Two Adyghe State University Staff Members Recognized Among Russia's Foremost Tourism and Hospitality Professionals

The Foundation for the Development and Popularization of Professions in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry (St. Petersburg) has created and published an all-Russian electronic Honor Roll (edutourlab.ru/ ). The project was implemented as part of the "Tourism and Hospitality Laboratory" network initiative. The list of honored specialists includes Svetlana Ozheva , Associate Professor of the Department of Social Work and Tourism at Adyghe State University, Head of the 43.03.02 "Tourism" educational program, and Head of the "Tour Guide" professional retraining program, and Irina Avdienko,  a teacher of specialized disciplines at the Maykop State Humanitarian and Technical College of ASU .

According to the foundation's official announcement, the Honor Roll represents a non-material form of recognition established to acknowledge specialists for their outstanding professional achievements, dedication to their work, and personal contributions to the advancement of education, science, and practice within the tourism and hospitality industry. Particular emphasis was placed on mentoring—namely, the transmission of knowledge and experience to the younger generation.

Selection for inclusion on the Honor Roll was determined by professional performance during the year preceding the publication date. A broad spectrum of organizations was eligible to nominate candidates, including tourism and hospitality enterprises of all types, federal and municipal government bodies, educational institutions at every level, research institutes, professional associations, and public organizations.

To qualify for the laureate list, candidates were required to meet several criteria: a minimum of two years of professional experience in the tourism and hospitality sector, demonstrable high-performance outcomes in the implementation of innovative technologies and methodologies, and verifiable professional accomplishments.

The Laboratory of Tourism and Hospitality, operating under the Foundation for the Development and Promotion of Professions in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, functions as a network-based project that unites educational institutions, businesses, and industry enterprises. Throughout the year, it organizes a wide array of career guidance initiatives for schoolchildren, undergraduate students, and graduate students, while also facilitating employment opportunities, internships, professional development programs, and other career-building activities.

Four educational institutions from the Republic of Adygea currently participate in the project. Adyghe State University (ASU) entered into a cooperation agreement with the foundation in 2019. Within the laboratory's governance structure, Svetlana Ozheva serves on the Expert Council and the Scientific Council, while Irina Avdienko holds a seat on the Methodological Council.