IT Classes Turn Summer Break Into a Launchpad for Future Engineers
Young technology enthusiasts attending Moscow's IT summer program are solving real-world engineering challenges, programming robots and preparing for careers in the digital economy.
Bauman Moscow State Technical University (Bauman MSTU) is launching an IT summer program that offers an intensive, project-based learning experience centered on real engineering challenges. Participants will also have the opportunity to work directly with university faculty members.
The IT summer program is a response to the tremendous interest that students and their families have shown in digital careers. Last winter, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin noted that the IT track within the city's pre-professional high school program had reached record popularity. The initiative now includes 178 schools and nearly 10,500 upper-grade students – ten times as many as when it launched in 2019.
New Campus, New Opportunities
The engineering summer program introduces Moscow high school students to the world of science and cutting-edge engineering. The session is designed for upper-grade students with a strong interest in technology. Participants take part in hands-on activities, explore emerging fields in information technology and engineering, and work alongside university faculty and students to solve practical challenges. The program is hosted in the new Bauman MSTU campus, where students have access to state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories.
That opportunity is especially important because, according to expert estimates, Russia's IT sector faces a shortage of roughly 100,000 software developers and 40,000 database and networking specialists. In this environment, every motivated high school student represents scarce future talent. Bauman MSTU offers students a unique opportunity to test their abilities today in a real university environment.
Nine Out of Ten Graduates
Moscow is investing with a long-term perspective. Today's IT classes are far more than extracurricular clubs – they provide serious engineering preparation. Students receive advanced instruction in mathematics, physics and computer science, but, more importantly, they gain hands-on experience with real technologies. They learn to work with big data, create 3D models and even build digital twins. Schools are equipped with advanced laboratories and training facilities, along with 3D printers, robotics kits, electronic circuit sets and microprocessor development platforms.
The results are already evident. More than nine out of ten graduates from these IT classes go on to enroll in technical universities. Bauman MSTU, MIPT, MEPhI and other top engineering institutions are ready to welcome them.
Becoming an "Engineer of the Future"
Bauman MSTU is no newcomer to organizing immersive educational programs during school breaks. Back in 2022, the university launched a vacation program for students as part of Moscow's pre-professional high school initiative. The pilot demonstrated that students were eager to immerse themselves in the university environment.
At the same time, the federal "Code of the Future" (Kod Budushchego – Code of the Future) program was rapidly expanding. Initially focused on teaching programming languages, it evolved as industry needs changed. Since 2025, the program has broadened well beyond traditional coding to include artificial intelligence and robotics. Students now have access to hundreds of courses offered by leading universities and IT companies.
The network of IT classes expanded rapidly in 2025. Every year, students in these classes develop thousands of projects, and thousands present their work at the "Engineers of the Future" research and applied science conference. Last year alone, more than 4,300 students participated, producing over 2,700 projects. The event is more than a competition – winners and finalists receive tangible admissions advantages, including additional points toward the Unified State Exam.
Coding All Year Long
The IT summer program is likely to become a regular offering, expanding to both fall and spring breaks. Its curriculum is also expected to evolve from broad introductions to IT toward specialized tracks such as autonomous systems, cybersecurity and industrial design. That trend is already reflected in the continued expansion of the "Code of the Future" program, which now includes robotics and artificial intelligence.
The program would become even more valuable if major technology companies joined the effort to develop project assignments. That would allow the full pathway: School – Bauman Summer Program – Olympiad – University – Internship to operate as an integrated talent pipeline.
At the international level, the initiative remains relatively modest, but opportunities for growth are already emerging. Russian educational practices have long attracted interest from international partners. That was demonstrated once again by the International Championship in Algorithmic Programming, which brought together participants from 50 countries.
