During the first assessment of Russian universities for the quality of AI education, it was highlighted that around 1000 domestic companies are seeking specialists in artificial intelligence. The event known as the Eighth International Conference “Journey to the World of Artificial Intelligence” took place within the framework of the AI Journey program.
The rating drew on several data sources, including input from employers. It identified the 157 largest organizations that hire AI professionals, turning the project into a practical platform for evaluating how universities collaborate with industry and how teaching methods can be optimized to meet real-world needs.
A member of the expert group stated that the effort aims to create a business-oriented guide showing which universities are currently producing data scientists and which institutions might benefit from targeted support. The Executive Director of the Sberbank Academic Partnerships Directorate emphasized the importance of aligning university training with employer expectations to strengthen the talent pipeline.
According to the remarks, the rating platform should enable a constructive dialogue between businesses and higher education institutions. It would help direct resources to universities that are actively seeking to improve their programs and to outline the occupational profiles that employers expect from graduates.
Representatives from Sberbank, the nation’s largest employer of IT specialists, expressed keen interest in broadening collaborations with universities. They noted that sharing experience and insights between academia and industry helps update curricula quickly and produce highly skilled professionals who meet current market demands.
Analysts described the growing competition among universities as a powerful incentive to raise standards. A deputy minister of science and higher education stated that the new rating should encourage universities to enhance AI training and better prepare students for the evolving requirements of the economy.