Engineer Turnkey: How MegaFon and Povolzhskiy State University of Telecommunications and Informatics Are Rebuilding Telecom Education
Textbooks always lag behind reality. In Samara, educators and industry leaders have found a way to synchronize the clock: MegaFon is stepping into Povolzhskiy State University of Telecommunications and Informatics to help transform yesterday’s high school graduates into engineers who can contribute from day one.
A Laboratory of Real Networks
Telecom engineers have become the new elite of the technical labor market. The problem is that universities often provide a knowledge base rooted in the 2010s, while employers need specialists who understand 5G network protocols and can configure hardware in the realities of 2026.
In Samara, stakeholders have moved to close that gap. MegaFon and Povolzhskiy State University of Telecommunications and Informatics, known as PGUTI, have announced a structured, long-term alliance.
“PGUTI is one of the key профильных universities for telecom, and we have worked with it for many years. Today, more than 480 of its graduates are employed across MegaFon’s divisions, and some already lead federal departments. Our goal is to combine efforts so that students graduate ready to work – familiar with network configurations and the specific operational standards of a given operator,” said Nikita Pikulnikov, director of MegaFon’s Samara branch.
The partnership centers on redesigning academic programs. Two core disciplines for 2026 move to the forefront. The first, “Access Networks,” immerses students in real-world network design and operations. Instead of abstract diagrams, they will learn how to build the “last mile” and connect subscribers in practice. The second course, “Optimization of Communication Network Parameters,” addresses advanced topics: load analysis, fine-tuning equipment and improving infrastructure efficiency. In simple terms, it teaches how to prevent network outages during peak demand.
MegaFon experts will join the teaching staff, and PGUTI’s laboratory infrastructure will be upgraded. Textbooks and instructional materials will be revised to reflect current technological standards so students study today’s tools rather than yesterday’s theory.
From Samara to a National Model
At first glance, this may seem like a regional initiative in the Volga area. Viewed more broadly, however, Samara is becoming a test ground for a model that could help address a nationwide skills shortage in telecom. The lack of practice-ready engineers slows digital transformation. Without them, dense 5G deployments stall, industrial IoT projects remain incomplete and network security is harder to maintain. The MegaFon–PGUTI initiative represents a concrete implementation of the federal program “Personnel for the Digital Economy,” which calls for tighter integration between business and universities.
Over time, such collaboration could accelerate the modernization of undergraduate programs nationwide. PGUTI is already expanding into future-focused areas: fifth-generation networks 5G, vehicle-to-everything communication systems V2X, the Internet of Things IoT and satellite systems. If successful, graduates from Samara will be competitive not only in the Volga region but also in major metropolitan markets. The “university plus anchor employer” model could be replicated across regions and specialties, from cybersecurity to cloud platforms.
Back Lessons of the Digital Era
Five to seven years ago, IT and telecom executives frequently faced a common challenge: graduates with diplomas but without practical skills. Recognizing the issue, the government launched the “Personnel for the Digital Economy” program, actively developed since 2019–2020, which catalyzed change by incentivizing universities to work more closely with industry.
Yet the most significant shifts occurred at the institutional level. For example, Saint Petersburg State University of Telecommunications named after Prof. M.A. Bonch-Bruevich historically maintained ties with the telecom sector. In recent years, however, those relationships evolved from informal cooperation into structured, practice-oriented programs.
Another driver has been corporate initiatives from major technology companies. Leading IT firms such as Yandex, VK and Kaspersky Lab were among the first to recognize that developing talent internally can be more efficient than competing for scarce specialists in the open market. They established base departments and training centers at regional universities. The telecom sector followed slightly later, but the same pattern is now visible: academic autonomy is increasingly aligned with industry demand.
Parallel Worlds Converge
The market is beginning to strike a balance between fundamental knowledge and immediate workforce needs. Where business and academia once operated in parallel worlds, their realities now intersect in university laboratories. Universities are moving away from the image of “ivory towers,” and corporations are no longer functioning as “black boxes” retraining unprepared graduates. Training in Access Networks and network optimization under the guidance of practicing experts serves as a safeguard against professional obsolescence.
This wave of partnerships is likely to intensify. Other technology companies may join MegaFon in Samara, fostering competitive ecosystems within universities to attract and develop top students.
