Alfa-Bank plans a nationwide free AI training initiative that will reach 300 universities across the country. The announcement came from Vladimir Verkhoshinsky, managing director at Alfa-Bank, during a General Assembly on artificial intelligence held at Finopolis 2023. The plan outlines a broad collaboration with leading federal and regional universities to create a learning ecosystem focused on technology, big data, and artificial intelligence. Participation in the program will be free for all students and learners.
The goal is to raise digital literacy among the next generation of professionals, expanding beyond traditional financial education. Verkhoshinsky emphasized that the mission is to provide practical, applied knowledge about careers shaped by artificial intelligence. He also noted a curious coincidence: the generation under 13 shares its name with Bank Alpha, underscoring the program’s inclusive aim to prepare young people for tomorrow’s tech-driven job market.
Graduates are expected to pursue roles such as data scientists, product and project managers, strategists, AI specialists, and IT professionals. The program will support students through hands-on training led by Alfa-Bank experts and through collaborative projects designed to strengthen real-world digital competencies.
Several universities have already introduced product management courses within the broader AI education framework. Alfa-Bank has also launched a master’s program with MIPT and established a digital department at the Financial University led by Alexey Kashirin, director of the Alfa-Bank Center for Advanced Analytics. In addition, the bank is opening IT co-working spaces at top universities, with a similar facility recently inaugurated at the Higher School of Economics, reinforcing a practical, space-based approach to learning.