The State Duma’s Committee on Information Policy, IT and Communications is engaging with several Russian universities and the Ministry of Digital Development to explore a plan that would broaden access to IT training for students in higher education. If approved at the highest level, these universities could gain parity with accredited software developers in terms of certain privileges, according to industry sources cited by Kommersant.
Committee chairman Alexander Khinshtein outlined clear criteria universities would need to meet to qualify for the privilege. A key requirement is that at least half of a university’s student body enrolled in IT disciplines would be counted among potential beneficiaries of the program. The aim is to ensure the initiative strengthens the development of tech talent across the sector while maintaining rigorous standards for eligibility.
Telephone-to-policy reforms also emphasize a practical benefit for the academic workforce. Universities could be allowed to defer mobilization for teachers under mechanisms similar to those used by IT firms, allowing educators to continue contributing to research and instruction without interruption. This reassurance reflects a broader policy intent to support knowledge transfer and sustained digital education during periods of national service considerations.
In a related move from the government, a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin expands access to preferential financing for the IT industry. Accredited IT companies can now secure loans at rates as low as 3% per year to fund digital transformation projects based on domestic Russian solutions. This measure aims to accelerate technology adoption, promote local software development, and strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure from core services to enterprise solutions.