On August 19, the Rector of TSPU, A. Makarenko, took part in the All-Russian Pedagogical Congress in Moscow. The event brought together 1 300 education professionals. The main topic of discussion was the Strategy for the Development of Education until 2036.

From June 27 to July 8, Tomsk State Pedagogical University (TSPU) held its 2025 graduation ceremonies at the Volkov Scientific Library. This year, 455 graduates received their degrees – future teachers, researchers, and professionals in fields such as IT, linguistics, design, and more. A total of 165 students were awarded diplomas with honors.

From June 27 to July 8, Tomsk State Pedagogical University (TSPU) held its 2025 graduation ceremonies at the Volkov Scientific Library. This year, 455 graduates received their degrees – future teachers, researchers, and professionals in fields such as IT, linguistics, design, and more. A total of 165 students were awarded diplomas with honors.

The graduation events began with the Faculty of Biology and Chemistry. The week of June 30 to July 6 was the busiest, as students graduated from the Faculty of History and Philology, the Institute for the Development of Teacher Education, the Faculty of Technology and Economics, the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, the Institute of Physical Education and Sports, the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation, and the Institute of Childhood and Art Pedagogy. The final ceremony was held by the Faculty of Psychology and Special Education.

At each graduation event, TSPU deans, institute directors, and faculty members shared words of congratulations and guidance. Alongside long-awaited diplomas, graduates also received universal competency passports—portfolios showcasing the key skills they developed during their studies, including organization, goal orientation, and client-focused thinking. Students who excelled in academics, research, and student leadership throughout their university life received special recognition.

Students from the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation (IFLIC) at the Tomsk State Pedagogical University were invited to present their research at the International Conference on Experimental Linguistics, hosted by Lomonosov Moscow State University. Young researchers Yana Rabinovich and Kamilla Ziyadanova, members of the IFLIC Student Scientific Association, presented results of their experimental phonetic study of Kazakh vowel systems in the Altai Republic and Mongolia. Their research was conducted under the guidance of Valeria Lemskaya, Deputy Director of IFLIC for Science and Development, and associate professor Denis Tokmashev.

An interview with Anna Bogdanova, Director of the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation at the TSPU, and Vadim Zyubanov, Head of the Department of International Cooperation, was recently published on the federal «Russian Education» portal. The discussion focused on the university’s initiatives to promote the Russian language in Kenya.

On June 20, pedagogical universities across Russia, overseen by the Ministry of Education, opened admissions for the new academic year. This year, 36 universities are offering more than 37,000 state-funded spots..

Applicants can submit applications to up to five universities and choose up to five programs or majors at each institution.

The Institute of Physical Culture and Sports (IFCS) at Tomsk State Pedagogical University was founded in 1949 and is the oldest institution of its kind east of the Urals. Over the decades, it has produced nearly six thousand specialists – including world and European champions, renowned coaches, talented educators, sports event organizers, and professionals in business, politics, and culture.

How did the university become a training ground for world-renowned champions?

We are certainly proud of our graduate athletes. However, our main mission is to train qualified professionals — future coaches and physical education teachers — who, in turn, train outstanding athletes. One of the key components in preparing a specialist in this field is competitive experience. That’s why many of our students are seriously involved in sports and often represent the Tomsk Region and even Russia on national teams. Another important goal of the Institute is to create optimal conditions for students to combine athletic development with a high-quality university education.

We have had Olympic team members who successfully balanced training, competitions, and academic studies. Our program is built on a combination of theoretical and athletic disciplines. As future educators, our students gain a wide range of competencies — from pedagogy and psychology to medical and biological sciences.

By the time they graduate, they are fully equipped with the methodology for teaching core sports that are part of school, preschool, and university physical education programs. They also know how to organize sports events.

Practical experience starts as early as the first year: students volunteer, assist, judge, or co-organize competitions, take part in coaching or teaching in schools, and travel to children’s summer sports camps to gain hands-on skills.

Are there any specific sports specializations?

Yes, when enrolling in the Institute, students choose a sport in which they plan to develop professionally. There are more than ten options, including basketball, volleyball, football, boxing, kettlebell lifting, track and field, lapta, and others. Many of the instructors — formerly high-level athletes — are now candidates or doctors of science. It’s a true example of harmony between physical and intellectual development, and a role model for future generations of students.

For instance, powerlifting coach Ekaterina Tanakova is an Honored Master of Sports and a multiple world and European champion. Every year, her students meet the standards for the Master of Sports title.

The Institute also houses the Poseidon Center for Sports and Health Swimming, where student swimmers train. Classes are led by highly experienced specialists — Alexey Vyazigin, PhD in Pedagogy and International Master of Sports of Russia, and Konstantin Bezotechestvo, PhD in Pedagogy and Master of Sports of the USSR.

Elena Bondarenko, a Master of Sports in rhythmic gymnastics and PhD in pedagogy, teaches sports fitness aerobics at the Institute. The ski racing program is led by Olympic champion, Honored Master of Sports, and the TSPU alumna Natalia Baranova, who is also an Honorary Citizen of Tomsk Region.

What about career opportunities after graduation?

Graduates of the Institute are in high demand and can work in a wide range of areas in the field of physical education and sports. In addition to schools and educational institutions, they are employed in fitness centers and public or municipal organizations focused on physical culture and sports.

How to apply?

The Institute offers two bachelor’s degree tracks in Pedagogical Education: «Physical Education» and «Additional Education», available in both full-time and part-time formats. There are about 50 state-funded spots for full-time students and 24 for part-time. The master’s program offers around ten state-funded places.

To apply for the bachelor’s program, applicants must pass two entrance exams: Russian language and social studies. High school graduates use their Unified State Exam results, while other applicants take the exams at the Institute. In addition, candidates must complete two physical fitness tests: on the first day, they choose three exercises from a set list; on the second day, they complete track and field events. Admission to the master’s program is based on an interview.

For the fifth year in a row, the Tomsk State Pedagogical University (TSPU) has hosted the Festival of Innovative Ideas and Practices in Education — a major event organized by the university’s Center for Career Guidance and Work with Children and Youth, along with the Faculty of Psychology and Special Education.This year, the festival brought together more than 500 school students, university students, and educators from across Russia and Kazakhstan. Participants gathered in Tomsk to take part in a vibrant educational space called Innograd — a specially designed 1innovation town2 equipped with infrastructure to support a wide range of research, art pedagogy, and psychological activities.

In May, the city of Krasnoyarsk hosted the annual Interregional Art Fencing Festival «Steel Dawn» and the Krasnoyarsk Region Fencing Cup. The event brought together 16 teams from five regions of Russia, including athletes from the Tomsk State Pedagogical University, members of the fencing studio «Saberia». The team was led by associate professor of the Institute for the Development of Pedagogical Education and Vice President of the Tomsk Region Fencing Federation, Viktor Lobanov.

The XVI International Economic Forum «Russia – Islamic World» brought together over 8,500 participants from 96 countries. The forum, supported by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, remains one of the key platforms for strengthening economic and cultural ties between Russia and Islamic countries. Vadim Zyubanov, Head of the International Cooperation Office of the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation, presented the Tomsk State Pedagogical University at the event.

Associate Professor from TSPU Joins International Linguistic Expedition in Western Turkey Denis Tokmashev, Associate Professor at the Department of English Philology and Intercultural Communication at TSPU’s Institute of Foreign Languages, took part in an international dialectological expedition in Izmir Province, Turkey. The expedition was organized by the Institute of Turkic Studies at Ege University, in collaboration with the Russian Committee of Turkologists (under the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences), Higher School of Economics, and the Turkish Linguistic Society. The project was led by Anna Dybo, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Researchers from the host university, including Ibrahim Şahin, Fatma Uğur Buhur, and Aylin Çakır, also participated in the fieldwork.

Tomsk State Pedagogical University (TSPU) continues to expand its academic programs in collaboration with universities in China. During the winter semester of the 2024–2025 academic years, students from TSPU’s Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation studied at Mudanjiang Normal University (MNU), Jilin University of Foreign Studies (JUFS), and Hubei University (HU), with a new agreement signed in June 2024.

The Tomsk State Pedagogical University has recently hosted the All-Russian Forum «Teachers of Russia», which brought together over 100 participants from various regions and educational institutions across the country. Among the attendees were educators from the Tomsk region and students from TSPU. The two-day event featured lectures, workshops, and interactive sessions dedicated to the topics of Preschool Education and General Education.

The Tomsk State Pedagogical University has recently hosted the All-Russian Forum «Teachers of Russia», which brought together over 100 participants from various regions and educational institutions across the country. Among the attendees were educators from the Tomsk region and students from TSPU. The two-day event featured lectures, workshops, and interactive sessions dedicated to the topics of Preschool Education and General Education.

The first day of the forum was dedicated to preschool education. It was opened by Irina Drozdetskaya, Director of the Institute of Childhood and Art Pedagogy at TSPU, who highlighted the university's commitment to creating an environment that fosters personal growth and professional development of future educators:

«At TSPU, we create conditions that influence students' self-determination and the development of their personal potential. This allows us to make teacher training more practical and aligned with modern educational requirements, while also giving students hands-on professional experience.».

Participants engaged with experts from the online school of the "Teachers of Russia" forum, award-winning teachers, and representatives from various educational organizations, including TSPU.

Galya Vakhitova, an associate professor at the Institute of Childhood and Art Pedagogy, led a session «Emotional Intelligence in Preschoolers and Common Sense in Adults». She emphasized the importance of managing emotions and developing emotional intelligence in both children and adults.

Anastasia Gumberg, the coordinator for educational work at the institute, explored animation as a tool for development, education, and upbringing in preschool settings. She stressed the importance of creativity among educators and introduced them to animation technologies.

Other topics covered during the day included helping children navigate difficult life situations, fostering creativity, working with children with disabilities, and addressing teacher burnout.

Tomsk State Pedagogical University (TSPU) has introduced a groundbreaking educational initiative called "Chinese Language for Tomsk Schoolchildren", the first of its kind in the Tomsk region. The project aims to promote and integrate the study of the Chinese language and culture into the curriculum of Tomsk's schools. By doing so, it will provide students with the opportunity to learn Chinese, broaden their educational horizons, and prepare them to succeed in the global academic community.

TSPU Students are winners of the Tomsk Region Artistic Fencing Championship Tomsk State Pedagogical University hosted the Tomsk Region Artistic Fencing Championship. Participants included students from the Big University of Tomsk (TSPU, TSU, TUSUR), trainees from the Tomsk Palace of Children and Youth Creativity, and students from the Tomsk Humanities Lyceum.

The closing ceremony of the All-Russian Student Forum "Your Move – 2024" took place in Moscow at the National Center "Russia." Out of 16,848 participants in the "I Create" track, only 200 reached the final and received grants of 1,000,000 rubles each. Among the 14 winners from the Tomsk region was Ksenia Sannikova, a student from the Institute of Childhood and Art Pedagogy at TSPU.

Since 2022, Tomsk State Pedagogical University has partnered with Jilin University of Foreign Languages (JUFL) to run a dual degree program. This program trains bachelor’s students to become teachers of Russian as a foreign language. Our goal is to prepare highly skilled international professionals with strong knowledge of Russian, advanced teaching skills, and the ability to conduct research. Graduates of the program receive two bachelor’s degrees—one from TSPU and one from JUFL. This opens unique opportunities for them to build a career as qualified Russian language teachers.

Two innovative projects from Tomsk State Pedagogical University students have been recognized in the Top 1000 University Startups of Russia 2024 ranking, organized by the University Technological Entrepreneurship Platform. TSPU was one of only four teaching universities to be included in the ranking.

“Slon” Early Development Center

Alena Valivach, a student from the Faculty of Preschool and Special Education, secured 142nd place with her project in the "Creative Industries" category. Her Slon Early Development Center provides interactive learning programs for children aged 8 months to 5 years. By blending traditional teaching methods with modern technologies like artificial intelligence, the center offers engaging activities to help children develop essential skills.

“Our mission is to raise thoughtful, empathetic children who are ready to interact with the modern world,” says Alena. Her participation in TSPU’s ProektUM Accelerator Program played a crucial role in shaping her startup, especially with guidance from her mentor, Galina Arysheva, Director of the TSPU Business Incubator.

The center is already operating successfully, with 80% of its spots filled. Plans for expansion include opening more branches and enhancing preschool education both locally and nationwide.

“Just 1%” Workbook

Veronika Trotsenko, a master’s student in Psychology and Special Education, ranked 738th with her workbook aimed at reducing procrastination. This colorful resource combines exercises, motivational tips, and QR codes leading to a chatbot and an online support community.

The workbook is designed for schools, universities, and individual use, offering an accessible way to improve focus and self-discipline while addressing mental health challenges.

The ProektUM Accelerator finals will take place on December 29, where participants will present their projects and receive expert feedback. These achievements highlight TSPU’s role in fostering innovation and supporting creative solutions for the future.

The interregional "Inspiration" festival in St. Petersburg brought together Russian champions, world medalists in artistic fencing, and teams from across the country. Among the participants was the team from TSPU’s experimental platform, "Self-Organization of Youth Through Collective Activities in Fencing," led by Associate Professor Viktor Lobanov from the Institute of Pedagogical Education Development. The team achieved outstanding success, winning in several categories.

In Nairobi, Kenya, the 2024 education season at the Open Education Center for Russian Language, organized by the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation of TSPU, has concluded. At the end of the season, students passed their exams and received certificates.

A recent business visit by Vadim Yuryevich Zyubanov, Head of the Department of International Cooperation at the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation (IFLIC), to Kenya has concluded with promising developments in Russian language education. The visit focused on the Center for Open Education in Russian Language and Russian Language Learning, established by Tomsk State Pedagogical University (TSPU) in Nairobi in 2023.