Russian Messenger MAX Adds Student Services: From Class Schedules to Campus Navigation
New student-built chatbots and mini-apps integrated into Russia’s MAX messenger aim to streamline campus life, from schedules and lab reservations to navigation across university buildings
Innovation at the First MAX x VK Education Hackathon
Bauman Moscow State Technical University hosted the first student hackathon by MAX and VK Education, producing more than 50 prototypes. Most solutions address everyday challenges for university students—from automating class schedules to supporting applicants and building internal campus services.
Teams created chatbots and mini-apps that run directly inside the national MAX messenger. Finalist projects included tools for generating personalized schedules that account for exam retakes, room changes, and extracurricular activities; systems to reserve lab spaces and work areas; notification modules for test results, assignments, and deadlines; and assistant tools for student leaders to track attendance and academic progress.
Designing a More Comfortable Campus
Some teams focused specifically on improving campus life. They presented services for booking sports halls, applying for dormitory placements, requesting access passes, and navigating campus buildings using interactive maps. Several solutions also targeted prospective students — guides to university programs, admission chatbots, score calculators, and assistants for choosing academic tracks.
Deployment-Ready Solutions
Experts noted that many of the prototypes are ready for immediate implementation. VK Education representatives confirmed they are prepared to pilot the strongest projects inside the MAX messenger ecosystem. Organizers emphasized that such practical services help transform MAX into a unified platform where students can access schedules, study materials, and campus services in one place.
Nine teams received funding to continue development. Several universities have already expressed interest in adopting and further refining the presented solutions.
