More Than 40 ASU’s Employees Review Priority Development Program Progress with Experts from Three Russian Universities

A two-day cross-university review has begun at Adyghe State University (ASU). The review will assess the university’s development program under the Priority program, identify gaps and challenges, and develop roadmaps for improvement. It will also draw on best practices from universities across the country in addressing complex management challenges.

Unlike a traditional audit, this peer-review format brings together managers from other leading universities who face similar challenges in their day-to-day work. This approach transforms the expert review from a monitoring exercise into an opportunity for development and the exchange of best practices.

The invited expert group includes Sergey Kudryashov, Vice-Rector for Academic Methodology at Don State Technical University; Natalia Kloster, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at Belgorod State Agricultural University named after V. Ya. Gorin; and Kermen Naminova, Associate Professor in the Department of Management at Kalmyk State University named after B. B. Gorodovikov.

More than 40 ASU faculty and staff members are participating in the cross-university review. They are organized into analytical groups focusing on three areas: development program management; technological leadership and strategic technology projects (STPs); and the creation of a new personnel training system.

A special role is played by the “participant-assemblers”—a dedicated group of employees who observe discussions across the groups and synthesize their findings into a unified concept and final roadmap.

Before the main session, ASU Rector Daud Mamiy encouraged his colleagues to work effectively.

“The task is clear: We need to review our current practices, assess them against modern approaches, and adjust our work in line with the recommendations we receive,” he said.

Sergey Kudryashov also discussed the objectives of the Priority program and the role of cross-university expertise. Nadezhda Ilyinova, Director of the Department of Educational Policy; Victoria Buchatskaya, Director of the Institute of Exact Sciences and Digital Technologies; and Elena Kukva, Director of the Department of Research Initiatives, spoke about implemented innovations and the principles guiding work and management in educational policy and research. Azamat Pseush, Vice Rector for Digital Transformation and Strategic Development, discussed progress on the strategic technology project “Digital Selection: A Digital Assistant for Breeders” and preparations for launching new projects in technological leadership.

The work of ASU experts and team members will focus on analyzing the university’s operating model and strategic goals, assessing the current state of its infrastructure and team workloads, and examining how decision-making practices have evolved over the past year. Particular attention will be given to reviewing challenges and evaluating the measures taken to address the gaps identified in 2025. The discussion will document the results of implemented recommendations and the reasons specific objectives were not achieved.

The work of ASU experts and team members will focus on analyzing the university’s operating model and strategic goals, assessing the current state of its infrastructure and team workloads, and examining how decision-making practices have evolved over the past year. Particular attention will be given to reviewing challenges and evaluating the measures taken to address the gaps identified in 2025. The discussion will document the results of implemented recommendations and the reasons specific objectives were not achieved.

The work plan includes group brainstorming to develop hypotheses, a presentation of the final roadmaps—including timelines and responsible departments—and an expert feedback session. The findings will inform management decisions by the university’s Priority Program Steering Committee for the coming period.