On June 20, pedagogical universities across Russia, overseen by the Ministry of Education, opened admissions for the new academic year. This year, 36 universities are offering more than 37,000 state-funded spots..

Applicants can submit applications to up to five universities and choose up to five programs or majors at each institution.

The Institute of Physical Culture and Sports (IFCS) at Tomsk State Pedagogical University was founded in 1949 and is the oldest institution of its kind east of the Urals. Over the decades, it has produced nearly six thousand specialists – including world and European champions, renowned coaches, talented educators, sports event organizers, and professionals in business, politics, and culture.

How did the university become a training ground for world-renowned champions?

We are certainly proud of our graduate athletes. However, our main mission is to train qualified professionals — future coaches and physical education teachers — who, in turn, train outstanding athletes. One of the key components in preparing a specialist in this field is competitive experience. That’s why many of our students are seriously involved in sports and often represent the Tomsk Region and even Russia on national teams. Another important goal of the Institute is to create optimal conditions for students to combine athletic development with a high-quality university education.

We have had Olympic team members who successfully balanced training, competitions, and academic studies. Our program is built on a combination of theoretical and athletic disciplines. As future educators, our students gain a wide range of competencies — from pedagogy and psychology to medical and biological sciences.

By the time they graduate, they are fully equipped with the methodology for teaching core sports that are part of school, preschool, and university physical education programs. They also know how to organize sports events.

Practical experience starts as early as the first year: students volunteer, assist, judge, or co-organize competitions, take part in coaching or teaching in schools, and travel to children’s summer sports camps to gain hands-on skills.

Are there any specific sports specializations?

Yes, when enrolling in the Institute, students choose a sport in which they plan to develop professionally. There are more than ten options, including basketball, volleyball, football, boxing, kettlebell lifting, track and field, lapta, and others. Many of the instructors — formerly high-level athletes — are now candidates or doctors of science. It’s a true example of harmony between physical and intellectual development, and a role model for future generations of students.

For instance, powerlifting coach Ekaterina Tanakova is an Honored Master of Sports and a multiple world and European champion. Every year, her students meet the standards for the Master of Sports title.

The Institute also houses the Poseidon Center for Sports and Health Swimming, where student swimmers train. Classes are led by highly experienced specialists — Alexey Vyazigin, PhD in Pedagogy and International Master of Sports of Russia, and Konstantin Bezotechestvo, PhD in Pedagogy and Master of Sports of the USSR.

Elena Bondarenko, a Master of Sports in rhythmic gymnastics and PhD in pedagogy, teaches sports fitness aerobics at the Institute. The ski racing program is led by Olympic champion, Honored Master of Sports, and the TSPU alumna Natalia Baranova, who is also an Honorary Citizen of Tomsk Region.

What about career opportunities after graduation?

Graduates of the Institute are in high demand and can work in a wide range of areas in the field of physical education and sports. In addition to schools and educational institutions, they are employed in fitness centers and public or municipal organizations focused on physical culture and sports.

How to apply?

The Institute offers two bachelor’s degree tracks in Pedagogical Education: «Physical Education» and «Additional Education», available in both full-time and part-time formats. There are about 50 state-funded spots for full-time students and 24 for part-time. The master’s program offers around ten state-funded places.

To apply for the bachelor’s program, applicants must pass two entrance exams: Russian language and social studies. High school graduates use their Unified State Exam results, while other applicants take the exams at the Institute. In addition, candidates must complete two physical fitness tests: on the first day, they choose three exercises from a set list; on the second day, they complete track and field events. Admission to the master’s program is based on an interview.

Based on the materials of Tomsk.ru

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.

In May, the city of Krasnoyarsk hosted the annual Interregional Art Fencing Festival «Steel Dawn» and the Krasnoyarsk Region Fencing Cup. The event brought together 16 teams from five regions of Russia, including athletes from the Tomsk State Pedagogical University, members of the fencing studio «Saberia». The team was led by associate professor of the Institute for the Development of Pedagogical Education and Vice President of the Tomsk Region Fencing Federation, Viktor Lobanov.

The XVI International Economic Forum «Russia – Islamic World» brought together over 8,500 participants from 96 countries. The forum, supported by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, remains one of the key platforms for strengthening economic and cultural ties between Russia and Islamic countries. Vadim Zyubanov, Head of the International Cooperation Office of the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation, presented the Tomsk State Pedagogical University at the event.

Associate Professor from TSPU Joins International Linguistic Expedition in Western Turkey Denis Tokmashev, Associate Professor at the Department of English Philology and Intercultural Communication at TSPU’s Institute of Foreign Languages, took part in an international dialectological expedition in Izmir Province, Turkey. The expedition was organized by the Institute of Turkic Studies at Ege University, in collaboration with the Russian Committee of Turkologists (under the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences), Higher School of Economics, and the Turkish Linguistic Society. The project was led by Anna Dybo, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Researchers from the host university, including Ibrahim Şahin, Fatma Uğur Buhur, and Aylin Çakır, also participated in the fieldwork.

Tomsk State Pedagogical University (TSPU) continues to expand its academic programs in collaboration with universities in China. During the winter semester of the 2024–2025 academic years, students from TSPU’s Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation studied at Mudanjiang Normal University (MNU), Jilin University of Foreign Studies (JUFS), and Hubei University (HU), with a new agreement signed in June 2024.

The Tomsk State Pedagogical University has recently hosted the All-Russian Forum «Teachers of Russia», which brought together over 100 participants from various regions and educational institutions across the country. Among the attendees were educators from the Tomsk region and students from TSPU. The two-day event featured lectures, workshops, and interactive sessions dedicated to the topics of Preschool Education and General Education.

The Tomsk State Pedagogical University has recently hosted the All-Russian Forum «Teachers of Russia», which brought together over 100 participants from various regions and educational institutions across the country. Among the attendees were educators from the Tomsk region and students from TSPU. The two-day event featured lectures, workshops, and interactive sessions dedicated to the topics of Preschool Education and General Education.

The first day of the forum was dedicated to preschool education. It was opened by Irina Drozdetskaya, Director of the Institute of Childhood and Art Pedagogy at TSPU, who highlighted the university's commitment to creating an environment that fosters personal growth and professional development of future educators:

«At TSPU, we create conditions that influence students' self-determination and the development of their personal potential. This allows us to make teacher training more practical and aligned with modern educational requirements, while also giving students hands-on professional experience.».

Participants engaged with experts from the online school of the "Teachers of Russia" forum, award-winning teachers, and representatives from various educational organizations, including TSPU.

Galya Vakhitova, an associate professor at the Institute of Childhood and Art Pedagogy, led a session «Emotional Intelligence in Preschoolers and Common Sense in Adults». She emphasized the importance of managing emotions and developing emotional intelligence in both children and adults.

Anastasia Gumberg, the coordinator for educational work at the institute, explored animation as a tool for development, education, and upbringing in preschool settings. She stressed the importance of creativity among educators and introduced them to animation technologies.

Other topics covered during the day included helping children navigate difficult life situations, fostering creativity, working with children with disabilities, and addressing teacher burnout.

The second day began with a welcome address by Marina Sadieva, TSPU's Vice-Rector for Educational Activities, who emphasized the forum's role in helping participants identify new directions for professional growth. She invited attendees to discuss the topic of «Mentorship as a Resource for Developing the Professional Culture of Future Educators». Sadieva explained how mentors shape professional competencies, build support networks, and assist in professional adaptation.

Alla Lyba, Director of the Center for Career Guidance and Youth Work at TSPU, conducted a workshop «Mentors of Russians eaglets: Effective Forms of Support». She demonstrated various tools and encouraged participants to practice them through role-playing exercises.

Other speakers addressed topics such as providing psychological and pedagogical support, recognizing bullying, understanding the nuances of gender education for teenagers, and applying artificial intelligence in education.

The forum received acknowledgment from attendees, who appreciated the practical value and innovative nature of the information presented. Participants noted that the event provided them with new tools and insights to enhance their teaching practices and better support their students.

Photos

Tomsk State Pedagogical University (TSPU) has introduced a groundbreaking educational initiative called "Chinese Language for Tomsk Schoolchildren", the first of its kind in the Tomsk region. The project aims to promote and integrate the study of the Chinese language and culture into the curriculum of Tomsk's schools. By doing so, it will provide students with the opportunity to learn Chinese, broaden their educational horizons, and prepare them to succeed in the global academic community.

TSPU Students are winners of the Tomsk Region Artistic Fencing Championship Tomsk State Pedagogical University hosted the Tomsk Region Artistic Fencing Championship. Participants included students from the Big University of Tomsk (TSPU, TSU, TUSUR), trainees from the Tomsk Palace of Children and Youth Creativity, and students from the Tomsk Humanities Lyceum.