The most creative period in the academic year of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology kicked off Tuesday as students ditched their textbooks to learn everything from snowboarding to stock trading.
The independent studies period (ISP) window is designed to add an extra dimension to the curriculum at the innovations university, which was set up in 2011 in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Starting Tuesday, students take part in a series of courses that range from the career-boosting - “Elevator pitches in extreme conditions” and “Real entrepreneurship and smart investing” – to simple hobbies – cooking, theater, dance and debate.
A Skoltech student on a solo project. Photo: skoltech.ru
Students are also invited to dive into Lego robotics, video production, volleyball, 3D printing, C++ programming, and fly a Cessna 172 plane.
Participation in ISP is mandatory for Skoltech students to continue receiving their stipends, with a minimum 120 hour workload. Students may lower the requirement by leading classes, conducting solo projects or participating in internship programs.
Skoltech is a private graduate research institution that is a central component of the Skolkovo innovations ecosystem. It educates global leaders in innovation, advances scientific knowledge, and fosters new technologies to address critical issues facing Russia and the world. Applying international research and educational models, the university integrates the best Russian scientific traditions with twenty-first century entrepreneurship and innovation.
The university’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) estimates that 60 percent of all graduate students are actively involved in startup projects or have established their own company.