As education continues to undergo rapid digital transformation and demand for high-quality IT skills grows worldwide, Russian educational institutions are increasingly expanding beyond national borders through online learning platforms, international campuses, and strategic partnerships.

EdTech has become a key driver of accessible, scalable, and personalized education, enabling institutions to overcome geographical, linguistic, and cultural barriers.

This round table will bring together experts from education, technology, and international cooperation to discuss how Russian IT education can become a globally competitive product while preserving its core strengths—strong academic foundations, practical orientation, and technological innovation.

The central theme of the discussion is the concept of "Education Without Borders"—not merely as a metaphor, but as a tangible process enabled by digital technologies. The discussion will explore everything from adaptive online learning platforms and virtual laboratories to hybrid educational models combining digital delivery with local physical presence.

Particular attention will be paid to the experience of Russian universities and EdTech companies that have already launched international initiatives, as well as to the challenges they face—from diploma recognition and accreditation to adapting educational programs to local standards.

The round table aims not only to assess the current landscape but also to identify future development pathways by addressing questions such as:

• Which international expansion models show the greatest promise?
• How can cross-border education remain sustainable while maintaining high quality?
• What roles should government, business, and academia play in advancing Russian digital education internationally?

The key message is clear: education should be open, technology-driven, and designed to meet the needs of the global digital society.

Key Discussion Topics

• Which EdTech solutions are most effective for scaling Russian IT education internationally?
• Which international expansion models—online platforms, overseas campuses, or institutional partnerships—offer the greatest potential, and why?
• How can Russian educational programs strengthen their international recognition and competitiveness?
• Which regulatory, cultural, and technological barriers continue to hinder cross-border IT education, and how can they be overcome?
• What roles should government agencies, universities, and the private sector play in promoting Russian IT education abroad?

Moderator

Vasily Zudin
Deputy Director, Center for Global IT Cooperation

Invited Speakers

• Svetlana Malkarova, Director, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics Branch
• Eduard Shantaev, Director, Digital Industrial Technologies (DIT)
• Elena Chetverina, Business Performance Consultant, PhD in Economics, CIMA, DipIFR
• Maria Shtein, Executive Director and Co-Founder, First Media Academy Institute
• Anna Abramova, Head of the Department of Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence, ADV Group; Academic Director of the Master's Program in Artificial Intelligence, MGIMO University
• Alexey Polovinkin, Founder and CEO, Tsifrium