Andrey Nikulin

On 13 November, at the XXIII Practical Conference "Quality of construction and the business environment in investment and construction complexes of Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Region," organized by the St Petersburg Union of Construction Companies (Soyuzpetrostroy) and held at our university, SPbGASU presented the results of an analytical study on the human resources potential of the construction industry.

Andrey Nikulin, PhD of Engineering Sciences, and the Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, presented a report titled "Is there a personnel shortage in the construction industry of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region?"

In his speech, he noted that despite the steady demand for construction specialists, there is no personnel shortage in the industry today. SPbGASU graduates are consistently in demand in the labor market—over 85% find employment in their field—but a gap remains between company requirements and educational programs.

The report places particular emphasis on the need to strengthen ties between universities and industry partners, develop a system of targeted training, and introduce new forms of career guidance and practical training for students.

The article and report emphasize that, as the Concept for training personnel for the construction and housing and utilities sectors through 2035 is implemented, the industry will need to attract over 850,000 young specialists. To achieve this, universities must actively develop practice-oriented and interdisciplinary programs, as well as project-based learning tools, digitalization, and employer engagement.

SPbGASU is already implementing best practices: case championships, acceleration programs, "Startup as a Diploma," mentoring programs, and digital simulators. The university has a Center for Student Entrepreneurship and Career, and faculties have staff responsible for career guidance, internships, and student employment.

In closing, Andrey Nikulin emphasized that effective training of qualified personnel is only possible through the combined efforts of universities, businesses, and professional communities. Proposals include developing the university's resources with the support of partners, scholarships, grants for teachers, paid internships, and company participation in the SPbGASU endowment fund.

The presentation by the SPbGASU representative was a significant contribution to the professional dialogue about the future of the region's construction industry. The university confirms its status as a leading center for engineering and construction education in Northwest Russia, developing the human resources potential for the industry of future.

The full text of the report is published in the conference bulletin.