PSB, in collaboration with five technical universities, has launched a comprehensive program to train students in IT specialties. At the same time, the bank has established a unified digital space to streamline the education and internship pathways for aspiring specialists. PSB President Pyotr Fradkov emphasized a clear question driving this initiative: “Education. New competencies. What should we do?” This was highlighted at the innovative Finopolis financial technologies forum, where the bank outlined its forward-looking approach to talent development.
The head of PSB pointed out that competition for human capital is intensifying in the modern Russian labor market, with the IT sector taking a leading role. Employers are competing not only for seasoned professionals but also for promising students and even schoolchildren who show early aptitude in technology.
According to Fradkov, the strategy in this competitive landscape centers on building a robust talent pool and creating programs that open doors to lifelong learning for everyone. He noted that the bank is rolling out multiple training projects that extend beyond traditional qualifications, ensuring a broad spectrum of opportunities for people at different stages of their careers.
He explained that the partnership with five technical universities has yielded a program designed to train students in IT disciplines, while also offering internships and the possibility of subsequent employment. The experience is crafted to bridge classroom learning with real-world work, equipping graduates with practical skills that are in high demand across industries.
Among the standout educational initiatives is the social and educational platform known as the “Commonwealth.” Fradkov described this platform as a single digital hub that guides learners toward training choices and career planning, helping shape a clear path from early education to professional life.
Fradkov stated that developing such platforms will enable the creation of a reliable personnel reserve ready to tackle specific business tasks not only within the financial sector but also across other sectors of the economy. Universities will gain faster access to employer requirements and can swiftly adapt their curricula to reflect those needs, with a stronger emphasis on practical components of the educational process.
PSB underscored that the bank’s strong IT capabilities showcased at the Finopolis forum exhibit underscore its leading role in digital financial infrastructure. The PSB stand offered attendees hands-on opportunities to evaluate digital ruble payments for products on the PSB Market platform and to explore work with a VK-based business assistant that integrates artificial intelligence to streamline operations and customer interactions.
During the forum presentation to the Governor of the Central Bank of Russia, Elvira Nabiullina, Fradkov highlighted PSB’s use of innovative technologies to optimize operational processes and extend banking services for corporate clients through messaging applications. For retail customers, the bank is actively developing customer journey scenarios for transactions conducted with digital rubles, with these scenarios forming the backbone of convenient, frictionless payments using the new digital currency.