On 5 - 6 December, Saint Petersburg State University is hosting the first International Scientific and Practical Conference “Social Architecture: Theory and Practice of Social Changes” with participation of more than 600 researchers in the social sciences and humanities, experts, and representatives of political institutions and analytical from 28 countries, including a lecturer of VNU University of Economics and Business (UEB).
The conference brings together 600 researchers in the social sciences and humanities, experts, and representatives of political institutions and analytical centers – recognized authorities in Russian and international scholarship from 27 countries, including China, Brazil, the United States, Iran, France, Italy, Spain, South Korea, Vietnam, Pakistan, and others.
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to the participants, organizers and guests of the conference, noting that Russia has already accumulated solid experience in implementing socio-architectural projects and is ready to share its expertise with international partners.
 |
Alexander Kharichev, Head of the Presidential Directorate for Monitoring and Analysis of Social Processes, emphasized that amid a wide range of contemporary challenges, a systematic approach to managing social development is needed.
“We are living in an era of profound and rapid changes that affect every aspect of life – from geopolitics and the economy to technology and everyday communication. These changes generate new challenges: the transformation of the labor market and shifts in life and career trajectories. Existing social institutions often fail to adapt to such a pace of changes. That is why, today more than ever, we need new models of social development capable of responding to the demands of our time”, said Alexander Kharichev.
Governor of Saint Petersburg Alexander Beglov highlighted the city’s deep historical connection with the idea of social design.
“It is symbolic that such a large-scale conference on social architecture is being held in our city. From its earliest days, St Petersburg was a center of grand social transformation. Peter the Great changed old Rus and created a new Russia. He not only built new homes, a navy, a new economy and a system of governance – he forever changed people’s consciousness. And the center of these transformations was here, in St Petersburg. In the last century, our city once again became a center of social changes”, noted Alexander Beglov.
 |
Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, emphasized that systematizing theoretical approaches and developing practical solutions for the implementation of socio-architectural projects is an important task for the country’s effective development.
“With all the necessary resources and capabilities, Russian universities engage civil society, state institutions and business in effective cooperation, the implementation of socially significant projects, and the solution of multi-level challenges”, Olga Petrova emphasized.
As part of the conference, the world’s first textbook on social architecture was presented, providing the systematized theoretical foundations and practical models of social architecture with advanced Russian and international experience.
The demand for training a new type of specialists has already been supported by leading Russian universities. From 1 September 2025, educational programmes in social architecture have been launched at Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, and the Russian State University for the Humanities. In 2026, the opening of a training programme at Saint Petersburg State University is planned.
