February 15
- The Smart City – A New Quality of Life The modern city is changing the lives of its inhabitants, creating an atmosphere in which they can develop and realize their creative and intellectual potential. People today don’t just choose a flat somewhere, they look for an environment that in...
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The modern city is changing the lives of its inhabitants, creating an atmosphere in which they can develop and realize their creative and intellectual potential. People today don’t just choose a flat somewhere, they look for an environment that interests them and where they feel comfortable living – from their home, to their block, to their entire neighbourhood. Quality of life has become a factor in property prices and the demand for particular areas. Cities have been joined in the competition for human capital by entire countries, with population mobility and the speed of relocation presenting a serious challenge for all developed nations.
How is the quality of an urban environment evaluated by officials, business, and people themselves? How can the most important aspects be identified and attention focused on them? What is social space within the landscape of the contemporary megacity, and where is the boundary between the responsibilities of business and the consumer? How is the introduction of modern technology into the municipal economy influencing the economic and social potential of regions?
- Best Practices in Socioeconomic Development The All-Russian Regional Best Practices and Initiatives in Socioeconomic Development Contest, organized by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, was run for the second time in 2017. The competition is a tool which helps regions to publicize their ...
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The All-Russian Regional Best Practices and Initiatives in Socioeconomic Development Contest, organized by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, was run for the second time in 2017. The competition is a tool which helps regions to publicize their best practices at a federal level. The key distinctive feature of the competition is the availability of tools which make it possible to replicate and implement the best practices and initiatives of competition finalists in the format of ‘ready solutions’, using the Region-ID information system. What practices from the ranks of the finalists, who are chosen by an expert competition jury, will prove victorious? Can the finalists’ practices be scaled up and applied across all regions of the Russian Federation? How universal are the finalists’ practices? What advantages do the regions that implement best practices obtain? In what sectors can these best practices be applied? What categories of best practice will be in demand in 2018?
- Digital Education: an Investment in the Future The development of a digital educational environment is today part of a systematic project to improve the quality of education. Its future development is closely linked with the adoption of tools to accompany personal learning based on artificial ...
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The development of a digital educational environment is today part of a systematic project to improve the quality of education. Its future development is closely linked with the adoption of tools to accompany personal learning based on artificial intelligence technology, which will make it possible to use an individual approach for every learner. Digital platforms could take over part of the teacher’s daily routine, leaving them with more time for individual and group work. A genuine opportunity is emerging to formulate a personal learning trajectory. How can business be encouraged to participate in creating a digital educational environment? How can the quality of online self-education be ensured? Is a personal learning trajectory a must have of the future? What barriers of government regulation must be removed to allow digital education to develop?
- Effective Social Management in Russia’s Regions A critical factor in the effective functioning of regional socio-economic systems is quality management of social development which is aimed at sustainably improving standards in civil society, creating favourable social conditions and tackling ex...
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A critical factor in the effective functioning of regional socio-economic systems is quality management of social development which is aimed at sustainably improving standards in civil society, creating favourable social conditions and tackling existing problems within regions, establishing conditions for improving the level of education among the population, and preserving cultural heritage. Regional governmental bodies act as the fundamental ordering client and guarantor for regional social development, whilst the process of solving complex social challenges can often also involve major companies with the ability and resources to implement social programmes and projects, as well as non-commercial organizations (NCOs). In this way, businesses and NCOs are to an extent agents of social change in society and participate in complex processes of social management on a regional level. As a consequence, establishing cooperation between the government, business, and NCOs is becoming an essential condition for effective social management, as is the search for points of intersection in their social agenda and joint realization of those projects and initiatives which hold the greatest importance for the development of society as a whole. What challenges are regions setting themselves in social development terms? How can regional governments support charitable and social projects being implemented in the non-commercial sector and by commercial companies, and what mechanisms for cooperation between government, business, and NCOs are the most effective? What are the hallmarks of successfully implemented initiatives in the social sector, and how can these practices be rolled out to other regions? How can charitable activity be made systemic at a regional level, and what is needed in order to provide effective management for every branch of this system?
- An Environmental Image of Russia’s Future: Prospects and Goals What does Russia’s future look like? Will she suffocate in clouds of smog produced by the fuel and energy industry and cars, or follow the mainstream of global trends in refusing to burn hydrocarbons? What is Russia’s place in the global battle ag...
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What does Russia’s future look like? Will she suffocate in clouds of smog produced by the fuel and energy industry and cars, or follow the mainstream of global trends in refusing to burn hydrocarbons? What is Russia’s place in the global battle against climate change? What innovative technologies will help to preserve the environment and restore biodiversity? How can an effective transition be made to a green economy and to environmentally friendly technologies? What can be done to safeguard the quality of the environment in urbanized areas and to develop natural areas subject to special preservation? What technologies can be introduced to eliminate accumulated environmental damage and to provide for the civilized collection and processing of waste?
- Modern Housing In partnership with Agency for Housing Mortgage Lending (AHML) Russia plans to build 800 million square metres of housing by 2025. A construction project on this scale represents a unique opportunity to improve quality of life for almost 25 million Russians. The widespread practice of lowering the cost of hou...
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Russia plans to build 800 million square metres of housing by 2025. A construction project on this scale represents a unique opportunity to improve quality of life for almost 25 million Russians. The widespread practice of lowering the cost of housing construction as far as possible has already demonstrated its failings. Whilst it solves short-term problems faced by developers and some consumers, it creates new, long-term problems elsewhere: high operating costs (including those resulting from low-quality construction and building materials), cities which are less attractive to young people and highly qualified specialists, social decay, and, as a consequence, a deterioration in the local economy. At the same time, demand for new housing remains stable, and is kept high by accessible mortgages – in 2017, mortgage interest rates fell to 9,5%, a record low in Russian history. The present state of the housing market represents a unique opportunity to create modern and comfortable living conditions as an investment in the development of future generations. In 2017, the Russian Government introduced the concept of ‘standard housing’ with the law ‘On Assisting the Development of Housing Construction’ and other legislation adopted at the national level. In the long term there are plans to approve requirements for standard housing which will define a minimum level of quality for apartments and the urban environment in Russia. These will be incorporated within the integrated regional development standards which are set to be confirmed in 2018. What should modern housing look like in the twenty-first century? How does quality of housing impact on quality of life in a city? What tools does the Government have for increasing access to housing? How can a balance be maintained between housing quality and cost? What structural changes must be effected in order to improve quality of life in Russian cities? How can integrated regional development standards be implemented in a way that ensures that they work? What tools do local authorities have for improving the quality of housing and the environment in cities?
- Exporting Russian Education: New Challenges and Future Strategies A country with a globally competitive education system is able to attract the most talented people. Indeed, it is a major factor in the success of a knowledge economy. Turnover in the international education services market is in the billions, whi...
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A country with a globally competitive education system is able to attract the most talented people. Indeed, it is a major factor in the success of a knowledge economy. Turnover in the international education services market is in the billions, while exports of services and academic mobility continue to increase. The priority project “Developing the Export Potential of the Russian Education System” is a timely response to the challenges of exporting Russian education. Its goal is to increase the Russian Federation’s share of non-commodity exports by increasing the appeal of Russian education services on the international education market. The project sets out plans to enact a set of system-wide measures aimed at increasing the appeal of Russian education services. These include the promotion of Russian educational standards abroad, educational programmes, and the advantages of receiving an education in the Russian language. They will aim to secure institutional support for the promotion of Russian education services on the international education market, create special structures focusing on the development of international educational initiatives, and train qualified specialists in the field (including through continued professional development). There will also be an emphasis on training teachers capable of working in a variety of joint international educational programmes, as well as on creating and supporting professional development programmes, seminars on methodology, and academic mobility with respect to developing and implementing joint educational programmes. Stakeholders in these endeavours to improve international cooperation will include the government, business, and academic associations. The roundtable will include a presentation of the preliminary outcomes of the priority project, challenges facing Russian universities with respect to exporting services and the most effective routes to solving them, and promoting Russian education as a brand.
- Healthcare in Russia’s Regions: Performance Today and Goals for 2025 Growing investment in the health of the population is a guarantee of increased labour productivity, economic development, and the preservation of regional social stability. This is a shared challenge, involving the government, business, and citize...
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Growing investment in the health of the population is a guarantee of increased labour productivity, economic development, and the preservation of regional social stability. This is a shared challenge, involving the government, business, and citizens themselves. Today, some of Russia’s regions have been able to use the resources provided to achieve improved life expectancy for their populations, whilst others still lag seriously behind. An analysis of achievements and problems within healthcare will provide a basis for understanding how to improve Russian life expectancy from the present 72 to 76 years by 2025. It is clear that such an improvement will require considerable efforts on the part of federal and regional authorities, as well as additional investment and radically new approaches to healthcare. What is the secret of regional leaders in healthcare? What resources are needed to improve the health of the Russian population? What is the optimal balance between government investment in public health and investment on the part of business and citizens themselves? What is the role of the heads of regions and municipal entities in safeguarding the health of the population? What are the priority areas with respect to healthcare investment?
- The Charity of Tomorrow: Trends Shaping the Social Sphere Roscongress Foundation Session Questions about developing human capital, creating a more stable socioeconomic environment, and pursuing environmentally responsible policies have never been more under the spotlight. These priorities, globalization, and progressive technologies a...
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Questions about developing human capital, creating a more stable socioeconomic environment, and pursuing environmentally responsible policies have never been more under the spotlight. These priorities, globalization, and progressive technologies are changing all aspects of society, from education and medicine to manufacturing and communications. The charitable sector is no exception. Notable trends in this area are the increased popularity of social entrepreneurship, the new concept of impact investing, innovative new social projects, the rise of the volunteer movement, and the emergence of the PhilTech sector, which creates digital products and services that are specially designed for non-profit organizations, volunteers, and social entrepreneurs. The speed and effectiveness with which new practices and tools can be integrated into the charitable sector will determine how effectively we can deal with the social challenges facing our society and ensure Russia’s future prosperity. Which modern trends in the charitable sector and which business and non-profit practices are already having a significant influence on regional social development? Are there any innovative technologies which could take charity in Russia to a new level? How can charitable projects that will help to shape the future be implemented in Russia?
February 16
- The Future of the Labour Market Changes under way in various sectors of the economy (the implementation of innovative projects, the creation of high-productivity jobs, etc.) demand a highly professional workforce, whose labour will have the greatest possible effect on the pace a...
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Changes under way in various sectors of the economy (the implementation of innovative projects, the creation of high-productivity jobs, etc.) demand a highly professional workforce, whose labour will have the greatest possible effect on the pace and quality of economic growth, as well as new approaches to developing essential qualifications and labour mobility for implementing promising projects. What professions will be the most in demand in the near future? Once qualifications have been confirmed, what comes next? Will it be possible to get another job in another area?
- The Silver Economy: Maturity in Business The over-50s offer significant but currently underappreciated potential for expanding entrepreneurial activity. According to data from Rosstat, over-50s account for over 40% of the Russian population, and this figure is set to rise by 450,000–500,...
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The over-50s offer significant but currently underappreciated potential for expanding entrepreneurial activity. According to data from Rosstat, over-50s account for over 40% of the Russian population, and this figure is set to rise by 450,000–500,000 people a year. What should be done to encourage people over 45 to become entrepreneurs? How can real success stories boost growth in entrepreneurial activity? Which forms of interaction between the state, business and development institutions will be most effective in developing entrepreneurship in this section of the population?
