The “Digital GTO” participants. In the center - Yulia Yakovleva and Ilya Gladushevsky

The Digital GTO test was taken at SPbGASU on 22 April. Over the course of an hour, 77 schoolchildren and college students answered one hundred questions about construction, design, and 3D modeling. Those who scored more than 70 points out of a possible one hundred will receive an additional five points to their Unified State Exam results when entering SPbGASU for the training program 08.03.01 Civil engineering and specialty 08.05.02 Construction of unique buildings and structures.

"Digital GTO" is an interactive test developed by the Etalon Group and the National Association of Organizations in the Sphere of Information Modeling Technologies (NOTIM) as part of the career guidance project "I am the builder of the future!" of the Public Council under the Ministry of Construction of Russia. "Digital GTO" is designed to help future young specialists determine the level of their digital competencies in the field of construction. The project's objectives are to expand opportunities for admission, prepare sought-after professionals, and fill the personnel shortage.

The Digital GTO project was launched at the "Growth Point" space at SPbGASU. Ilya Gladushevsky, responsible secretary of the Admissions Committee, Associate Professor at the Department of Land Transport and Technological Machines, addressed the participants: “I have already seen many of you and will see you again in the summer. Today you have a unique opportunity to participate in the Digital GTO project! The day will be eventful and interesting!” he noted.

Yulia Yakovleva, Head of Adaptation and Special Projects at Etalon Group, spoke about the tasks included in the test and why it was held at our university: “The tasks were developed by employees of EtalonProekt, a project organization of our group. We can say that this is not a basic level, but a level “with an asterisk”. The test is intended for those who already have in-depth knowledge, participate in career guidance events, and are passionate about their profession. Today, many companies are hunting for personnel and hold their own events to work with future students. Even kindergartens have specialized ones – they start raising personnel from the cradle!”

Three construction universities are already participating in the project: SPbGASU, Moscow State Technological University – Moscow Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering (MGTU-MASI) and Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (NRU MGSU).

We asked the guys why they came to SPbGASU to take the Digital GTO.

Vadim Savelyev, 11th grade student of Gymnasium No. 261 (St Petersburg): “I am planning to enroll in SPbGASU. I am choosing between the Industrial and Civil Engineering and Construction of Unique Buildings and Structures programs. It is interesting to learn about the university, to see it from the inside. I have not been here yet, but I have many friends, and they have told me about it. The fact that you can get additional points is also important. I prepared on my own, studied programs, new technologies. And my school teachers helped.”

Maria Krestyaninova, a fourth-year student at the Academy of Urban Environment Management, Urban Development and Printing (AUGSiP, St Petersburg): "I came here because I am very interested in this profession. Friends told me that they teach well here, the teachers are good. And the extra points interested me. I have studied many programs over four years. I rely on my knowledge and hope for a good result.

I am currently writing my thesis. I will be applying to SPbGASU this year."

After the formal part, the participants went to the computer rooms and started taking the test. The children concentrated on solving the tasks for an hour, then they had a tour of our university. Arina Sukhacheva, a third-year student of the Faculty of Architecture, showed the lecture halls, the model workshop, and the Department of Drawing. Returning to the "Growth Point" space, the participants watched a presentation about the university prepared by Elena Abashina, a fourth-year student of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, a specialist in the admissions committee. The results were summed up and the winners were awarded here. The scores were calculated by a computer program. The best results were shown by five people:

• Timofey Isaev (gymnasium No. 52, 9th grade) – 90 points;
• Aleksey Ermilov (school No. 18, grade 11) – 76 points;
• Yaroslav Karachakov (school No. 531, 10th grade) – 75 points;
• Ivan Postnikov (gymnasium No. 540, 11th grade) – 75 points;
• Tikhon Bayruk (school No. 18, 11th grade) – 73 points.

"I have 90 points. I got lucky today! I will definitely apply to Industrial and Civil Engineering. It was difficult at the Olympiad itself!" said Timofey Isaev.

"You can only participate in the Digital GTO in person. This time, schoolchildren and college students from St Petersburg, Krasnodar, Tula and other cities came to us. In the future, we plan to cooperate with the Etalon Group to disseminate information about the project as widely as possible," said Elvira Tkachenko, deputy responsible secretary of the Admissions Committee.

"We will conduct the "Digital GTO" on the platform of the Public Council under the Ministry of Construction of Russia "I am the builder of the future!" quite often. If it didn't work out this time, there will be a chance next time!" - Yulia Yakovleva, a representative of the Etalon Group, encouraged the guys.