A Quarter of Siberian School of Geosciences Graduates Earn Honors Degrees
27 students graduated from the Siberian School of Geosciences (SSG) at INRTU, including 7 honors graduates. Diplomas were presented at a ceremony held on July 2.
Rector Mikhail Korniakov welcomed graduates, their families, and industry partners. He reminded students that they automatically become members of the INRTU Alumni Association and encouraged them to continue their studies through Master's and PhD programs.
“Do not forget your professors and loved ones who supported you throughout your studies. The university has given you the knowledge and skills needed for your future careers, and many employers are already ready to welcome you to their teams,”
he said.
Mikhail Korniakov also performed the song “A Man in Love with Polytech” for the graduates.
Representatives of the university’s partner companies joined the celebrations. Larisa Eliseeva, Head of Personnel Training and University Relations at GV Gold (PJSC Vysochaishy), spoke about career opportunities at the company.
“The education you received at INRTU will help you build your future career, and GV Gold can become part of that journey. We are looking for young specialists, ready to share our experience and offer interesting projects. I invite you to join our team,”
Larisa Eliseeva said.
SIGMA-GEO LLC CEO Yury Agafonov encouraged graduates to stay motivated and take pride in being INRTU alumni. Representatives of RN-Burenie LLC, Irkutsk Oil Company, and Gazprom Invest Irkutsk LLC also congratulated the graduates.
Alexander Parshin, founder of the SSG and Vice-Rector for Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences at INRTU, noted that the world has changed greatly in recent years and said INRTU graduates are well prepared for these challenges.
“Our students have a saying: when running from a bear, you do not need to run faster than the bear – you only need to run faster than the people around you. The education you received here gives you a strong foundation for the future. I hope we will soon hear about your professional and academic achievements. Thank you for the years we spent together,”
Aexander Parshin said.
Andrey Sumkin graduated with a degree in mining geology. As a student, he took part in field projects in Magadan, Norilsk, Bodaybo, and Transbaikalia, searching for gold and polymetal deposits. He was also a finalist in the international CASE-IN Championship in mineral exploration.
After graduation, Sumkin joined the SSG as an engineer and will soon lead a field team in the Bodaybinsky District.
“Studying at the SSG helped me become a competitive specialist. One of the program’s key advantages is the opportunity to earn money during fieldwork, with pay comparable to that offered by leading Russian mining companies,”
he said.
Honors graduate Yana Gnatyuk values the hands-on experience students gain from their first year. As a member of the Hydropoisk Student Research Association, she worked on projects combining engineering and hydrogeology. Under the supervision of Professor Larisa Auzina, she developed an exploration plan for a groundwater site in the Ust-Kutsky District to support local drinking water supplies.
Ndlovu Nobleman Dumisa from Zimbabwe graduated as a hydrogeologist. During his studies, he completed fieldwork in Yakutia and Kamchatka and helped create a digital English-language glossary for geologists under the supervision of Professor Larisa Auzina.
According to Dumisa, his classmates helped him overcome the language barrier and adapt to life in Siberia.
“When I arrived as a first-year student, I could only say hello and goodbye in Russian. Thanks to my classmates, I gradually learned to speak the language fluently. I'm glad I chose the SSG. Few universities in Russia allow international students to study, work, and gain practical experience at the same time. I now plan to continue my education in a PhD program at INRTU,”
he said.
