In 2025, the St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design launched the two-year project "PROMTECHNESIGN Youth Initiative Development Platform", implemented with the grant support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh).
The main goal of the project is to create a sustainable ecosystem for youth development, providing conditions for the formation of professional competencies, creative self—realization and the involvement of students in socially significant activities.
During the first year of implementation, a set of infrastructural, educational and practice-oriented solutions aimed at developing youth activism both at the university level and in an interregional format was formed. The key directions and results of 2025 are presented below.
Creation of youth development infrastructure
Center of attraction PROMTECHNESIGN
At the first stage, a multifunctional center was created at the university, which became a base for training media volunteers, technical specialists, designers and artists. More than 900 participants were trained in working with photo and video equipment, creating visual materials and event support. The result of the center's work was the launch of major student projects, including the festival of adaptation of first-year students "Studexpo".
To join the center, anyone can submit an application in the personal messages of the .
Sarafan Media Cluster
In November 2025, a new space was opened for the implementation of youth initiatives in the field of media — the Sarafan media cluster. On an area of 150 sq. m. There is a photo room, a video space, a podcast area and a lecture hall.
Filming, lectures, media intensities, as well as events that bring together young people from different directions are held here. One of these events was the Mediators of Change contest, a regional competition for creating information campaigns. In the final, the participants met in the Media Cluster, the space became the central point of the urban media environment.
The cluster provides St. Petersburg students with free access to modern equipment and has become a platform for training programs and media events.
.
Educational and practice-oriented programs
The toka program.development"
500 students participated in the project, who were trained in three areas: mentoring, curation and project promotion.
The result was the formation of a management team that ensured the organization and support of subsequent project activities.
The All-Russian platform "Freshman. This is your story."
The platform is aimed at helping first-year students adapt and involve them in extracurricular activities. A special feature of the format is the participation of undergraduates in the role of mentors, which helps strengthen the student—to—student system and foster continuity in student communities. The project brought together more than 500 participants at online and offline stages.
Scientific and technological initiatives
Hackathon "Industrial engineering in modern professions"
The event brought together 100 talented students from more than 20 teams representing the country's leading universities. The project has become a platform for the exchange of digital skills, the development of engineering solutions and familiarization with technology trends.
All-Russian conference of game developers "CONFA"
The event, unique for the region and unparalleled, was attended by more than 1,000 people. Here, independent developers were able to present 28 projects, undergo a review, receive feedback from the industry, and reach new partners. The Conference has become not only an educational platform, but also a growth point for the Russian gaming industry at the student level.
Cultural and creative initiatives
Creative youth community "Culture"
The Creative Youth Community "Culture" was created to develop the creative potential of young people. It combined four areas: digital art, contemporary art, graphic design, and team improvisation. Design hackathons, open stages, lectures and workshops were held here. The result was a performance "Just like That", which clearly showed how the level of participants has increased. The Culture Community has become a platform where talented students from different fields have found each other and created a single creative core.
Results of the first year of the project implementation
In 2025, more than 5,000 participants were involved in the project, about 500,000 social media accounts were received, a modern infrastructure for media production and creative development was created, and stable student communities were formed. Dozens of events have been implemented aimed at developing competencies in the fields of media, science, culture, mentoring and project activities.
The results obtained form the basis for the implementation of the second year of the project, in which it is planned to deepen work in key areas: patriotic education, project management, volunteerism, career guidance and adaptation of first-year students.
The project, implemented with the grant support of Rosmolodezh, has become an important tool for the development of youth policy at the university and the region. The created infrastructure and the formed student team ensure stability and continuity in the implementation of events, contribute to the professional growth of participants and the development of an active student environment. The first year has shown that an integrated approach allows you to create significant social effects, empower young people and form new communities that continue to work independently.