The Institute of Energy at the Day of Firsts

In the morning, SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy congratulated students and staff on the start of the new academic year on the university’s social media:

September 1 at Polytech always has a special atmosphere. The air across the campus seems to vibrate with the energy of thousands of young people who have come here to build their future. For first-year students, today marks the beginning of a new and very important chapter in their lives. And for all of us who already study and work within these walls, it is a continuation of our shared mission and our work to create something meaningful together. We have a busy year ahead.

To our first-year students, I want to say one thing above all: do not be afraid to make mistakes, and make the most of every minute you spend at Polytech — the opportunities here are enormous. To students in their senior years, I wish you success in finding your path in research and in your future profession.

From the very beginning of the day, first-year students explored the campus together with their student mentors, took part in interactive activities, and tried and discovered something new. At each station, teams earned Polycoins, which they could exchange for prizes at the end of the day.

Each zone marked by a point on the map represented one of SPbPU’s areas of activity. Science, social projects, engineering activities and extracurricular student organisations — everyone could find something that matched their interests.

Station No. 9, “Firsts in Projects,” located in the Polytech Tower, brought together student project teams and the Centre for Youth Development Pathways. Among the participants were representatives of the System Engineering Student Design Bureau and the Power Machines–Polytech Student Design Bureau.

The design bureau representatives introduced first-year students to various engineering fields and student teams, which are set to grow even further this year. Power Machines is interested in students from all areas of the Institute of Energy.

At the very beginning of the day, the Polytech Tower was also visited by SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy and AVTOVAZ President Maxim Sokolov. Maxim Sokolov began his visit to SPbPU by exploring students’ projects and developments.

The Lenspormash engineering racing team presented the AVTOVAZ President with its Cinque e mezzo race car, which had recently helped the team secure third place in the overall team standings at Formula Student Russia 2026, as well as first place in the static events.

Team captain Kirill Anikeev explained that the team was founded in 2014 by SPbPU student Evgeny Zakhlebaev. It was the first Formula Student team in Russia’s Northwestern Federal District to design and build racing cars in accordance with the regulations of the international Formula Student competition.

Over the past 12 years, the team has built six race cars, as well as SOL, Russia’s first solar-powered car. The team’s race cars have competed in Germany, Hungary, the United States and Russia, regularly finishing among the prize-winners. The solar car also received an award for the best debut at a competition in the United States.

The story caught the attention of the AVTOVAZ President, whose company is actively developing motorsport and supporting professional racing teams. Maxim Sokolov invited the students to attend racing events — for the time being as spectators — and to visit AVTOVAZ.

Maxim Sokolov also visited the stands of the System Engineering Student Design Bureau. After learning that Polytech students, working under the guidance of young lecturers, also tackle projects commissioned by industrial companies, he recalled how, in his youth, he had worked with Polytech engineers on a project to modernise the hydraulic turbines at the Volkhov Hydroelectric Power Station.

At Station No. 1, “Firsts in Science,” first-year students were introduced to scientific and engineering projects, including those presented by the Institute of Energy.

The Lenspormash engineering racing team welcomed visitors in several areas, including a tent with a recreation area, where the team gave a presentation, and an outdoor exhibition of its racing cars. The team had recently added new trophies to its collection following this year’s Formula Student competition.

For thousands of first-year students, the day was not simply an opportunity to get to know their university. It was also their first step into the wider Polytech community. The Day of Firsts showed that at Polytech, students can do much more than study: they can create, take part in sports, develop innovative projects, meet like-minded people and make a difference in the world around them.

The article was prepared based on materials from SPbPU Media and the Communications and Public Relations Office of the Institute of Energy.