Alexander Melnichuk, PhD in Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Human Resources Management and Policies, Russian State Social University (RSSU), briefed the audience on the integration of the СSR/Sustainability in the education programs. In this respect he outlined a special role of educational activities, sports and event volunteering, Abilimpix volunteer program aiming at preparing and organizing the volunteer support to Russia’s Abilimpix championships - professional skills competitions for people with disabilities at national and regional levels.

Evgeniya Kvashina, Employer Brand and Trainee Programs Lead, Eurasia, Sanofi Russia, shared the experience accumulated by the company in implementing the company’s trainee program for graduates. The programme gives the opportunity to work on real projects, start a career in an international corporation under the supervision of experienced mentors and to develop key business skills and competencies, gaining relevant knowledge about the industry. Evgenia shared data on the dynamics of hiring graduates for the positions of probation and subsequent transfers to permanent positions in the company. The successful implementation of the program eliminates a stereotype that a trainee is a burden for business. The company’s experience proves that involving youth aimed at self-education is an advantage for the company and a source of innovations.

In continuation of the discussion on trainee programs Konstantin Krokhin, President of the Italian Republic of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief of the mediators training Center under Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), pointed out the existing gap between needs of business and programs offered by higher education. In his opinion, this gap could be eliminated through creation of an internships system to provide graduates with additional time and skills for entering the profession. The implementation of targeted trainee programs and workshops with invited international experts could also contribute to the purpose. In this regard, higher schools’ representatives noted that existing educational programmes are excessively regulated and came up with a proposal to involve the Ministry of Education and Science of the RF in a further discussion.

In the closing part of the meeting participants discussed the observations and facts presented by HR-services’ providers regarding availability of the CSR / Sustainability vacancies in the labour market. The data was provided by Tatiana Baskina, Chairperson of the AEB Recruitment Sub-Committee, Deputy General Director, Professional Community Affairs, ANCOR, and Sergey Mozhenin, Partner, Antal Russia. The main conclusions of the discussion are the following: vacancies on CSR / Sustainability are very few; demand is currently in the formation stage only in Moscow and St. Petersburg; managers responsible for CSR are engaged in sectors of FMCG, industrial production, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, IT, telecom and automation. Mainly CSR / Sustainability functional is not performed independently, but as a part of PR, GR, Industrial Safety, Employer Branding/HR functions.

The meeting was co-moderated by Tatiana Baskina, Chairperson of the AEB Recruitment Sub-Committee, Deputy Director General, Professional Community Affairs, ANCOR and Marina Tatarskaya, Deputy Chairperson of the AEB PR & Communications Committee, PR Director, Ferrero Russia. 

Photo L-R: Sergey Mozhenin, Partner, Antal Russia;  Evgeniya Kvashina, Employer Brand and Trainee Programs Lead, Eurasia, Sanofi Russia; Marina Tatarskaya, Deputy Chairperson of the AEB PR & Communications Committee, PR Director, Ferrero Russia; Tatiana Baskina, Chairperson of the AEB Recruitment Sub-Committee, Deputy Director General, Professional Community Affairs, ANCOR; Alexander Melnichuk, PhD in Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Human Resources Management and Policies, Russian State Social University (RSSU)

• Presentation by Alexander Melnichuk
• Presentation by Evgeniya Kvashina
• Presentation by Sergey Mozhenin
• Presentation by Tatiana Baskina