Nizhny Novgorod hosted the strategic session of the regional forum "Studtourism-2025".

      03 October 2025 17:00 Society

      The sixth strategic session within the regional forum "Studtourism-2025" was held in Nizhny Novgorod, bringing together more than 160 participants from regions of the Volga Federal District. It was the largest event in the series, organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia and the Russian State University of Tourism and Service with the support of the government of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.

      Participants included representatives of educational organizations, student associations, government bodies and tourism industry professionals. Within the acceleration program they developed concepts for new tours and improved existing routes. Work took place in three directions: "popular science tourism," "youth and student tourism," and "active tourism." This approach allows reaching different categories of participants and developing routes for various target audiences.

      "The development of youth tourism is an opportunity to come into contact with the diversity of traditions and culture of our great country, to see with one's own eyes the beauty and strength of Russia, to experience pride and admiration. It is also an effective tool for career guidance. Traveling across the country and getting acquainted with its scientific and industrial potential, young people gain unique experience that helps them choose their future professional path," noted Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

      The "Studtourism" program is being implemented at the initiative of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. Over four years, 260 universities from 85 regions of the country have joined it; currently more than 40,000 participants are registered on the platform.

      The pace of the project's development was commented on by Oleg Mashkovtsev, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Volga Federal District: "Our main task is to create a comprehensive system for the development of tourism — from school and student clubs to mass hikes and international competitions. The public project 'Turiada' is being successfully implemented in the Volga Federal District. Each year we expand its geography and formats. For example, we are developing winter sports, involving new categories of youth and supporting mass and school tourism. Our goal is to make tourism a driver of the socio-economic development of the district's regions."

      Senator from Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Olga Shchetinina, during an open discussion with forum participants, spoke about measures to support tourism development and emphasized the importance of workforce training. "We understand that highly qualified specialists are the foundation of a successful tourism sector. Therefore, we are already actively implementing programs that allow students to obtain tour guide accreditation during their studies after successfully passing exams. In addition, the Agency for the Preservation and Development of the Historical Environment (ASIRIS), together with leading universities in the region, is implementing an educational personnel training program 'Heritage Leaders,' which forms teams of specialists ready to work with tourists at the municipal level," Olga Shchetinina said.

      Ekaterina Solntseva, Deputy Chair of the Government of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, spoke about the practical implementation of tourism programs in the region as part of the Decade of Science and Technology. "Today there are nine routes operating in the region that cover a wide range of areas — from modern engineering specialties to medicine. Tours necessarily include visits to laboratories, manufacturing enterprises and museums. Our task is to combine cultural heritage and the potential that exists in the Volga Federal District and across the country with the necessary skills and competencies and to make our tours as rich and interesting as possible," she said.

      As part of the forum, participants were able to see elements of these routes. Guests of the city visited organizations included in the popular science tourism routes: the new laboratories of the R.E. Alekseev Nizhny Novgorod Technical University and the production site of Foliplast, a company specializing in additive technologies.

      A key result of the session's work was concrete route projects created in partnership with industry experts, as well as recommendations for improving tourist products proposed by experts from the Russian State University of Tourism and Service.

      The projects created by regional teams will be finalized and presented at the final event of the accelerator series in Moscow at the end of 2025, and will also become available to schoolchildren, students and young specialists.

      Recall that the period from 2022 to 2031 was declared the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. The main objectives of the Decade are to attract talented youth to research and development, to involve researchers and developers in solving the most important tasks of society and the country, and to increase Russians' awareness of the achievements and prospects of domestic science. All current information about the project and its initiatives can be found at: наука.рф.

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