The International Youth School «ECOPOLIS» ended at the NSUACE (Sibstrin)

The International Youth School «ECOPOLIS» ended on October 21, 2022. «Rosmolodezh. Grants» became the winner. The project brought together about 200 students and teachers (in online and offline formats) from educational organizations in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Omsk, Novokuznetsk, Krasnoyarsk, Ufa, Yakutsk, Vladivostok and other cities, also the expert community of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Serbia and Turkey.

40 participants (students and experts) worked at the NSUACE (Sibstrin) venue. They were representatives of such cities as Novosibirsk, Moscow, Omsk, Orenburg, Novokuznetsk, Krasnoyarsk (all – Russia), Mogilev (Republic of Belarus), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Belgrade (Serbia), Konya (Turkey).

Lectures and master classes of scientists from the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS), universities, practitioners and experts from Russia (Omsk, Novosibirsk, Moscow), Serbia, Turkey were held in Russian and English within the framework of «ECOPOLIS». Based on the acquired knowledge and skills at lectures and master classes during the working week of the School, students could get additional advice and finalize their presentations and videos prepared by them for the student project competition «Green Campus Project of an educational organization».

The panel discussion «Best practices of green campuses» was held for the School's experts. Discussion of the implementation of green university campuses in various cities and countries of the world revealed the need for a systematic campaign in all five areas of green campus development recognized by the world community (infrastructure, education, volunteering, science, administration), in relation to Russian universities – the possibility of detailing solutions (for example, architectural, urban planning, land management solutions, etc.), as well as the need to create a network of sustainable development centers. In addition to full-time participants, scientists from the University of Belgrade (Serbia) and the I. Kant Baltic Federal University (Kaliningrad, Russia) joined the panel discussion.

Moreover, a meeting of the graduates of the Presidential Program for Managerial Personnel in the Novosibirsk Region «ECOLOGY OF CONSCIOUSNESS» was held. The dialogue of experts included the definition of competencies in the field of ESG, ensuring sustainable business development.

The main result of the work of the International Youth School «ECOPOLIS» was the determination of the winner and prize-winners of the student project competition «Green Campus project of an educational organization». 8 teams from the universities of Moscow, Omsk, Orenburg, Novosibirsk (Russia), Mogilev (Republic of Belarus) and Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) took part in it.

According to the decision of the international expert jury, the winner of the competition «Green Campus project of an educational organization» was the «ECOSPASS» team (Orenburg State Agrarian University), which scored 206 points. The second place was taken by the team «Green Rocket-541» (National Research Moscow State University of Civil Engineering), which scored 191 points. The third place was shared by the teams «Green Patrol» (Omsk State Agrarian University named after P.A. Stolypin, 186 points), and students of the International University of Innovative Technologies (Kyrgyzstan, 186 points).

The signing of international agreements was another important outcome of the School. A cooperation agreement was concluded between NSUACE (Sibstrin) and the University of Belgrade (Serbia).

An agreement was signed on the establishment of the Center for Technosphere Safety, Environmental Management and Water Use Technologies on the basis of the UNESCO Chairs of NSUACE (Sibstrin) «Environmentally Safe Technologies of Environmental Management and Water Use» and the Chairs of the Belarusian-Russian University (Mogilev, Republic of Belarus) «Technosphere Safety and Industrial Design».

All participants of the International Youth School «ECOPOLIS» were very impressed by the event. A rich program with the involvement of foreign experts, the work of the organizers and volunteers of the School was awarded special thanks.

Svetlana Malyasova, Leonid Kolesnikov (Orenburg State Agrarian University, Orenburg):

«I liked everything – interesting excursions, very good organization, we had a warm welcome here, we were personally picked up right at the airport, fed three times a day. I really liked the speakers, especially foreign ones, my head literally exploded from the information received.

We take away a lot of emotions from the event, a lot of new acquaintances, both among the participants and among the volunteers. We have finalized our green campus project here and will definitely implement it».

Bakyt Kadyrbekov (International University of Innovative Technologies, Kyrgyzstan):

«This is a very atmospheric event. You are so hospitable! It was the first time we were in Novosibirsk, we were shown the city, taken to exhibitions. I liked Akademgorodok the most.

I would like to highlight the work of the volunteers, they tried very hard».

Alexey Alexandrovich (Belarusian-Russian University, Republic of Belarus):

«I really liked everything! Now we rare have the opportunity to visit such events where you feel at home. I liked the volunteers the most, their constant 24/7 support, always around; they always helped us, even to the detriment of themselves».

Nelly Koechter (Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies, Novosibirsk):

«The idea of the School is interesting, I have already been to a similar event once and everything is well organized here, there is something to compare it with. I liked the lectures from the invited experts the most; I learned a lot of new things for myself, as well as a trip to the art museum».

Andrey Tulubaev (Omsk State Agrarian University, Omsk):

«I liked «ECOPOLIS» very much, the organizers did everything at the highest level. Special thanks to the volunteers who have been trying for us all week.  This is the first time at an international event, a lot of guests from abroad, a lot of new acquaintances. Especially useful was the acquaintance with Inga Lev, who helped us with our project».

Dmitry Dyachenko (Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, Moscow):

«In general, I liked everything, it was intense and interesting. They took care of us here like at home, they fed us very tasty, they didn't wake us up early, which is important, because we are from Moscow. I liked the variety of lectures and excursions; the week was very eventful. I made a lot of acquaintances with guys from other countries. We also received a lot of knowledge, which we invested in our project».

Natalia Vladimirovna Volodina, Prorector for Academic Affairs of the Belarusian-Russian University (Mogilev, Republic of Belarus):

«The impressions from the event are great! Such events are like a breath of fresh air after a pandemic, when we had such a thing only online. Ideological people have gathered here, positive energy emanates from them, which you are charged with.

«ECOPOLIS» is unique in that it assumes an exit from the total online and gives hope that such events will happen more often in order to jointly develop new strategies for the development of their universities, joint research work. After all, we are able to create something new for the common good only in the process of communicating with each other.

I really liked the organization of the School's program, the employment of students was 24/7 with breaks for reflection on past events.

I would especially like to note that all participants were given the opportunity to get acquainted with the history and culture of the city of Novosibirsk.

For me, the excursion to Akademgorodok was of particular importance, as a place of attraction for all scientific forces. And the most important achievement of the International School «ECOPOLIS» on the basis of NSUACE (Sibstrin) is an established dialogue between participants from different countries».

Inga Antonovna Lev, School expert, Executive PR Director of the international Social Advertising Festival «Lime» (Moscow):

«To begin with, I was impressed by the fact that the volunteers and participants are burning with their work, because usually when a university organizes something, there is some formalism in it. I expected students to work here for a credit or something like that. But they show that they are here because they want it; there is sincere participation, sincere communication, and sincere interest. The volunteers lack experience, but they are very responsible: if they are asked, they will definitely answer, conduct, show everything. As for the event, I will say that I only found out on the last day that this is the first time such a thing is taking place in Novosibirsk.

I honestly won't say it's the first time, because the program is very busy, and everything planned happened, which happens for large events not so often in my experience.

I say a big thank to Natalia Valeryevna Sineeva, her team and volunteers.

Also, I highlight the opportunity for participants to finalize their project during the competition by listening to a lecture, participating in a master class, discussing with other participants or an expert; this happens rarely, and many people took advantage of this opportunity».