At ITMO, we’re constantly on the lookout for the best practices of world-class universities and research centers to make our educational programs excellent. One of our latest and most interesting innovations is Soft Skills, a set of cutting-edge courses aimed at enhancing your personal and professional potential.
The Soft Skills set is available for both Bachelor’s and Master’s students. It includes various disciplines aimed at helping you develop the so-called transferable skills that will boost your performance in any career path you choose.
Students begin to master this block of disciplines from the very start of their studies. The courses for first-year and second-year Bachelor’s students include:
Communication and Teamwork
Today, almost every aspect of human life – from science to business – is connected with teamwork. That’s why students can take a course in communication and team-building developed by top-tier experts in business communication, psychologists, HR specialists, and professional educators. The course consists of eight modules. Each addresses the real challenges that young people face during their studies and will have to deal with in their future careers. These are communication in social media, teamwork, and roles in projects.
Public Speaking and Presentation Techniques
It’s not enough to achieve results in studies, research, or the development of new products, you should also know how to present them properly. This is precisely what students study at ITMO. This course teaches students to work with audiences and conquer their fear of public speaking. During the course, lecturers also pay special attention to the features of live presentations, online performances, and interviews.
All third-year Bachelor's students can choose two of the following disciplines. Guided by experienced professors, you’ll gain unique knowledge that will come in handy not only during your studies but also outside the university.
| Course | Language and format |
| Creativity Practices | Russian / offline classes |
| Personal Efficiency and Time Management | Russian / offline classes |
| Emotional Intelligence | Russian / offline classes |
| Study Skills | Russian / offline classes |
| Storytelling | Russian / offline classes |
| Life in Science: Guide for Young Researchers (basic level) | Russian / online course |
| Cognitive Instruments of Decision-Making | Russian / offline classes |
| Working in a Remote Team | Russian / online classes |
| Academic Writing Lab* | English / offline classes |
| Digital Journalism* | English / online classes |
| Event Management | Russian / offline classes |
| Student Club Management | Russian / offline classes |
| Social Programs and Projects Development | Russian / offline classes |
| Career Management | Russian / offline classes |
| Effective Participating in Conferences | Russian / offline classes |
*B2 English level is required
The list of courses includes various disciplines aimed at helping you develop the so-called transferable skills, which will boost your performance in any career path you choose. Developed according to the latest educational trends, these courses meet all international educational standards. Each course is 4 ECTS.
| Course | Language and format |
| Efficient Team Management | Russian / offline classes |
| Personal Resources Management | Russian / offline classes |
| Personal Effectiveness and Time Management | Russian / offline classes |
| Career Management in Science | Russian / offline classes |
| International Research Management Essentials* | English / offline classes |
| Negotiation, Influence and Conflict Management* | English / offline classes |
| Emotional Intelligence* | English / offline classes |
| Life in Science: Guide For Young Researchers | English, Russian / online course |
*B2 English level is required
Soft Skills is a compulsory part of all ITMO University programs, so you’ll have to choose one of the courses on offer. Within the two weeks of the course, you’ll have lectures and practical training. Based on your project results and practical classes’ performance, you will receive a “pass” or “fail” grade at the end of the semester.
If you have any questions regarding the Soft Skills courses, do not hesitate to contact us at softskills@itmo.ru or call +7 (812) 607-04-66.
Our address: Lomonosova St. 9, room 3103, 191002, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Starting from the 2018/2019 academic year, the Digital Culture course is included in all of ITMO University’s educational programs.
Digital culture is a set of competencies that characterize a person’s ability to use information and communication technologies to navigate a digital environment, perform effective social communications and solve digital tasks in a professional capacity.
Bachelor’s programs include a three-year Digital Culture course that consists of the following modules:
Master’s programs include a one-year course that consists of the following modules:
The course teaching approach is based on the blended learning: each module is a combination of online courses, tests, automatically verified exercises and in-person workshops and masterclasses. The Digital Culture course for Master’s degree students is provided both in Russian and English.
Learn more about the contents of the course and its unique learning approach in these course brochures for Bachelor’s (in Russian) and Master’s students.
If you have any questions regarding the Digital Culture course, do not hesitate to contact us at digitalculture@cde.ifmo.ru
Digital Culture Team