Students in Russia Are to Take On Automation at Large Industrial Plants

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and the Almaz-Antey concern have launched a joint interdisciplinary educational project in which students tackle applied problems in industrial automation. The initiative is built around a “forward-looking training model,” meaning future engineers work from the outset on the same challenges currently facing real manufacturing facilities, rather than focusing solely on theory.

Hands-On Practice

Project participants from the Polytechnic University study production processes and immediately propose technical solutions that can be implemented in practice. All work is carried out in teams under the guidance of Almaz-Antey specialists and university faculty. Student teams are granted access to real industrial data and the same tools used at modern manufacturing plants.

Students from different academic backgrounds and disciplines are involved in the project. This makes it possible to approach practical problems from multiple angles — from mechanics and robotics to software development and control systems. The new learning format brings formal education closer to real industrial work.

From Classroom to Factory Floor

The project’s initiators say the main goal was not only to give students hands-on experience but also to build and strengthen ties between the university and an industrial enterprise. In modern manufacturing, automation and robotics are becoming key — if not the primary — drivers of efficiency. Future engineers need to understand and apply these technologies already at the training stage.

Representatives of the Polytechnic University note that working with industrial partners helps students better navigate the professional environment and adapt more quickly to employer expectations. In effect, the project creates a direct bridge from the university to real production, allowing young specialists to demonstrate their capabilities right away.