International Competition of Applied Projects by Young Scientists and Students «Minecraft: The University of the Future»
Mikhail Alexandrovich Panov Scientific director of the competition. Ph.D. in Economics, Acting Head of the Department of Information Technology and Statistics at USUE
The international competition of projects by young scientists and students, titled "Minecraft: The University of the Future," is organized in two stages. The first stage involves a correspondence assessment of the projects, followed by a face-to-face presentation of the projects for their potential application in various sectors of the economy, including finance, industry, science, education, management, and international trade with Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The event is organized by the Ural State University of Economics (USUE) and aims to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among young scientists and students.
The aim of the competition is to encourage participants not only to demonstrate creativity, but also to consider how technology, sustainability, and innovation can enhance education in the future.
The primary objectives include:
- Innovative educational spaces: Develop campuses, classrooms, and laboratories that maximize the potential of new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and automation.
- Sustainable development: Establish an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly university that utilizes renewable energy sources, recycles waste, and incorporates bioarchitecture.
- Social integration and inclusivity: Design a campus that fosters inclusivity, allowing students from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and abilities to study and collaborate comfortably.
- Flexible learning environments: Create spaces that support both individual learning and group projects, emphasizing flexibility and adaptability of the environment.
- Digital Learning and Access to Knowledge: Develop a system that utilizes digital technologies to enable students from around the world to engage in the learning process. This would ensure that education is accessible and inclusive for all.
These tasks aim to guide participants in creating a unique and inspiring vision for the university that reflects the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
The Competition is open to students, postgraduate students, degree-seekers, and young researchers from Russian and international universities, as well as representatives of other interested organizations between the ages of 18 and 35.
Design submissions for the Competition may be submitted in teams of up to three members.
Applications for participation and design submissions must be submitted by March 20, 2025, through the online registration system. Each team member must complete an application, selecting the option for "team participation" and then either "team captain" or "team member." In the "Project Topic" field, each participant must indicate a single project topic. The designated team captain must attach a file containing the competition project to the application form, with all authors (team members) listed.
The lists of finalists for the competition, who have been invited to present their work in person and participate in the final events of the forum, will be posted on the competition website from April 1 to 10, 2025.
On April 23, 2025, from 10:30 am.m. to 3:30 p.m., awards will be presented on April 24, 2025 between 1:30 and 3:00 p.m.
Winners and prize winners of the competition will be awarded with diplomas, certificates, and cash prizes:
- 15,000 rubles for the 1st place
- 10,000 rubles for the 2nd place
- 5,000 rubles for the 3rd place
Winners of the competition who are awarded a diploma of the 1st degree will receive points for their individual achievements when applying for admission to USUE master's programs (2 points).
Participation in competitions is also possible through the use of remote technologies. Registered participants and experts gain access to USUE's cloud resources based on the Microsoft Office 365 platform, and can connect to interactive sessions as part of events through teams established within Microsoft Teams.