Russia’s Universities Are Going Digital—Fast

With AI in classrooms and VR labs on campus, the country is accelerating its education reboot.

Russia is in the midst of a digital revolution in higher education. According to the Ministry of Education, 87% of the country’s universities now use digital learning platforms, and 62% have integrated artificial intelligence into their academic processes. The numbers were shared by Ekaterina Kharchenko, Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education.

Backed by state funding, the transformation is happening at scale. In 2025 alone, the Russian government allocated ₽34 billion (roughly $370 million USD) to modernize university infrastructure. That investment has already equipped 1,200 classrooms with virtual and augmented reality systems, giving students hands-on experience with the same tech they’ll be using in advanced industries.

And the talent pipeline is growing. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, over 150,000 students graduated with IT degrees this year, and a staggering 94% of them found jobs in the tech sector. A major driver of that success? The federal initiative “Digital Economy Workforce”, which has trained 230,000 students in future-focused fields like Data Science, cybersecurity, and robotics.

The strategy is clear: build a digitally fluent workforce now to secure a spot in the global tech economy later.

This isn’t just about bringing universities online — it’s about preparing Russia’s next generation to compete in a world shaped by code, algorithms, and automation. And if the current pace holds, the country may be betting smart on its own digital leap forward.