues concerning the Russian school system, believing that podcast discussions won't lead to any changes. Instead of discussing class sizes, teaching loads, and salaries, the focus shifts to approaches to working with unmotivated students, as well as discussing which literary works should be part of the school curriculum and which should be added. Thus, the podcast is of interest not only due to the participants' opinions on the teaching profession, but also their views on classical literature.

Read also:

Bookshelf: "I Don't Want to Read" by Rimma Rappoport

Learn more