Messenger MAX to Become the Backbone of Russia’s University Digital Ecosystem

At the international forum Kazan Digital Week, Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development hosted a session focused on the future of the national messenger MAX. The main topic was its integration into higher education to create a convenient and secure digital environment for students, faculty, and administrators.

In the near future, MAX will power a large-scale project called “Digital University.” The initiative will merge all essential services—class schedules, learning materials, and digital access passes—into a single, user-friendly interface.

According to Andrey Omelchuk, a representative of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, MAX is not just a domestic alternative to foreign messaging apps but a strategic project for building a full-fledged ecosystem. It will streamline communication across the academic process, from helping newcomers adjust to coordinating group projects and delivering urgent university-wide announcements.

The rollout is already moving fast. A total of 531 universities and branches have joined the “Chats VuzOnline” system, and 447 universities have set up their own chat spaces inside MAX. A key milestone has been the launch of the “Digital Student ID,” now active at 203 universities and soon to be available nationwide through the app.

Some universities are already going further, using MAX not only for communication but also for CRM integration and building useful chatbots.

To keep the academic community informed, Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education has also opened its official channel in MAX.

The national messenger is rapidly evolving into a central digital hub for Russian education, offering security, convenience, and direct connections between all participants.