ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION VLADIMIR PUTIN

Transcript of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon. I'd like to welcome you all once again and to congratulate you on the beginning of the new economic year, as well as on this wonderful new building.

I have been here before. As you heard, I was involved in developing the idea of founding this institute, and I also visited the site during construction. But of course there's something special about seeing the end result of all that work.

I believe that the Siberian Federal University, the industry for which it has been created and the country's educational system as a whole will have good reason to be proud of this institution. We have very good traditions in training professionals in this sector: the Gubkin Institute in Moscow, the Mining Institute in St Petersburg, and now this institute in Siberia.

This is also very good, because this training site has been established as close as possible to the action, as it were, since we are now planning major projects in Siberia, especially East Siberia. This is a natural process. It is underway not just because someone wanted to do it, but because of particular reasons, of which you are certainly well aware. The fact is that deposits are becoming depleted in West Siberia and in the western part of the country in general, and therefore our companies are moving eastwards to East Siberia, the Far East and offshore.

This is highly specific work. It is more expensive and larger scale, there is no infrastructure here and the geology is different. In other words, it has its specific features. I think it is one of the most interesting sectors there is right now. But I am sure you are aware of all this. Therefore I suggest we talk about the problems that concern you, especially questions related to the training process, but also those problems that are not directly related to that but which are still of interest to you. Let's use this opportunity to discuss them. Questions, please.

Question: I am Maria Oreshina, a second-year master's student at the Institute of Space and Information Technology at the Siberian Federal University. This is my question.

Our university is in transition to a two-tiered education system of bachelor's and master's degrees. People with BA degrees are often rejected from engineering jobs because of the formality that they require MA degrees. That is why people who have BAs cannot get those jobs.

How can this situation be changed, because students themselves do understand that this two-tiered education system is the future. The academic community understands this, but how can we get our point across to the employers?

Vladimir Putin: To those simpletons...

Question: How can we explain to the employers that this is a really important process?

Vladimir Putin: There could be two reasons for that, one of them substantive and the other psychological. The substantive reason is, I think, that a company wants to recruit a good professional who they perceive as highly likely to be successful, and so when they refuse to employ someone it could mean that they are not sure that he or she is the kind of professional they need. As for explanations and reasons for rejecting job applications, they can vary. And were it not this reason, they would have definitely found something else.

But I think there is also another component, a purely psychological one. For some reason many people think that those who graduate with a BA from a university offering this two-tiered education system have not received a complete higher education. But that is not true, those with BA degrees have received a full higher education. Therefore, it will take time to convince potential employers. But there is another way to radically change the situation, and that is through collaborative work between the future employers and the universities, just as we have here for example.

Sergei Bogdanchikov, head of Rosneft, a company that invested the bulk of funds in establishing this institute, has just told me about the system of personnel training his company uses, and they start in schools. The company works with 60 schools on a regular basis, supporting them financially and spotting talent, and later creating definite contact points in universities.

Given such interaction, graduates have no problems finding employment, and companies - in the oil and gas sector among others - have no problems with personnel. This is the path we should go down.

Question: I am Olga Denisenko, a fifth-year student at the Institute of the Economy, Management and Nature Management at the Siberian Federal University.

Vladimir Putin: A fifth-year student?

Olga Denisenko: Yes, a fifth-year student.

You probably heard that the Siberian Federal University is actively engaged in international cooperation and promotes professional ties with many large research and educational establishments both in Russia and abroad.

Our students and post-graduate students are often invited to take part in on-site training and conferences in Europe. Academic mobility is highly developed there, but it is rather difficult for Russian students to play an active role in such academic and scientific exchanges, in particular because of problems with getting a Schengen visa. I encountered this problem myself when I needed to go to Europe for a conference. I'd like to ask you if the visa rules for research and educational travel in Europe will be simplified?

Vladimir Putin: I think we should work jointly with our European colleagues towards visa-free travel. In general, an overwhelming majority of our European partners support this idea. Unfortunately, other people are trying to hold it back for their own, often political, reasons. But nonetheless, most of our colleagues abroad and a majority of EU countries support us. I would like to repeat that most our colleagues and most European Union countries are ready to go down this path together with Russia, and we are moving in this direction. As of today, we have agreed to simplify visa regulations for undergraduate and postgraduate students, journalists and deputies of all levels. I think five citizen categories are covered. As far as students are concerned, a decision was made not to charge them any visa fees, to say the least. You probably had a chance to appreciate this already.

Remark: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: You see? Everything should be done in order to make things easier for our citizens, including students, pending the introduction of visa-free regime between Russia and EU countries. This is primarily linked with travel. But we are negotiating the establishment of additional diplomatic missions, consulates, etc. wherever possible and where our partners are ready to do this in line with the reciprocity principle. But a visa-free regime is the main option for solving this problem. This can only be accomplished on the basis of reciprocity. This is standard global diplomatic practice.

Remark: Thank you.

Question: Mr Putin, may I take the floor? My name is Mikhail Izrailev, a fifth-year student at the Institute of Military Training. Here is my question: We all realize that student life is one of the brightest and happiest periods of life. At the same time, students face many challenges, including some material problems. There has been a frequent discussion in the media of raising basic scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students from other sources...

Vladimir Putin: What other sources do you mean? (Laughing.)

Mikhail Izrailev: We are also waiting to find out about this. Can we hope for a basic scholarship raise?

Vladimir Putin: In early 2010, we said it was, unfortunately, impossible to accurately predict the results of economic activity in conditions of crisis because everything, including global prices, is subject to fluctuations. We have so far failed to reinstate pre-crisis GDP levels, on which budgetary proceeds depend. Earlier this year, we said (and I dwelt on this speaking in the State Duma) decisions regarding readjustments this year or next year would be made in line with national economic activity and economic performance results. But I understand and agree with you that scholarships need to be raised.

Question: But should we hold out hope for this?

Vladimir Putin: We would really like to see this happen, but I can't tell you when specific decisions will be made.

Question: Olga Medvedtseva ...

Remark: Mr Putin, she is a two-time Olympic champion.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I know.

Olga Medvedtseva: I'm from the Institute of Physical Fitness and Sports. As an athlete, you will understand our problem because you are familiar with it. I retired from athletics after the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. I have an insider's knowledge of sports problems.

The Krasnoyarsk Territory is renowned for its achievements in sports. Since 1984, our athletes have been defending the country's honour at national and international competitions, and during the Olympics, too. They always bring medals back home. But the problem is that we have run-down sports facilities. The existing facilities were built in the run-up to the 1982 Spartakiad Sports Games of Peoples of the USSR. We hosted two national Spartakiad Games. I was a little girl at the time.

The territory's Ministry of Sports is currently drafting a programme for establishing a winter sports academy that would cover virtually all these sports facilities in need of repairs and reconstruction. This is very convenient because the city has the required infrastructure, and no new facilities have to be constructed. Our city now has three ski stadiums. There will be skiing courses for residents, and people will be able to take long walks on the course as well. Moreover, our students will be able to actively participate in sports events because the surrounding area is located near the Siberian Federal University.

Most importantly, professional athletes will be able to conduct full-fledged training sessions. The winter sports academy includes the construction of numerous facilities, including alpine-skiing, cross-country skiing and bobsleighing courses.

Vladimir Putin: But where is it located?

Olga Medvedtseva: It will be located on Nikolayevskaya Hill not far from here.

Vladimir Putin: At a school?

Olga Medvedtseva: Yes, the first experience we have had is establishing the Biathlon Academy. Naturally, you haven't had time to visit it yet, but it's located just two kilometers from here.

Vladimir Putin: I don't think there is any snow yet.

Olga Medvedtseva: Our roller rink was renovated this year, and we are building a huge facility which will house gyms, fitness centres, and a dining hall. And it will provide accommodations for 80 people.

Vladimir Putin: I've just been to Kamchatka and seen the local ...

Olga Medvedtseva: Ours is much better...

Vladimir Putin: I don't doubt that.

Olga Medvedtseva: It appears that the Krasnoyarsk Territory has been training champions for a long time. After acquiring this huge, fully-equipped, large-scale facility, we would even be able to hold the Youth Olympic Games. This is an ambitious construction project, and our plans are also ambitious. We are counting on your support very much, we really need it.

Vladimir Putin: Is this project being implemented by the territory's administration?

Lev Kuznetsov (Krasnoyarsk Territory Governor): Yes, Mr Putin. I have reported to you in Novosibirsk and organised a presentation. The Biathlon Academy is investing 750 million roubles. As has already been said, we want to build up and promote the types of sports that are stipulated by the state order from the Federal Agency for Physical Fitness and Sport (Rossport), on the basis of the Soviet-era infrastructure. And it is located 1,000 metres from the university, making it possible to train specialists and involve students and a city with a population of one million. What's also very important (as sports is linked with healthcare and science) is that this makes it possible to train coaches, sports instructors, and to conduct biomedical research at university facilities. I am confident that this symbiotic relationship will give us the opportunity to train athletes for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. We will invite you next year for the opening ceremony of a biathlon facility called the Biathlon Academy. I am confident that our biathlon team will soon...

Vladimir Putin: Do you maintain contacts with the ministry?

Lev Kuznetsov: Yes, we maintain contacts. The only request is that we should be included in the 2006-2015 national programme for the development of sports. We will continue to work with the ministry to coordinate the design concept and other issues in greater detail.

Vladimir Putin: Will this provide you with additional funding?

Lev Kuznetsov: They are now allocating 50 million roubles for the Biathlon Academy this year, and there is a preliminary agreement to issue an additional 150 million roubles in 2011. On the whole, the ministry provides all-out support for this project.

Vladimir Putin: Good.

Lev Kuznetsov: Consequently, your approval of including this in the programme will enable us to accomplish all these tasks. I would like to say that the university won first place at the Winter Student Games and second place during the Summer Student Games after Moscow State University. Apart from their strong academic records, our students are actively involved in sports and have achieved very much in this sphere.

Vladimir Putin: When I get back to Moscow, I will speak with the minister. We will push this programme forward.

Remark: I am a fifth-year student at the Institute of Psychology, Pedagogy and Sociology. Since I am not a local - I came from a small town...

Vladimir Putin: Where are you from?

Answer: From Lesosibirsk, in the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Vladimir Putin: But that makes you a local resident! Considering Siberia's vast expanses, it is as good as next door.

Question: My question is about the dormitory...

Vladimir Putin: I knew that! They warned me against coming here.

Question: Well, we are actually happy with a comfortable, new dorm that was built just last year. But a federal university enrolls students from all over the federal district, and foreign exchange students too. Accommodation should be provided under all student programmes, as is the case with the students going to other regions. The number of such students grows with every year, but the number of beds on campus does not. We heard that our university was included in a programme to build more dormitories, but there is no construction underway. Can we expect more dorms to be built?

Vladimir Putin: You are right. You were indeed included in this programme. I discussed that with the governor yesterday. The plan was to build three dormitories, each worth around 1.2 billion roubles. I have to be honest with you: these were expensive projects, and we had to suspend them to reduce budget expenditures due to the recession. Of all students who need on-campus accommodation nationwide, 80% have been provided with rooms. Unfortunately, in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, this rate is only 60%, according to the reports I get. The education minister is telling me it could be lower still, maybe 50%. I know that this problem is much more pressing here than in other regions of Russia.

Unfortunately, we had to cut spending. But we'll see what we can do, because your need is really pressing, and also because we are opening a new department of the university today, a whole new school in fact... We will try to implement at least one project that includes three new dormitories. The government of the territory will probably allocate 1.2 billion roubles, and we will contribute 400 million from the federal budget. Also, since we are talking about an oil and gas institute, we'll talk to some of our leading oil and gas producers... Not necessarily Rosneft, Mr Bogdanchikov (to Rosneft president), don't worry. We'll talk to oil and gas producers and will hopefully secure more financing. You'll get 1.2 billion roubles. I hope we can assemble the financing soon enough and begin building right away, since the project design is ready.

Question: My name is Yulia Kirsanova, I am a fifth-year student at the Institute of Linguistics and Philology. Lifelong learning has become very important in the world today. Many people with university degrees decide to return to university at some point in their lives to earn another degree. If you had the chance, which university would you go to, and what would you choose to study?

Vladimir Putin: So you're under the impression that I need more education?

Yulia Kirsanova: I mean, if you had more time, which school would you choose now? And what major?

Vladimir Putin: I don't think I could name a specific school. If it's okay with you, I would list the field of knowledge I am interested in. My interests are very broad. I often go back to certain fundamental problems, these have been consistently interesting to me. First, I have always wondered about how the universe originated, how galaxies emerged, how planets were formed and how space evolves. I have talked to experts... I sometimes go back to these questions, not too often though, but regularly enough because they are interesting. The most widespread theory today is the so-called Big Bang theory: a huge mass of mater accumulated, then some internal processes led to a huge explosion, and it burst into planets, galaxies and star systems... It is curious how experts explain that they did not just fly out chaotically but almost like fireworks explode. I was talking with one scientist about the Big Bang, the huge mass that accumulated... Incidentally, the Black Holes which are so often discussed, they aren't holes: you must know that they are in fact very dense matter. So I asked him, does that mean that Black Holes have been accumulating matter since the Big Bang, that they will suck it in, and we'll see another Big Bang and it will start all over again? And the scientist I was talking to said: "Yes, it was very likely." And I asked, "But where did it all come from and when?" And he answered, "For that, you will need a different expert." Strange as it might seem, I am also interested in etiology. But the universe is such an immense, integrated thing that when you start thinking of it, it makes your head spin.

I am curious about our planet's development, too. Geology is a very interesting science. Very interesting, indeed. I was just in Yakutia in Russia's north, on the Lena River. The Lena's estuary, where it flows into the ocean, is in fact the world's second largest after the Mississippi. Few Russians know about it.

Sediment on its shores suggests that there used to be a warm sea there. And Europe was covered by several-meter-thick glaciers several thousand years ago. These processes are fascinating, and they are also important for answering more practical questions about how the Earth evolves and how it breathes, and how climate changes happen.

They say mammoths died because of global cooling. But I have heard a different opinion: they died of global warming. The world ocean rose, land contracted, and islands formed, where mammoths were stuck without most of their food sources. They died on those islands.

Geology and paleontology are also extremely interesting to me. History, too. Our planet is large, and Russia is the largest country on it. How has it changed? What were the intellectual and spiritual forces that shaped such a vast country? How is it so different from all other countries? What all of these countries have in common? What makes us a part of modern civilization?

There are many other areas. If I keep talking about them, we will use up all the time we have. On the whole, Yulia, I agree with you: lifelong learning is important. One should be a lifelong learner, at least informally. It is useful of course, but it also fascinating.

Question: Mr Putin, can I ask a question? You have mentioned sciences, and even climate, and paleoclimatology. I am a paleoclimatologist. Much is being said today about Russians returning from abroad, I mean academics and professionals who left earlier...

Vladimir Putin: Are you talking as a paleontologist now?

Answer: I am a paleoclimatologist. I worked in the University of California for six years. I conducted research, published many articles and defended a thesis.

Then I came back to Russia to teach at the Department of Ecology and Management of Natural Resources. The problem is that my American degree is not recognized here. I mean that I cannot apply for grants and cannot be an academic advisor. There are other problems, too. Can I at least hope that my American degree, which is recognized worldwide, will give me equal rights with Russian degree-holders?

Vladimir Putin: I understand that you have a practical problem. Such international issues are resolved the same way as visa issues, on a reciprocal basis. This, I reiterate, is also a worldwide practice. The system of defending a thesis here is a little bit different. You probably know this because you worked there and you defended a thesis there: Apparently, in California as well as throughout the rest of the United States, degrees are conferred in the scientific institution where you work and teach. And here we have the Higher Attestation Committee. This is a completely different system. And although it seems like such a basic issue, there is actually a lot to do in order to solve these problems. But it seems to me that our Education Ministry (the education minister should be here somewhere) could think about how to do this. Mr Fursenko, (referring to Andrei Fursenko) we need to think about how to solve this problem for professionals so that no such administrative burdens hinder them in their work. Surely we can devise a system to recognise their degrees ... of course, we can turn up our noses and say that we will only do things on the basis of reciprocity. But it must be more flexible... Have a look, please.

Andrei Fursenko: Mr Putin, we are working on this exact issue now. We just want to define a list of universities that actually give good diplomas. Because there are universities in the United States the diplomas of which are probably not worth accepting straight away. We are working on this. I think that we will resolve this issue in the near future, this year.

Vladimir Putin: At least on the way to achieving this goal we must equalise access to various grants, participation in competitions and so on. You are certainly capable of doing this. Do so quickly, please.

Andrei Fursenko: Yes, sir.

Question: Mr Putin, please allow me to continue. My name is Valentin Kopailo, I am a master's student at the Institute of the Economy, Management and Nature Management at the Siberian Federal University. My question is an economic one, and concerns the implementation of Federal Law No. 217, which sets out that universities have the right to independently establish small innovative companies. Following the enactment of this law, our university also established more than 20 such companies, but they are mostly concerned with services and consulting. Manufacturing companies have also been established, but in order to launch their operations, they need a material and technical base, as well as industrial premises. Universities today, as much as they would like to - I think they would like to - cannot contribute money or any property to the charter capital of these small businesses. They cannot have any preferential rental premises. In addition, these small businesses established with the involvement of universities are deprived of the opportunity to apply a simplified taxation system, which also makes them less competitive at the outset. Benefits or compensation at the regional level simply cannot solve these problems, so it is necessary to make changes to the federal legislation. I heard that back in December 2009 a bill was introduced in the State Duma providing for amendments to the federal legislation to remove some of these restrictions. Please tell us, how soon will such amendments be adopted, because they do not currently exist at the federal level? And is the government preparing any additional measures of support for us, specifically in regard to small innovative companies at the universities?

Vladimir Putin: You are right. And, apparently, we need to make such changes to Federal Law No. 217. The restrictions that you mentioned are related to other laws. Let's say a small business is established, but in order for it to operate within the walls of its own educational institution, on the basis of which it was established, it has to participate in a bidding round. Right? Because the university has no right to give this company equipment, premises, and so on without a bidding procedure. Frankly, we simply had not thought of it at the time. We need to make the changes that you mentioned, and we will do it.

Remark: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Fursenko, make a note of this. This criticism is absolutely justified.

Andrei Fursenko: Mr Putin, regarding the registration of property - since the university has become an independent institution, we can do this today already.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, but it can't rent out space. The property is registered and then a bidding process is held for it. Two people show up and say that they will rent it for an optimal price, they enter into a rental agreement, and then they come back and say, we've decided to sublet your space. We need to avoid such situations.

Question: Mr Putin, my name is Sergei Latyshenko and I'm a post-graduate student at the Siberian Federal University and also prime minister of the youth government of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. You raised the issue of independence. Thank God, our university became independent in 2010. Obviously, this means more freedom in the disposal of finances, property, but on the other hand, some more responsibility. But some of the media, and often even the teachers themselves, have expressed fears that the transition to independence in higher education will lead to the full commercialisation of education. It is clear that this should not happen, but in communicating with students and young families over the course of my work, I understand that such fears do exist. The kids are worried. I would still like you to clarify: Would not an incorporation of schools into new institutions reduce the number of available scholarships?

Vladimir Putin: No. The law is about something completely different. I often hear such fears, but the law concerns an entirely different matter - in this case, it's about giving institutions of higher education more rights and freedoms. Outside, I noticed the sign on the building: Ulitsa Svobodnaya ["Free Street"], I believe it is called. So, the point of this measure is associated with this law on independent institutions - to give agencies more freedom to dispose of their property and extrabudgetary funds.

Of course, this imposes greater responsibility on the institution. But this situation is, in my opinion, much more appealing than to be just an institution funded solely from the federal budget, which depends on estimates. Because, when they rely on estimates, nothing is possible: including providing space for rent, which, in this case, is outside the framework of current legislation.

Theoretically, all non-budget revenues, which are obtained from, say, a business, must be put into the budget. There are many exceptions, but it is better to bring everything in line with common sense and the needs of higher education.

Regarding commercialisation, it is also happening now, commercialisation, only in a half-hidden or disguised way. But the most important issue is - will this lead to scholarships disappearing from the universities? They won't disappear, because, as I said, the law concerns another matter entirely. The university will continue to receive as much as the university receives today according to the estimated funding as ordered by the federal government. In this sense, funding will not be reduced, and the opportunities to utilise property and money obtained in the course of business are expanded.

Sergei Latyshenko: Continuing with the subject of independent institutions...

Vladimir Putin: I see that you're a prime minister. You won't give up just like that...

Sergei Latyshenko: Now in the new year, the amendments to this federal law on independent institutions are coming into force. There are a number of rather important and interesting changes. These include a list of sectors in which independent institutions can be established. This list is closed. Healthcare is included, of course, as well as education, employment, culture and so on. And so for some reason, missing from this list are such areas as tourism or what is especially relevant for me - youth policy. Was there a particular reason for this? And can we expect this list to be expanded?

Vladimir Putin: We need to think about it. In any case, regarding youth policy, why not? We need to give it a thought. I think that you're right, Sergei. We'll see.

Sergei Latyshenko: Because it's not clear...

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I agree, I agree. It's not clear to me either. When people were thinking about this, they were probably guided by some reasoning, but it is still unclear to me. We'll think about it. All right.

Question: Mr Putin, good afternoon. My name is Daniil, I'm in my fifth year at the Institute of Space and Information Technology at the Siberian Federal University. I have the following question for you: Currently, up to 20% of students are admitted to the University according to targeted admissions. But this does not guarantee that upon graduating from university they will come back to the same company in the same municipality that sent them, because current regulations do not provide for almost any sanctions for students who either do not work in their field of study or work for some private company. In conjunction with this, I have a question - what if employers assumed the obligation, on the one hand...

Vladimir Putin: Sorry to interrupt. You said that your field of study is space technology, yes?

Reply: My major is computer security at the Institute of Space and Information Technology.

Vladimir Putin: Then I understand. All right. Then you can work in a private company. I'm thinking - how will someone who is connected to the space industry work in some private company?

Question: What if the employers provided a social benefits package for students on targeted admission, and the student, in turn, would then be obliged to work with them? And there would be some financial schemes required for repaying the benefits package. But on the other hand, public control would also be introduced over the distribution of these same scholarships by the public, the media and other organisations. What do you think about this proposal?

Vladimir Putin: It's a good proposal. After all, why does this problem you described ever occur? Because even if a university place is a targeted admissions scholarship, the institution that supposedly sent the student isn't paying for it. The state still pays for this scholarship, it is the state that pays. There is only the pure formality of someone sending someone to study. But this someone doing the sending is not paying for it and bears no responsibility. And what you said entails, let's say, the student and future professional and some company entering into an agreement. And then public control is unnecessary because it becomes a matter of civil law, and the parties must bear certain responsibilities for the entire process until it is completed. We need to think about this, of course. This is a good idea and it is absolutely correct, particularly if we're able to at least formally attain even minor co-financing. The company may not have to bear a sizable burden for the education, but if it pays as little as five kopecks and signs this agreement it becomes a matter of civil law.

Remark: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: We'll think about it. It's a good idea, and it's a legitimate concern. So, you, please.

Question: Mr Putin, one more question, please? My name is Kristina, I'm a fourth-year student at the Institute of Pedagogy, Psychology and Sociology. During their studies, students start having doubts about their future professional careers. I have a question related to this: Did you have such doubts when you were at university and how did dispel them? Today is September 1^st and many students have not registered exactly for the majors they wanted, it seems to me. Regarding the division between what one wants, what one expected, and what the reality currently is, maybe you have a word of advice on how to set oneself on the right track? Please give us some advice.

Vladimir Putin: In other words, you're already creating a market for your services? That's very wise.

I had no doubts after I began school. I had many doubts before I entered university. But when I made a decision, that was it, I was already moving in this direction rather energetically and every doubt in my mind disappeared.

But, it is different for everyone - depending on the way life develops, and how one thinks about what needs to be done, what was done and what should be done. I haven't consulted any psychologists, but I think that it would be entirely reasonable for you to speak with professionals in the field you're studying. I'm not at all being ironic, I am being completely sincere.

Anyone can have doubts; there's nothing unusual about that. Many students study several years at one university and then transfer to another. Of course, if there's constant jumping around from one field to another, that isn't very good. But on the whole, getting a well-rounded education expands one's horizons. Today, as we know, scientific discoveries are made at the intersection of disciplines, and this is really very interesting. I honestly don't see any problems here. Each individual must find his or her path.

Remark: Thank you.

Question: I'm Alexander, a director of a construction crew. Many students who graduate have the following problem: they begin looking for work, but they lack work experience. It's not so serious that they lack it, but employers require it. This is a major problem that student crews could help resolve, since students could work in such a crew and gain experience. Probably everybody sitting here has been in a construction crew or their parents were in construction crews.

There's a revival in progress, but previously, when my father was doing this, it was simpler in the sense that all announcements for bidding procedures for construction started somewhere in November or December and by April, the student construction crews could already put an offer together.

Now, it seems that Federal Law No. 94 says that these bidding procedures should start in February and end in May. Is this incorrect?

Vladimir Putin: No. It is associated with funding, particularly if it is a matter of state funding, with the tardiness of government institutions in notifying certain organisations of the proper limits. Until information on such limits is made available, the organisation does not have the right to conduct bidding rounds and auctions. The goal of the state and the goal of the regional authorities is to do this earlier, at least sometime in November.

Remark: November to December...

Vladimir Putin: So that in December they would already be able to...

Remark: In May, we can't gather students together, because they have exams.

Vladimir Putin: You know that this is a general problem for student crews, the defence industry, shipbuilding and aviation. We need to simply do this earlier.

Vladimir Putin: Well, I want to wish you all the best and congratulate you on the beginning of the academic year and I'm confident that all the issues we discussed today... I'm honestly even a little impressed at how well you articulated the problems and issues - you were very specific in doing this. I'm grateful that you posed some of them, because I hope that we'll find solutions to individual problems. And this will steer us in the right direction. We've made a note of everything, Mr Fursenko has noted some issues and we'll try to resolve them. And it will have a sustained effect - not only for those in this hall today, but for your university and for the entire educational system.

Congratulations on the start of the school year! All the best!

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