University Applicants Prefer Educational Programs by IT Companies

According to the survey, the majority of respondents (66%) are aware of the list of companies partnering with their chosen university. 40% of respondents knew that their university offers programs by Yandex, 31% were aware of the university’s partnership with VK, 28% – with Sberbank, and 24% – with T-Bank.

Respondents believe that through collaboration with big tech, a university offers its students the chance to learn directly from working experts in the field, intern at companies, and explore a wealth of career opportunities. Among the most respected programs are those by Yandex (85%), T-Bank (67%), Sberbank (50%), VK (38%), and Ozon (23%). Respondents were most interested in web and app development, neural networks, backend development, and machine learning.

The survey demonstrates that the majority of applicants would prefer staying in their hometown or region and enter a local university. Applicants’ parents share this preference. Only 15% of respondents from Russian regions (excluding Moscow and St. Petersburg) would like to move.

“We believe it important that talented students all over the country have access to accredited IT education. This academic year, programs by Yandex Education are active at 33 universities. All the available programs cover different subject areas and offer varied depth of technological expertise: for instance, there are programs on neural networks and data science for medical and social sciences students, as well as universal modules for future developers. In 2024, we launched AI360, the frontier Bachelor’s program for future AI developers. In total, Yandex educational programs will welcome over 10,000 students this academic year,” says Daria Kozlova, the head of Yandex Education.

At ITMO, students can benefit from the Bachelor’s program AI360, an initiative by Yandex and Sberbank that trains high-profile AI architects and researchers. In summer 2024, the university also hosted a Yandex study camp on highload systems architecture, information security, and DevOps. Study camps are free intensive courses for IT students from all over the country.

“It’s no wonder that applicants are interested in joint educational programs in IT: it’s a way to ensure quality education and employment if students perform well. However, a university’s role in such programs cannot be overestimated: without a strong fundamental background, graduates risk to remain stuck in junior positions. That’s why, at ITMO, we merge the practical demand of our corporate partners with powerful fundamental education. As a result, our graduates are not just professionals – they bring the industry forward. However, one of the crucial conditions for such development is that the professional community of hardcore IT experts encompasses the country’s many regions,” says Alexey Itin, the head of the Admission Office at ITMO University.

Since 2021, the number of joint educational programs by IT corporations and universities has doubled, with 60 new Bachelor’s and Master’s programs launched – making the total of 86. A third of them are implemented by Yandex Education.