From 23 to 25 November, the 37th International Exhibition "Building a House", organized by the Builders' Guild, took place. Students from the SPbGASU Faculty of Economics and Management participated in the event, which offered them an opportunity to learn about the operations of construction companies, gain experience in event volunteering, and apply their professional knowledge in a practical setting.
Students assisted the organizers in running the event: they supported conference sessions, interacted with speakers, managed the flow of attendees, provided guidance to guests, and helped them navigate among the exhibitors' booths. This experience allowed these future professionals to engage directly with representatives of the construction industry and gain insight into how companies interact with potential clients.
A distinct area of focus involved examining the marketing activities of the exhibitors. Third-year students majoring in Economics assessed the level of customer orientation among the participants, analyzed their approaches to engaging with visitors, and identified the needs and expectations of potential clients. The data gathered will be used to develop recommendations for the exhibitors and will also serve as a foundation for creating practical case studies for the "Marketing" course.
Elena Kuznetsova, an Associate Professor at the SPbGASU Department of Management in Construction, noted not only the students' professional interest but also their strong technical background: "The most remarkable thing I observed and heard is that students from our faculty are not only well-versed in the economic indicators and business processes of the construction industry, but also possess an excellent understanding of construction materials and structures. This is a credit to our colleagues who teach the technical disciplines."
Students highly valued the opportunity to gain work experience at a major industry venue. Aleksandr Gorshenin, a third-year student majoring in Economics, noted that he found the presentations by executives from construction organizations and companies operating in the real estate sector particularly interesting.
Third-year student Anastasia Andryushchenko emphasized the practical value of the experience gained: acquaintance with manufacturers of building materials, engineering and design organizations allowed to see how companies build communication with potential clients and identify their needs. According to her, these observations will be useful when studying marketing tools, including when conducting a SWOT analysis.
Galina Tokunova, Dean of the SPbGASU Faculty of Economics and Management, emphasized that participation in such events aligns with the university’s strategy of developing practice-oriented education. The faculty aims to train specialists capable of analyzing market processes, working effectively in teams, building professional networks, and addressing real-world challenges within the construction industry—all while still pursuing their studies.
Participating in the "Building a House" exhibition provided students with an opportunity to combine their academic training with practical experience, expand their professional network, and gain a better understanding of the specifics of the modern construction market.
