The panel session ‘Investing in HR: Partnership between Business and Education in Creative Industries’ was held during the first Creative Business Forum at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2021 on 2 June with the support of Russia’s first creative industries university, Universal University.
Cooperation between business and education is becoming a new trend and necessity of the 21st century. With this agenda in mind, the speakers discussed why it is crucial to work with students, how companies should interact with educational institutions, what skills will be in demand among future specialists in creative industries, and how to develop continuity between education and business. The discussion participants noted that the future of creative industries will feature cross-disciplinary projects and a hybrid education format that combines offline and online courses and lessons.
“The biggest challenge for creative industries is changing the educational system. We are seeing new programmes in both undergraduate and graduate studies. Creative industries involve all areas of education,” Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Elena Druzhinina said.
The speakers noted that bilateral exchanges between education and business are essential important. Big companies, such as Cartier and TwoFour54, view students as sources of the mainstream agenda and business strategy. At Universal University, Director Ekaterina Cherkes-Zade said that from the outset students are treated as young professionals whose education helps to achieve successful communication with business.
The participants also addressed barriers and shortcomings of education in creative industries as well as the industry’s potential: “If you learn to produce ready-made teams with a leader and a product, each of which will become a star, then I would say that education has reached a state of modernity. For now, these are still the old basic practices. A lot needs to be changed here,” Special Representative of the Russian President on Digital and Technological Development Dmitry Peskov said.
The session was attended by: Gordon & Sons Founder and Lawyer Ekaterina Gordon; Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Elena Druzhinina; Cartier in Russia, Ukraine, and the CIS Managing Director Yanina Novitskaya; Special Representative of the Russian President on Digital and Technological Development Dmitry Peskov; and TwoFour54 Director for Strategy and Business Development James Hart. The moderator was Universal University Director Ekaterina Cherkes-Zade.
The meeting participants noted the importance of introducing innovations into educational and business processes as well as the need for training on self-presentation and communication skills.
For reference
The Innosocium Foundation, the social platform of the Roscongress Foundation, was established to facilitate a constructive dialogue between business, government, and civil society. The Innosocium Foundation’s activities primarily aim to develop culture, creative industries, education, youth initiatives, women’s leadership, and social communications. The Foundation’s main objectives are to provide practical support for priority areas of social development, create and promote the social agenda at the communication platforms of the Roscongress Foundation, implement charitable initiatives, enhance the effectiveness of NPOs and corporate social responsibility, and bolster international cooperation as part of the sustainable development agenda. Innosocium Foundation Director Yelena Marinina is the Director of the Creative Business Forum.