In April 2023, SPbGASU signed an agreement with the ASCON company, secondary schools Nos. 100, 255, 334, 347, Lyceum No. 64 of St Petersburg on the opening of information modeling technology classes (TIM classes). This project was organized as part of the implementation of the Innovative educational project “Innovative methodology for developing digital professional competencies of students and specialists in the construction industry.” In December, the parties to the agreement summed up the results of the work of TIM classes for the first half of the year and outlined a work plan for the next year, including holding the SPbGASU Open School TIM Championship in February.

44 schoolchildren took part in the Open School TIM Championship of SPbGASU. These are pupils from schools Nos. 100, 255, 334, 347 - parties to the agreement, as well as gymnasium No. 99, secondary schools Nos. 68, 80 in Ekaterinburg and No. 26 in St Petersburg. The guys developed an architectural concept for an individual two-story residential building and created its information model in the Renga software product. Their works were evaluated by representatives of partner companies Metropolis, Samolet, Visotskiy Consulting, and SPbGASU teachers Kirill Sukhanov and Nikita Gorovoy. The Valtec company also acted as a partner of the championship.

Associate Professor at the SPbGASU Department of Information Systems and Technologies Aleksey Semenov, Maksim Shibanov, Pavel Tokarevsky and Sergey Mikhailov at the closing of the championship

On 12 February, the award ceremony for the winners of the TIM Championship took place. On behalf of SPbGASU, the participants were welcomed by Vice-Rector for Educational Activity Sergey Mikhailov. He emphasized that the digital transformation of educational programs, the formation of digital professional competencies of students mainly using domestic software solutions have become a priority direction for the university development.

– With the participation of industrial partners, we organize the annual All-Russian TIM Championship among students and support other pilot projects, including the development and testing of products for information modeling. We actively interact with schools and institutions of secondary specialized education. The TIM classes initiative is aimed at career guidance for schoolchildren in grades 8–11 and teaching them basic knowledge of TIM. Winners and runners-up of the Open School TIM Championship can qualify for additional points to their Unified State Examination results when entering our university in 2024. I hope that the knowledge and skills gained during the TIM classes will help the children in the process of obtaining an education and career growth in the field of construction, said Sergey Mikhailov.

Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of St Petersburg Pavel Tokarevsky noted that the importance of information modeling technologies will grow as digital solutions improve the quality of construction processes and generally make people’s lives better.

– However, digital tools do not work without highly qualified specialists, so the government and industry are interested in their training. TIM classes are a timely project that gives children the opportunity to get acquainted with new technologies in construction, gain initial modeling skills and, thus, immerse themselves in the profession. The TIM Championship allows children to test their acquired knowledge in practice, and industry companies to take a closer look at promising schoolchildren, says Pavel Tokarevsky.

The head of the marketing department of Renga Software company, Maksim Shibanov, added that the current generation of schoolchildren lives at the peak of digitalization of the construction industry and the active implementation of information modeling in Russia, and this is a chance in the near future to occupy a certain niche in this area, having received a sought-after and well-paid profession. Moreover, students in TIM classes master Russian software, and this is important at a time of import substitution.

Winner of the TIM Championship Vladimir Kulikov

The winner of the TIM Championship was Vladimir Kulikov, a pupil from secondary school No. 100 in St Petersburg. He studies in a physics and mathematics class and connects his future profession with the technical field.

– I considered enrolling in the TIM class as another opportunity to gain additional technical skills, in collaboration with specialized companies. When completing the task of the TIM Championship, I had difficulties, but I reassured myself that if I wanted, I could learn everything. The victory inspired me to new achievements, I am thinking about entering SPbGASU,” said Vladimir.

Second place went to Alina Zolotareva and Gleb Gorbunov from school No. 347. In third place were Daria Krylova from school No. 255, Igor Anisimov from school No. 80 in Ekaterinburg and Georgy Sabo from school No. 100. The nomination “Conceptual Architect” was awarded to Arseny Gitsba from school No. 255.

Project manager of the youth programs development department of the Samolet company Elizaveta Khmelevskaya and chief project architect of the Metropolis company Ekaterina Velichko expressed confidence that over time TIM classes and the TIM Championship will prove their high efficiency in selecting talented children and will help specialized companies receive personnel in demand on the labor market.

Chairman of the ANO TsSP “Our Territories” Igor Chetyrkin presents certificates to the participants

Chairman of the ANO TsSP “Our Territories” Igor Chetyrkin and head of the SPbGASU Division for Digital Competence in Construction Inna Sukhanova assured that each participant in the championship received the first practical experience in modeling.