The KBSU team took part in the discussion of the digital future at the DIGITAL INNOPOLIS DAYS 2023 forum

A team of students of the “Digital Departments” project of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University, consisting of Amir Kushkhov, Vikenty Tolmachev and Umar Mashukov, led by the director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies of the university, Albert Shapsigov, attended the annual Digital Innopolis Days 2023 Forum, held by Innopolis University, Republic Tatarstan.

The third forum on digital independence in business and education, Digital Innopolis Days, this year featured representatives from Huawei, VK, Yandex, the Boris Shchukin Theater Institute, Skolkovo, ANO Digital Economy, leading Russian universities and industry ministries.

The topics of the forum were devoted to information security, the development of the video game industry and the human resources potential of Russia, and also covered the work of the “Digital Departments” and “Advanced Engineering Schools” in Russia.

Kirill Semenikhin, director of Innopolis University, noted that the third DID forum brought together representatives of IT business, science, government agencies and educational organizations to discuss strategies for the digital development of Russia.

“Starting from 2021, the forum promotes the exchange of experience and ideas for digital transformation in priority sectors of the economy, contributes to the formation of the country’s digital ecosystem, increasing its competitiveness and security,” Semenikhin said.
Albert Shapsigov, director of the Institute of Computer Science and Technology of KBSU, noted that every year the Forum events attract the best Russian universities and representatives of leading Russian software developers and digital solutions to their sites. For the first time, students from our university were invited to the forum. For the first time, the issue of international recognition of technical diplomas from BRICS countries was included on the agenda. The two-day schedule was full of various events, but the development of digital departments is a priority for most participants.

“The purpose of such meetings is to get acquainted with the best practices, leading developments and prospects for digital development of leading universities in Russia, and from this year, also to clearly motivate and stimulate the best students of digital departments. Judging by the reaction of the latter, the innovation was received with delight,” emphasized Albert Shapsigov.
Umar Mashukov, a 3rd year student in the field of study “Informatics and Computer Science,” noted that Innopolis University is quite technologically advanced and lively:

“Walking from one classroom to another, you can notice how convenient everything is equipped for students. Everything has been done here so that they can calmly study and work on projects outside of class time: there are a lot of co-working and private areas that have sockets, as well as the Internet, accessible anywhere in the university.
The lecture halls have a pleasant and calm atmosphere, which is created by the design and lighting. Computer classes are equipped with good computers that can easily support heavy software. This is important, because students study disciplines in depth.

Most of the forum events are quite interesting and raise important topics. Speakers talk about problems and talk in detail about many aspects of the objects of discussion. Everything is accompanied by informative presentations.”

Amir Kushkhov, a 3rd year student in the field of study “Applied Mathematics and Computer Science,” drew attention to the everyday aspect of the forum:

“When I landed in Kazan, I immediately immersed myself in the local color. The government of the Republic of Tatarstan treats its culture very carefully and this is striking. For example, at the airport we were greeted by signs in Russian, English and Tatar! During the coffee breaks there were a lot of national dishes, which were also given as gifts to forum participants.
In such little things one can see the care with which the Tatars treat their culture. At the forum I was able to thank the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan for this and express my deepest respect to her for this. In response, she said a very important thought — digitalization saves small dying cultures.

Tatarstan, on the one hand, is somewhat similar to the CBD. But of course there are differences. I was very pleased with the fact that even in the IT forum I was able to partially get acquainted with the local culture. It seems to me that CBD can use this experience for itself.»

All participants noted that in addition to the main tracks, it was possible to walk around the main building and try various interactive innovations. One of them was a drawing program in which you had to create a sketch, and neural networks recognized what it was and remade it to suit the chosen style, creating a full-fledged picture. Participants were shown delivery drones in the form of small aircraft and much more.

Vikenty Igorevich Tolmachev, a 4th year student in the field of study “Design and Technology of Electronic Devices,” emphasized that the forum program was compiled very competently, so that you could always find a track topic that was interesting to you and draw useful and useful information from it.

information for development:

“I was pleased with the additional activity in the form of surveys with small bonuses. The university’s achievements in the field of unmanned technologies were clearly demonstrated, using the example of the Convertiplane, development in the field of Ai, using the example of an interactive neural network for creating unique masterpieces in various styles from drawn images.
The forum program featured a demonstration of the cyber range, a unique tool with a wide range of opportunities for training, training and competitions in cybersecurity, as well as the exchange of experience among specialists in this field. I remember the discussion on the topic of “Smart City”; I noted very useful practices that are already being used in various regions of the country. I would like to quickly see similar decisions in our republic aimed at the comfort and safety of citizens.

The trip to DID 2023 not only provided valuable knowledge and inspiration, but also gave me the desire to apply this knowledge to the development of our country in the digital era.”

The forum program included an IT job fair, where HR representatives from top Russian companies were able to find and invite graduates of the educational courses of the “Digital Professions” and “Digital Departments” project, specialists with digital skills, to join the team. Applicants’ resumes will be uploaded to the «Generation IT» service, developed at Innopolis University.