On 22 December, the SPbGASU Educational Center for Project-Based Learning hosted the first defense of projects created by student teams as part of the "Project-Based Activities" elective. Over the course of two days, students presented the results of their teamwork, which was based on real requests from the university's partner organizations.

During the fall semester, students from various fields of study were involved in project activities. A total of 52 project proposals were submitted by partners, 19 of which are currently in the active implementation phase.

The submitted works were evaluated by an expert committee, which included representatives of specialized organizations and SPbGASU:

The experts noted the high level of project development, the practical focus of the solutions, and the students' well-coordinated teamwork, emphasizing the importance of integrating the educational process with real-world industry challenges.

Viktoria Vinogradova, SPbGASU Vice-Rector for Continuing Education, addressed the event's participants and guests with a welcoming speech. In her speech, she emphasized that the Educational Center for Project-Based Learning opened last May, but by December, the university had already achieved its first significant results. The project-based learning format allows students not only to master theoretical knowledge but also to apply it in practice, interacting with real clients, working in teams, and developing professional responsibility.

The event also included a ceremony to sign cooperation agreements. An agreement was signed between SPbGASU and the St Petersburg State Budgetary Institution "GCRPO," signed by Viktoria Vinogradova and the center's Deputy Director, Nikolay Popchenkov. A cooperation agreement was also concluded with Aquaeffect Research and Design Institute LLC, signed by General Director Andrey Belyaev.

The projects submitted for defense covered a wide range of current issues in the fields of construction, engineering, digital technologies, water treatment, design, and urban development.

Project areas include optimizing the construction timeline for a multi-apartment residential building (this topic was developed by two teams), organizing management accounting in a construction company, and creating a digital information model of the entrance area— the first-floor hallway of SPbGASU.

A number of projects were devoted to issues of architectural design and urban decoration, including the development of festive design for the spaces of city canals (on and above the water), as well as a concept for the New Year's decoration of Nevsky Prospect.

The engineering and technical block included projects for the construction of foundations and reinforced concrete structures, research into water quality indicators depending on the volume of contaminants, forecasting the efficiency of clarification filters for swimming pools using the AE-1 oligodynamic solution synthesis unit, and the development of a method for introducing chemicals into pool water treatment systems.

Particular attention was paid to digital and expert solutions: examining video footage as objects of forensic automotive examination, developing an automated system for pre-trip technical condition monitoring of buses using video analytics, and assessing the financial attractiveness of adapting the Apraksin Dvor site for modern use.

The scores awarded by the experts for the defense, will be taken into account when evaluating students in the "Project-Based Activities" course. The submitted projects will be further developed in the spring semester and will form the basis of team diploma projects, with some of the results planned for use in individual final qualifying works.

The organizers noted that project activities at SPbGASU will continue to actively develop, expanding collaboration with partners and creating additional opportunities for students to grow professionally and realize their potential in practical applications.