February 14
- Developing Socially-Oriented Education in Russia’s Universities A great deal of attention is currently being paid to the creation of a social infrastructure, support for social non-profit organizations and projects with social impact, and the role the voluntary sector, volunteering, and corporate social respon...
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A great deal of attention is currently being paid to the creation of a social infrastructure, support for social non-profit organizations and projects with social impact, and the role the voluntary sector, volunteering, and corporate social responsibility might play in tackling social issues. Against this background, issues relating to the development of human capital, whether that means fostering a culture of social engagement or providing professional training for specialists with the competencies and skills required to drive social progress, are somewhat neglected. Tackling this important challenge is particularly relevant to the post-Soviet education model, which has focused attention on students’ individual achievements and competitiveness, leading to a gap between the personal and community aspects of young people’s development. How can Russian universities overcome this gap in order to systematically develop socially-oriented education in Russia? What kind of educational programmes and practices are needed to shape a new socially-responsible generation, from those working in social services, non-profit employees, social entrepreneurs, and social communications professionals – those who have chosen the field as their profession – to businesspeople, government employees, and representatives from all parts of our society? What role can be played by the state, non-profits, and businesses in all this?
- Ecology as a Measure of Quality of Life The Environment National Project was approved in late 2018, and is the biggest, most systemic project to preserve Russia’s unique natural environment in the country’s post-Soviet history. Total funding for the project is more than RUB 4 trillion, ...
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The Environment National Project was approved in late 2018, and is the biggest, most systemic project to preserve Russia’s unique natural environment in the country’s post-Soviet history. Total funding for the project is more than RUB 4 trillion, of which over RUB 3.5 trillion will come from private sources.
Eleven federal projects are to be implemented by 2024, including: effective waste management, the clean-up of hazardous accumulated environmental damage, and a drastic reduction in air pollution in major industrial centres. There are also plans to improve the quality of drinking water and clean up bodies of water, including the Volga River, Lake Baikal, and Lake Teletskoye; to preserve biodiversity and create new specially protected natural areas; and to increase the area covered by restored forests; etc. How will project implementation impact the lives of ordinary Russians? How realistic is it that all of the objectives set out in the national project will be achieved? These questions will be discussed by representatives from government and business, as well as experts involved in the national project.
- Bringing Care Closer: New Possibilities for Rural Russia In partnership with Russian Post and Post Bank Providing access to basic healthcare, educational, financial, and public services is an extremely important issue today for rural areas, where every fourth resident of Russia resides. Villages, particularly remote and hard-to-reach areas, often la...
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Providing access to basic healthcare, educational, financial, and public services is an extremely important issue today for rural areas, where every fourth resident of Russia resides. Villages, particularly remote and hard-to-reach areas, often lack the necessary social, telecommunication, and other infrastructure. Oftentimes, the only socially significant facilities in these populated areas are a post office and sometimes a shop. Due to the lack of prospects for business development and generating profit, major retailers do not come to remote and/or sparsely populated areas. There are usually no pharmacies or health clinics, and banks are leaving due to the low demand for services and low profit margins. As a result, the local population has difficulties performing basic financial operations – opening an account, withdrawing cash, paying for utility services, obtaining and repaying loans both to individuals and for small business development – as well as getting access to social and medical services. This all leads to people leaving their homes in search of work and a better life in big cities. It is clear that the problem needs to be resolved ‘here and now’, by combining the efforts of the state, business, and the expert community. Is there a solution to the problem of infrastructural isolation in areas which are hard to reach and far away from regional centres? How can we support the infrastructure of these towns and settlements at the level enjoyed by regional centres and large cities? How can we avoid infringing the rights of local populations and meet their basic needs for food and medicine, good-quality telecommunications, and modern financial services? Is business currently ready to support the state in ensuring access to social services in rural areas, and, most importantly, are there practical examples of this readiness? What could major market players from various sectors do to improve this situation, both separately and working in partnership with each other?
- Social Entrepreneurship as a Factor Contributing to the Country’s Wellbeing In the current economic environment characterized by harsh competition, ever more companies and entrepreneurs are expressing their readiness not only to turn a profit, but also to solve important social problems. Ensuring equal access for all citi...
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In the current economic environment characterized by harsh competition, ever more companies and entrepreneurs are expressing their readiness not only to turn a profit, but also to solve important social problems. Ensuring equal access for all citizens to high-quality social services, and attracting entrepreneurs into this area, could provide a new source of growth and improve quality of life. In today’s Russia, it is vitally necessary to create a social ecology which prioritizes not profit but better living conditions, through harnessing all the resources of the state, business, and society. What must be in place in order to create an integrated system for socioeconomic development in the regions and the country as a whole? How are existing measures for supporting social entrepreneurship working? Do they meet today’s standards and requirements? What efforts must the regions make to create an environment for developing socioeconomic potential?
Awards Ceremony for Winners of the Best Social Project of the Year Competition for Social Entrepreneurship Projects
- Preserve and Enrich: Implementing the National Culture Project The aims of the national project for culture are to increase public interest in Russia’s national cultural heritage and to create an environment in which citizens can develop their creative potential. This, in turn, will require the building of a ...
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The aims of the national project for culture are to increase public interest in Russia’s national cultural heritage and to create an environment in which citizens can develop their creative potential. This, in turn, will require the building of a diversified infrastructure throughout Russia which meets the needs of contemporary society; the introduction of new technologies and organizational forms for cultural institutions; the widespread promotion of cultural initiatives; and the implementation of innovative projects. To realize this cultural transformation will require not only attracting various forms of funding, which is particularly difficult at the regional level, but also the development of a dialogue between the cultural community, the state, business, and charitable organizations with the aim of coming up with effective solutions. Leading museums, theatres, and other cultural institutions, which have successful experience of introducing new ideas and practices and involving businesses in cultural projects, could help to drive this dialogue forward. In order to achieve the planned outcomes set out in the national project, it will be important to scale up this experience across the entire country, and also to create an environment which will promote the development of a tradition of philanthropy and patronage in culture. What issues must be resolved with regard to the Culture National Project by 2024? What types of support for cultural development in the regions should be prioritized? What are the prospects for cooperation between various cultural institutions, and between cultural institutions and the business community? Examples of successful cultural projects. What role might philanthropy and patronage play in implementing the national project?
- Smart City: From Theory to Practice 2018 saw the launch of the Smart City project across the Russian Federation. Implementing innovative digital and engineering solutions for urban infrastructure will increase the efficiency of urban economic management and make cities more pleasant...
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2018 saw the launch of the Smart City project across the Russian Federation. Implementing innovative digital and engineering solutions for urban infrastructure will increase the efficiency of urban economic management and make cities more pleasant and attractive places to live. Phased implementation of integrated smart solutions in all areas of urban life will increase safety, reduce expenditure on administration, housing, and utilities, improve the urban environment and transport links, and so attract investment. What solutions should be introduced first in Russian cities, and which projects might receive state support? How should the Smart City project be implemented in the regions, and what needs to be included in regional programmes? What global technologies and experience do we need to harness? What mechanisms have been developed to make cities smarter and evaluate progress against this goal? What is the role of the state, business, and residents in shaping the environment of smart cities?
- Science and Society: A Strategy for Future Generations It is very difficult to offer a single definition of the term ‘science’ which fully captures its essence. What sets scientific knowledge apart is the profundity of its inquiry into the crux of phenomena, i.e. their theoretical nature. Scientific k...
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It is very difficult to offer a single definition of the term ‘science’ which fully captures its essence. What sets scientific knowledge apart is the profundity of its inquiry into the crux of phenomena, i.e. their theoretical nature. Scientific knowledge begins when regular patterns are noticed in a cluster of facts – a general and necessary connection between them which helps to explain why a particular phenomenon happens one way and not another and to predict how it will develop in the future. One of the problems which arises as scientific knowledge accumulates, and which is particularly relevant right now, is the social responsibility which scientists assume for the outcomes of their work. The results of scientific inquiry can turn out to be dangerous to society, in which case their use for non-academic purposes could be detrimental. Scientists must be aware of their responsibility to society: after all, science cannot be separated from public life, and can exert both a constructive and a destructive influence on it. Who are today’s Russian scientists? What should pure research and information that matters to society look like? Which channels for disseminating information should we be using? Are integrated government support programmes needed in this area? What are young scientists in the 2020s likely to be interested in?
- Creating a Modern School: New Opportunities for the State and Business to Collaborate through the National Education Project In the face of globalization and the nascent digital economy, developing human capital is key to the country’s systematic long-term success, while investment in human resources is the main driver of investment that will result in concrete and meas...
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In the face of globalization and the nascent digital economy, developing human capital is key to the country’s systematic long-term success, while investment in human resources is the main driver of investment that will result in concrete and measurable strategic benefits for the socioeconomic development of the regions. In order to increase the level of development in Russia’s regions and make the Russian economy internationally competitive, it is vital to ensure that Russia possesses human resources capable of responding to the challenges of the global economy. Training to produce highly qualified specialists with the skills to implement large-scale projects in high-tech and knowledge-intensive sectors must be systematic. The National Education Project both creates new and develops existing opportunities for individuals at all stages of their education, from ensuring the right conditions are in place to promote early child development and support families, to modernizing vocational education and facilitating continuous professional development for workers. The project aims to establish opportunities for growth and replicate best practices, taking the individual needs and features of each region into consideration. Which regional features allow the project’s best practices to be implemented most effectively? How can we provide the necessary human resources to support the development of innovative sectors of the economy? Which measures undertaken as part of the National Education Project will create opportunities for developing the investment climate in Russia?
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Healthy Life Expectancy: The Foundation of Social Development The Event of the Healthy Life Forum Russia’s most important developmental goals include increasing life expectancy to 78 years by 2024, of which 67 should be considered healthy, and to improve the quality of life for the elderly. At present, these numbers differ significantly from r...14:30–15:45
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Russia’s most important developmental goals include increasing life expectancy to 78 years by 2024, of which 67 should be considered healthy, and to improve the quality of life for the elderly. At present, these numbers differ significantly from region to region and lag behind the European Union. Special state programmes and a bringing together of the efforts of the whole of society are needed to respond to this challenge, especially in light of Russia’s aging population. Health has been shown to depend upon the population’s real income, on affordable and high-quality medicine, on lifestyle choices such as regular physical activity and nutrition, on a safe environment, and on conditions in the workplace. Active involvement in community life, a demand for their experience and knowledge in the labour market, and, of course, respect and concern on the part of young people are of even greater importance to the health of senior citizens. All of these things have a pronounced effect on healthy longevity, which in turn significantly impacts the economic aspects of the life of the elderly.
What tasks need to be resolved by 2024? What measures have proven to be effective in preserving the health of senior citizens? What is the ideal balance for investments in public health by the state, business, and by people themselves? What conditions need to be created for the elderly to play a more active role in the economy? What public and private programmes to support this trend exist in the regions today? What resources will be needed to increase healthy life expectancy?
- Best Practices for Socioeconomic Development: Integrated Solutions for the Regions and Cities Federal tools for supporting regional development are getting a lot of airtime at the moment, but unique solutions with a positive socioeconomic impact frequently appear and are implemented within the regions themselves. These can be found in area...
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Federal tools for supporting regional development are getting a lot of airtime at the moment, but unique solutions with a positive socioeconomic impact frequently appear and are implemented within the regions themselves. These can be found in areas such as housing and utilities, agriculture, tourism, urban development, and, as of quite recently, social entrepreneurship. Sometimes, these solutions do not even require public funding, but the effect they have can still be very significant. How might regional know-how help to achieve the targets set out in the May Decree? Which solutions have most to offer the regions? How can we evaluate their impact?
Awards Ceremony for the Winners of the All-Russia Regional Best Practices and Initiatives in Socioeconomic Development Competition
- In the Vanguard of Technological Progress: Women in STEM The low proportion of women in STEM professions (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) has traditionally been the result of a number of factors: limitations in the education system, upbringing, and social stereotypes. But even today, ...
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The low proportion of women in STEM professions (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) has traditionally been the result of a number of factors: limitations in the education system, upbringing, and social stereotypes. But even today, despite the broad range of professional opportunities available to women in the country overall, there remain considerable gender inequalities in terms of both the number of people employed in STEM fields and the level at which they are employed. Why are few women entering the world of science and technology? What barriers do women face in this field? Do we need mechanisms and programmes to encourage women to study the hard sciences and increase the number employed in STEM fields? What influence can women have, and what influence are they having, on the development of high-tech sectors? What must be done to attract women into STEM? What projects and initiatives might be implemented at schools and universities?
February 15
- Training Employees to Implement National Projects Management skills and a willingness to collaborate are becoming key factors influencing the level and direction of development for Russia’s investment environment at both the regional and federal level. To successfully compete on the global stage,...
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Management skills and a willingness to collaborate are becoming key factors influencing the level and direction of development for Russia’s investment environment at both the regional and federal level. To successfully compete on the global stage, it will be essential to foster a community of managers with a shared vision of development, an understanding of the goals and tasks ahead of them, common values, a conceptual apparatus, and a methodology for implementing, exploiting, and sharing best practice in the pursuit of management excellence in both national and federal projects. To what extent does the success of national projects depend on the people directly responsible for implementing them? How can we develop better managers and harness their potential? How can we roll out results to other branches of management across the whole country?
- Education: A Tool for Attracting Investment to the Regions Education in the Russian Federation is on the way to becoming one of the most effective areas for investment, including social investment. Today, in Russia and each of her regions, innovative educational environments are being created, and existin...
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Education in the Russian Federation is on the way to becoming one of the most effective areas for investment, including social investment. Today, in Russia and each of her regions, innovative educational environments are being created, and existing environments are being modernized. Mechanisms for investing in education can be widely implemented and replicated. Social investment could become a key driver of socioeconomic development in Russia’s regions. Russia already boasts examples of projects where tools for attracting investment have been successfully tested in the development and implementation stages. Investment projects in education have helped to improve the investment climate in Russia’s regions and promote socioeconomic development in the country. How do mechanisms for social investment in education stimulate the creation of an advantageous investment climate in Russia’s regions and attract new investment in education? Which best investment practices should we prioritize for adaptation and implementation through public–private partnerships in the Russian Federation?
- Social Mobility as a Tool for Economic Growth and Global Competitiveness In the age of the digital transformation of the economy, the need for professional skills is coming to the fore. A key criterion for success in this new world is the ability to bring creative ideas to fruition in multidisciplinary contexts, along ...
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In the age of the digital transformation of the economy, the need for professional skills is coming to the fore. A key criterion for success in this new world is the ability to bring creative ideas to fruition in multidisciplinary contexts, along with a deep understanding of fundamental technological, managerial, and business processes, and the ability to navigate a world characterized by huge volumes of data. As demand grows and competition becomes fiercer, objectivity in evaluating potential also increases, and fundamentally new opportunities for growth open up for those who are willing to keep improving their skills, investing in their own development, and serving society. What are the features of programmes which have already been implemented in Russia, and how might they be replicated? How quickly might we see positive changes in society as a result of these projects? How can we maximize social mobility? How should we be harnessing our most important resource, the country’s human capital? Will it be possible to successfully halt ‘brain drain’?
- Investing in Online Education Integrating modern technologies into the educational process is intended as a way of increasing the quality of higher education. Using information technologies in education helps to develop professional competencies in the skilled employees of the...
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Integrating modern technologies into the educational process is intended as a way of increasing the quality of higher education. Using information technologies in education helps to develop professional competencies in the skilled employees of the future. In particular, introducing and developing online education can increase the quality of education overall, and allow people across Russia to take their education into their own hands. How is online education evolving, both globally and in Russia? Are Russian and global models and approaches different? How is responsibility for online education shared between the state and business? How large is the market for online education in Russia? What are its prospects for growth? Is investment in this area profitable for business? Can Russian universities run successful online education businesses?
- The Art of Influence: Investment in Social Communications as a Factor in Sustainable Social Change In partnership with Russian Copper Company In the context of the global sustainable development agenda, social communications are a tool for scaling up ideas with social impact and creating a general culture of social responsibility. Brands which integrate shared human values into their bu...
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In the context of the global sustainable development agenda, social communications are a tool for scaling up ideas with social impact and creating a general culture of social responsibility. Brands which integrate shared human values into their businesses win consumers over and help to develop models of responsible behaviour. Foundations and non-profits capable of establishing an open dialogue with their audience attract more funding and get people involved in solving social problems. Why is it so important, indeed necessary, to invest in social communications and develop their creative component, whether that means funding an advertising campaign, an outreach project, or a charity event? Because it gives you the chance to have a significant impact on people’s motivation and actions. What social communications challenges are various organizations facing? Which social communications mechanisms are helping them meet these challenges effectively? How did some well-known social communications projects come to be, in both the for-profit and the non-profit sectors? What trends are defining the future development of social communications?
- The Role of Investment in Social Sector Development According to data from the Russian Ministry of Economic Development published as part of a draft national report on attracting private investment to develop infrastructure and applying public–private partnership mechanisms in the Russian Federatio...
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According to data from the Russian Ministry of Economic Development published as part of a draft national report on attracting private investment to develop infrastructure and applying public–private partnership mechanisms in the Russian Federation in order to ensure economic growth, the volume of investment in infrastructure secured annually must correspond to at least 4.7% of GDP (approximately RUB 4.5 trillion). Taking into account the fact that around 12.5% of public–private partnership projects are presently in the social sector, the potential volume of social infrastructure investment should stand at approximately RUB 500 billion annually. In order to attract businesses to this sector, it is essential to establish favourable conditions, improve the relevant legal and regulatory framework, remove hurdles and administrative barriers, and share best practices in public–private partnerships. Attracting private investment into the social sector will make it possible to improve the quality and accessibility of services and the satisfaction of the end users to whom they are provided, put in place conditions to expand the range of these services, and also facilitate the optimization of budgetary expenditure and the effective use of public assets.
