Virtual Avatars for Education: Russia to Launch Digital Profiles for Citizens Under 35
Russia’s digital landscape is about to change. A new feature on the Gosuslugi government services portal will create digital profiles—virtual “avatars”—for citizens under 35, mapping their social, educational, and professional trajectories.
From Kindergarten to Career Building
Soon, every Russian citizen under 35 will be able to access a digital profile on Gosuslugi. The electronic dossier will compile data related to education, social participation, and professional milestones.
An interagency team is shaping the technology, which will include academic records, diplomas, standardized exam scores, results from competitions and Olympiads, records of extracurricular activities, and even athletic achievements such as fitness tests or sports ranks.
Becoming a Personal Advisor
The platform consolidates data across a person’s educational and social journey, allowing both the state and individuals to use it for development. The government will be able to recommend ways to strengthen skills and career prospects, while users can analyze patterns in their profile to “upgrade” their trajectory.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, users can upload information manually or pull it from government databases to apply for services or receive career guidance.
The system is already being used in college admissions, where applicants upload grades and competition results directly to Gosuslugi. Universities then treat the documents as verified, removing the need for paper submissions. Importantly, profiles will not reset when users turn 35; they can be updated with career or education changes throughout life.
This creates a lifelong digital infrastructure to support personal growth. Officials say the ambitious project is designed to deepen youth engagement with public initiatives. Participation will remain voluntary, and users can delete their profile at any time.
Toward More Personalized Social Policy
The digital profile represents the next stage of Russia’s e-government push, aiming to improve how citizens and government interact. By analyzing aggregated data, the state can track what young people study, what careers they pursue, and what projects attract them. This enables social policy to adapt more quickly, while processes such as grant allocation and service delivery can be automated.
The initiative builds on existing tools like digital signatures, QR-based services, and online tax and medical records, which have already become routine for many citizens. Experts caution, however, that the system’s success depends on strong data protection and cybersecurity measures. If successful, the youth-focused platform could become the “gold standard” of digital services in Russia and later expand to older age groups.
