Over 500 Participants from Russia and Kazakhstan Join the TSPU Festival of Educational Innovations
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.
The festival hosted the finals of two key competitions: «School of My Dreams» (project presentations) and «First Try at Teaching» (video lessons). «School of My Dreams» focused on helping students explore their personal and professional interests in teaching. In «First Try at Teaching», students created short video lessons aimed at younger pupils. Throughout the process, participants gained valuable experience in project development and public speaking, while also building confidence in their choice of a future career in education.
«The "School of My Dreams" and "First Try at Teaching" competitions are about the future of education, — said Alla Lyba, Director of the Center for Career Guidance and Work with Children and Youth at the TSPU. — We all want children to visit schools with joy. That’s why it’s important to make everything around school inviting—from the outdoor space and the building itself to the classrooms and teachers».She emphasized that these competitions play a key role in TSPU’s Open Pedagogical Class project, forming an essential part of the university’s system of career exploration and early professional development in teaching.
At the official opening of Innovagrad, guests were welcomed by Olga Karakulova, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Special Education. She highlighted the unique format of the festival, noting that it moves away from dry academic presentations in favor of anti-lectures, interactive sessions, workshops, and game-based formats.
«Five years ago, the festival began as a bold experiment by the Department of Social Pedagogy at the Faculty of Psychology and Special Education. Today, it has become a respected platform that brings together education professionals, — said Karakulova. —The number of participants continues to grow, and the program content reflects key trends in modern education».
After the official opening ceremony, participants moved on to scientific and research labs, where they exchanged ideas and experiences in the field of education.
At the platform titled “Why Teachers Should Be Researchers”, led by Professor Svetlana Pozdeeva from the Institute of Childhood and the Faculty of Educational Psychology, participants discussed how to write their first academic paper, find a personal research niche, and stay motivated by exploring topics rooted in their professional interests.
Simultaneously, student teams worked on educational startup projects in the “Springboard into Teaching” lab, organized by the Faculty of Technology and Entrepreneurship and the TSPU Business Incubator. The three-day event began with brainstorming sessions, market and competitor analysis; continued with building business models, creating visual presentations, and preparing pitches; and concluded with project presentations and expert feedback.
Festival guests also explored educational innovations at the “Master Alley”, took part in a methodological workshop on values-based education titled “Cultural-Historical Environment in Teaching and Upbringing”, and discovered new tools for working with children at the Board Game Park.
The «Technologies of Tomorrow» lab opened the festival’s mid-point and focused on the use of AI and digital tools in teaching, as well as STEAM-based educational projects.
At the lab «Supporting the Self-Determination of Children and Teenagers», participants presented new programs and research designed to help young people make conscious life choices. Virtual tours and workshops on local history took place at the Educational Tourism Center, while art therapy sessions and theater masterclasses for emotional development were held at the Palace of Culture. Museum-based pedagogy and its role in patriotic education were discussed at the Museum Complex.
During the festival’s final day, educators shared experiences on working with families, introducing ideas like virtual family tours and family reading clubs. The “PRODUCT Market” operated as an expert conveyor: participants presented their educational projects and teaching materials and received professional feedback.
The closing platform «Impressions Square» offered a creative way to reflect on the festival—attendees expressed their feedback and emotions through a collaborative collage.
«We launched the idea of Innograd to make sure the work doesn’t stop from one festival to the next, — said Alla Lyba, Director of the Center for Career Guidance and Work with Children and Youth at TSPU. — We’re determined to keep the conversation going through our VK group, share ideas, and plan next year’s agenda together. Right now, we’re actively working to make more educational psychologists aware of our festival».
