The discussion was organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The participants discussed plans for the implementation of the pilot project, new directions and educational programs that will be opened at universities as part of the transition to the new model, the specifics of the admission campaign in 2026 and the expected level of applicants.

The event was attended by the rectors of the leading universities participating in the pilot project: Mikhail Gordin (Bauman Moscow State Technical University), Alexander Klimov (Russian University of Transport MIIT), Inna Shevchenko (Southern Federal University), Maxim Demin (I. Kant Baltic Federal University), Vladimir Sitnikov (Stavropol State Agrarian University), as well as the first vice-rector of the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Georgy Nadareishvili. The moderator was Andrey Zhurankov, head of the analytical department of the TASS press center.

Inna Shevchenko, responding to a question about the balance between fundamental training and educational flexibility, stressed:

"The fundamental core provides the student with an intellectual framework and a broad outlook, without which deep specialization is impossible. Flexibility is achieved through a system of individual educational trajectories, which already employ more than 12,000 SFedU students. Already in their junior years, students try themselves in various professional fields through project activities with industry leaders, which allows them to consciously choose a specialization by the third year."

In addition, the SFedU Rector gave examples of programs implemented jointly with industrial partners. She noted that active partnership is at the heart of the new model. The SFedU has established a network of six professional schools, the academic councils of which include up to 40% of representatives of industry leaders: Rostec Group, Rosatom, PJSC SIBUR Holding, GC Titan, Sbera, Roscosmos companies and institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences. A striking example is the program with GC "Titan" on microfluidic synthesis, where students bring laboratory developments to an industrial design right in the learning process. At the Advanced Engineering School of the Southern Federal University, individual modules are fully conducted by Rostec Group employees — developers and heads of departments at the enterprise.

Another example of an effective partnership is the educational program "Radio Electronic systems and complexes", which is implemented with a variable duration of study. Within the framework of this program, the basic target module is fully managed by an enterprise that has not only a production, but also a research base. The heads of specific departments and laboratories, who are direct developers of special—purpose systems, are involved in the implementation of the educational program. The final assessment of knowledge in the program is not just a defense of the final qualifying work, but a qualification exam, which is accepted by a joint commission of representatives of the university and the enterprise. The development created by the student team is then transferred directly to production.

"The technology of designing a module of variable professional competencies within the framework of individual educational trajectories has become a universal tool for such interaction at SFedU. Thanks to this, each industrial partner can effectively integrate their tasks and needs into any university educational program or create a joint program to meet their goals and results," Inna Shevchenko added.

At the end of the round table, the participants agreed that the new model of higher education, combining fundamentality, flexibility and close connection with industry, will make it possible to train specialists who are really in demand in the labor market.