Eastern Economic Forum. On the way to cooperation

Oleg Smeshko, Rector of the Saint Petersburg University of Management Technologies and Economics (UMTE), and Anna Rumyantseva, Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs of UMTE, took a part in the VIII Eastern Economic Forum.

The VIII Eastern Economic Forum takes place in Vladivostok at the Far Eastern Federal University from 10th to 13th of September at the Far Eastern Federal University, which UTME cooperates with and where University delegation visited during last year's EEF.

The Forum is a key international platform for creating and strengthening ties between the Russian and global investment communities, a comprehensive expert assessment of the economic potential of the Russian Far East, presenting its investment opportunities and business conditions in priority development areas.

The Forum events are traditionally held in the format of panel sessions, round tables, television debates, business breakfasts and business dialogues dedicated to Russia’s relations with various countries of the world. The Forum's business program includes business dialogues with leading partner countries in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as with ASEAN, a key integration grouping of actively developing countries in Southeast Asia.

Within the framework of the forum, the APEC International Conference on Higher Education “Education as a path to self-realization: the needs of the future” was held, at which issues of cooperation in the field of higher education in the Asia-Pacific region were discussed. It noted that the changing needs of employers are forcing universities to move to new educational models in order to provide students with all the necessary conditions to realize their potential.

At the Forum it was actively discussed that education and upbringing are the basis of independence. What Russia will be like tomorrow directly depends on the state of higher education. Experts and participants were unanimous that education is a key condition and driver of economic growth and social development. Colleagues from the Far East shared their experiences. In order to solve the problem of improving the quality of education, the academic leadership program “Priority 2030”. Far East" was launched in 2022. Universities of the Far East develop and implement network educational programs, promote the development of science and promote the qualitative growth of human capital. The first results of the program: new strategic projects with the participation of business, the opening of modern laboratories and attracting applicants from all over the country. They also discussed what challenges universities faced, how to develop and support university teams, and how to build communications with business in the new realities.

In the photo: Oleg Smeshko, Rector of UMTE; Anna Rumyantseva, Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs; and Alexander Shirov, Director of the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.