In a recent announcement, Maksut Shadaev, the head of the Ministry of CIFRA, revealed that starting from September 2024, IT companies will be mandated to contribute to the training of students in specialized fields in exchange for extended industry benefits. These obligations are expected to be formalized by universities.
Shadaev stressed that the government is actively addressing the issue of workforce shortage in the IT sector by increasing the number of funded spots in IT programs. Under the new initiative, employers seeking well-prepared graduates in sufficient numbers will play a more active role in the educational process.
Currently, major tech companies are collaborating with top universities on a voluntary basis by establishing their own departments, offering scholarships, and arranging internships for students. However, this partnership is limited to a few Russian universities. The Ministry of Digital Development plans to expand this cooperation to all specialized universities in the country to enhance the quality of education for IT specialists across Russia.
Shadaev clarified that the initiative, which imposes additional responsibilities on companies, will only apply to large IT corporations, sparing startups and small businesses. The Ministry of CIFRA will determine the criteria, such as revenue or profit thresholds, which will trigger the obligation for IT giants to support universities by the end of the summer.