A project competition for the course "Fundamentals of Project Activity" was held at KRSU

The final defense‑competition of student projects prepared within the course «Fundamentals of Project Activity» took place at the Kyrgyz‑Russian Slavic University (KRSU). The event was the final stage of the pilot launch of the course in 2026 and brought together students, mentors, university representatives, college staff, external experts, and project clients.

The course is implemented in cooperation with Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) and is aimed at developing practical competencies: teamwork, interaction with clients, problem analysis, solution design, product preparation, and public presentation of results. Throughout the semester, students went through the entire process from problem definition to presenting the final project, working with real‑life cases from the university, the college, businesses, and external partners.

Work on introducing the course «Fundamentals of Project Activity» (FPA) at KRSU began back in 2025. At that time, SPbPU held an in‑person kick‑off seminar at the university on the development of project‑based learning. Participants became familiar with the methodology of project activity, the experience of Polytechnic University, and the possibilities of integrating the project approach into the educational process. Special attention was paid to developing students’ skills in teamwork, critical thinking, independent solution of practice‑oriented tasks, and the application of project tools in their future professional careers.

The next stage was a professional development program «Organization and Support of Student Project Activities,» which was delivered at KRSU in October 2025 by SPbPU experts — 16 mentors were trained, a pilot launch plan was developed, methodological recommendations were prepared, and the collection of project topics from internal and external clients began.

The pilot launch of the course included several stages, each accompanied by expert and methodological support from SPbPU specialists: an introductory webinar, pre‑defenses, a methodological webinar for mentors, and the final project defense.

The composition of the expert commission at the final defense included: from SPbPU (via videoconference) — Anton Ambrazhey (Senior Researcher at the MCC «Technologies of Intelligent Enterprise,» Advanced Engineering School «Digital Engineering») and Inna Seledtsova (Senior Lecturer at the Higher School of Project Activity and Innovation in Industry,); from KRSU — Olga Shevchenko (Deputy Director of the College for Educational Work), Marianna Volodina (Director of the Youth Policy Center), Irina Gorina (Associate Professor of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations), and Irina Kurmanova (Head of the Department of Scientific and Technical Support of the College).

Thirteen projects from internal and external clients were presented at the final defense. The topics demonstrated the interdisciplinary nature of the course: students worked on marketing, digital platforms, educational services, design, bank positioning, entrepreneurship, media promotion, and analytical models.

The competition format required students not only to present their product but also to defend its underlying logic. Commission members asked questions about the target audience, risks, performance metrics, validation of results, relevance of the solutions, and implementation prospects.

For example, the project team «Development of a Marketing Strategy for Infinity Sky Stretch Ceilings» presented a brand promotion strategy in Bishkek, highlighting social media, contextual advertising, local platforms, affiliate marketing, and word‑of‑mouth as key customer acquisition channels. The experts recommended that the team further substantiate their results with figures, statistics, and screenshots of key performance indicators before and after the promotion.

The project «Scenario for Holding an ’Advertiser’s Day’» was presented as an interactive festival‑simulator where students and applicants not only attend the event but also participate in contests, creative tasks, and professional cases. The team conducted a survey among students of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, collecting 56 responses, on the basis of which they developed the event program.

The project «ESG Positioning of Finka Bank» stood out because the team linked sustainable development to specific customer pain points: protection against fraud, support in difficult financial situations, assistance for elderly clients, and the development of eco‑friendly practices.

The startup Arlekino AI Assistant Marketplace was presented as a response to the challenges of Kyrgyzstan’s e‑commerce market: distrust of online payments, regional disparities, fragmentation of platforms, and fraud risks. The team proposed building a local ecosystem with AI‑powered search, social commerce, secure payments, and delivery.

Following the discussion, the jury highlighted four projects that stood out for their thoroughness, understanding of the tasks, and potential for further development:

• ESG positioning of Finka Bank;
• Market launch of the Arlekino AI Assistant Marketplace project;
• A web platform for the student startup competition — a digital solution for application submission, participant personal accounts, an administrative panel, and a notification system;
• Creation of a logo for the KRSU student theater — a redesign of the theater studio’s visual identity with an emphasis on modernity, minimalism, and the cultural interaction between Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

A special mention was given to the team that produced a promotional video for the new specialties of the KRSU College. According to college representatives, this product is already being used in career guidance and admissions campaigns, highlighting the practical value of the student project.

Following the defenses, the experts emphasized that the competition demonstrated a high level of student work and a wide variety of project solutions. At the same time, particular attention was drawn to the importance of public defense skills: the ability to present a project, argue decisions, and take responsibility for the team’s result.

The FPA course became for KRSU not just a new academic discipline, but a platform for fostering a project culture. Students gained the opportunity to work with real clients, create applied products, test ideas on an audience, and see how academic assignments turn into solutions demanded by the university, the college, businesses, and society.

The pilot launch showed that project‑based learning helps students encounter professional challenges earlier, develop independence, initiative, and readiness for interdisciplinary work. Thus, the defense became not an end point, but the beginning of a new stage in which student ideas can grow into full‑fledged projects, startups, and real changes in the university environment.