Presidential Council for Science and Education holds year-end meeting

Chair of the Department of Petroleum Engineering Mikhail Varfolomeev joined the meeting as one of the members of the current convocation.

On December 23, members of the Presidential Council for Science and Education discussed the issue of providing engineering personnel for priority areas of scientific and technological development to achieve technological leadership.

“A number of problems require solutions in the near future – this includes a shortage of engineering and technical personnel, especially highly qualified ones,” noted Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev.

“The meeting discussed issues of forecasting scientific and technological development using the example of several priority areas that were worked out by expert groups. Particular attention was paid to the challenges associated with the training of engineering personnel, who are currently in short supply, and at the same time their competencies do not always meet the needs of high-tech companies. In addition, the results of the application process for the Russian Presidential Prize in Science and Technology were summed up,” said Varfolomeev.

By Decree of the President of Russia from May 7, 2024, No. 309, technological leadership was included in the list of national development goals for the country, which provides for solving the problems of ensuring technological independence and forming new markets, ensuring Russia’s entry into the top 10 countries in terms of scientific research and development, as well as increasing the share of domestic high-tech goods and services. The implementation of these tasks is impossible without qualified engineering personnel in industry and science. One of the most popular professions – engineer – is going through difficult times in Russia. “Unfortunately, in this sense, the career of an engineer is still not the most attractive for young people,” noted Dmitry Medvedev.

Engineering education will be discussed at the next Council meeting in 2025 with the participation of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin.