MAX Becomes a Digital Organizer for Students
Russia’s national messenger MAX is increasingly being used by universities as more than a communications tool, evolving into a digital organizer that helps structure academic life. The platform is already in active use at multiple institutions, including Saratov State University.
How MAX Is Evolving Into a Digital Ecosystem
It has been said many times that the development strategy for the national messenger MAX goes far beyond basic messaging and the exchange of photos and videos. The platform is designed to evolve into a universal digital tool capable of supporting a wide range of tasks. One of the most tangible examples of this evolution is its growing role in education, where MAX is being used to simplify everyday routines for students.
Specialists at Saratov State University named after N.G. Chernyshevsky have been actively integrating the national messenger into university workflows. The institution’s experience was presented at a final seminar and policy meeting on information strategy organized by Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The presentation was delivered by Rustam Khaibullov, Vice President for Strategic Projects at VK.
According to the MAX developer, a stable trend has emerged toward building digital ecosystems, creating end-to-end service chains, and forming convenient digital environments. These principles now underpin the strategies of virtually all modern digital platforms.
Khaibullov noted that the functionality of the national messenger continues to expand. Verified partners already have the ability to integrate their own services into the platform, including the creation of chatbots, mini-applications, and official channels.
Expanding Capabilities Inside MAX
More than 200 bots are currently under development, while around 170,000 educational chats have already been created for students at different universities. Institutes and universities can also use an announcement generator that allows them to publish ready-made notices or create customized messages. In addition, universities can transfer their own sticker packs into MAX by submitting a request through their official university service chat.
Another important feature is the implementation of a digital ID within MAX. This allows students to verify their status and gain access to various benefits and discounts.
The messenger is integrated with the Gosuslugi public services platform and the Goskey digital signature service, providing both convenience and security. During the presentation, Khaibullov also emphasized the high quality of voice communications and the ability to create custom services without requiring advanced programming skills.
Connectivity That Holds Up During Network Disruptions
The official MAX channel of Saratov State University was launched in early October and has already attracted nearly 2,000 subscribers. The channel publishes content on science and technology, digests of university events, and photo reports from campus activities.
One of the key operational advantages of MAX is that it is included on the Ministry of Digital Development’s white list. As a result, the application continues to function even during mobile internet restrictions that may be introduced due to drone-related security threats.
Mobile Platforms for Students
In recent years, Russian students have used a wide range of mobile platforms developed by both international and domestic teams. In 2020, Edge App Ltd, in collaboration with the Russian company Doubletapp, launched the Vozz app for iOS and Android. The application was designed for networking among students and alumni of business schools and universities.
Today, however, Sferum has gained widespread adoption. Developed by VK and Rostelecom, the platform is designed to facilitate communication between schools, students, parents, and teachers. Launched in 2021, Sferum supports group chats, video calls, grade tracking, and schedule updates. Thanks to its integration with VK Messenger, it quickly became a familiar tool in the education process, enabling online classes and school news channels. The interface was designed to be free, ad-free, and relatively resistant to fraud risks. Sferum is now closely integrated with MAX.
The rapid development of MAX and its integration into student life point to the platform’s growing technological maturity. At the same time, there is clear potential for further expansion. Possible next steps include deeper integration with educational platforms such as learning management systems, academic schedules, grades, and transcripts. Over time, MAX could also be adopted by universities outside Russia, particularly in neighboring CIS countries.
