The latest buzz at ITMO!

From pioneering projects to useful city-dweller tips, here’s our recap of the latest highlights:

💰 Eleven breakthrough initiatives in health, materials, and engineering were declared winners of this year’s open call for projects, with up to 20 million rubles allocated to each. Here are the details.

🤖 A course on integrating AI into classrooms was completed by 155 teachers from 52 cities, thanks to a collaboration between ITMO and Alfa-Bank. Catch the highlights.

🚶‍♂️ Use our tips to discover hidden gems in St. Pete and turn your daily walks into memorable adventures.

And now, let’s re-visit a top post from this week👇

🎭 A day in St. Pete for free! From free meals to coffee and cultural events, see how you can spend a cost-free day in our beloved city.

#newsdigest

AI and education: challenges and opportunities for the next generation 🤖

How are universities evolving in the age of AI? Can AI enhance education without diminishing the value of deep, fundamental knowledge? And how should educators adapt to prepare “AI natives” for the future?

These pressing questions were at the heart of a discussion at the 4th Congress of Young Scientists, hosted by Sirius University of Science and Technology. Daria Kozlova, ITMO’s Director for Strategic Development and director for education at Yandex emphasized a promising perspective:

If everyone is ready to generate questions and answers, we must reimagine educational content and embrace open-book exams. AI is just the next step in this evolution.

Want to know how universities are preparing students to navigate AI “temptations” and merge academic research with business innovation? Click here to read more 👈

#itmoinfo

Meet Reham Qassem, an international student from Tartus, Syria, who is pursuing a degree in information security while staying true to her passion for art 🇸🇾

I have a deep appreciation for art, particularly drawing. Back in Syria, I worked as a painter and I created many portraits, focusing on capturing faces, features, and especially eyes. I love portraying the small details and emotions, especially those subtle feelings that can be seen in people’s eyes, particularly those who try to hide their emotions.

Find out how Reham balances technology, creativity, and a love for discovery! Read the full interview here 👈

#itmofaces

Ho-ho-ho! It's time for Secret Santa! 🎁

Ready to spread some holiday cheer? Join our Secret Santa gift exchange! Here’s how it works:

🎅 What is it?
It’s a gift exchange where you write down what you’d like to receive and buy a present for the person assigned to you. It’s all about surprises and holiday spirit!

🎁 Gift budget
The gift must be priced between 600 and 700 RUB

📅 Important Dates
— Registration closes at 12:00 on December 14. After that, we’ll shuffle the names and let you know who your gift recipient is;
— The gift exchange event will take place on December 21 at 18:00 on the Kronverkskiy campus

🎉 Why come?
Apart from the gift exchange, there’ll be fun activities for everyone. Stay tuned for more updates — we’ll share the details soon!

❗ What if you can’t attend?
No problem! You can hand us your gift in advance, and we’ll deliver it to your recipient. The gift meant for you can be collected later — just message our organizer, Tanya, to arrange it

👉 Join now: Sign up here

Let’s make this holiday season magical! ✨