2.9 Collaboration with Universities, and Young Employees

Targeted training of the specialists ensures that the Group has the relevant human resources with the required qualifications and grants career start opportunities to the graduates.

Gazprom continues successful collaboration with the anchor universities. The fundamental principles of collaboration are continuity, systemic work and innovations. They are included in the approved University Collaboration Concept, as well as in the Regulation on Collaboration with Anchor Universities enacted in September 2014.

In 2018, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University was included in the list of anchor universities. Thus, 13 educational institutions had the status of anchor universities as of the end of the year:

• Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (national research university) (6 specialized departments (SD));
• St. Petersburg State University of Economics (1 SD);
• National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University;
• St. Petersburg Mining University;
• Kazan National Research Technological University (1 SD);
• Ukhta State Technical University (5 SDs);
• Bauman Moscow State Technical University (national research university);
• Lomonosov Moscow State University;
• National Research University Higher School of Economics;
• Ufa State Petroleum Technological University (4 SDs);
• Industrial University of Tyumen;
• St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University;
• Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (1 SD).

In order to share hands-on knowledge and build additional competencies in students, specialized departments are established at the anchor universities. The Group’s executives and employees are engaged in teaching, supervise graduation papers and internships, and engage students in project and research activities.

As of the end of 2018, there were 18 specialized departments at the anchor universities and 9 additional specialized departments at the universities that do not have the anchor university status.

There is a total of 31 SDs functioning: 27 at Group companies, including 18 at the anchor universities, and 1 SD at each of the following organizations: JSC SevKavNIPIgaz, Bank GPB (JSC), Gazprom Gazoraspredelenie Saratovskaya Oblast JSC, NIIgazeconomica LLC.

The anchor university status enables the university to define special-purpose Research and Development Programs on behalf of PJSC Gazprom and subsequently enter into the agreements to perform the appropriate R&D on the sole-source basis. In 2018, over 50 joint events were held with the universities, including 15 offsite meetings in technological dialogue format.

In 2018, Gazprom Neft Group had 47 collaboration agreements with universities, 5 specialized departments at the universities (department branches within the company), opened the Joint Research and Education Center Gazprom Neft-NSU established by Gazpromneft Science & Technology Centre, Novosibirsk State University and Academpark. In 2018, Enhancing Talents case tournament was organized for schoolchildren, 2,366 high school students from the regions of operations participated in it. The winners will be offered sponsored places at the partner universities and they will get additional score points if they apply to the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

Gazprom Energoholding concluded 22 agreements with universities to arrange industrial work placements for students, provide training and development to employees and perform R&D. In 2018, over 700 students participated in the industrial work placements and over 400 of them were hired.

PJSC Mosenergo established at National Research University Moscow Power Engineering Institute arranged two applied education groups in Heat Energy Industry and Heat Engineering and Electric Energy Industry and Electrical Engineering (31 students participate in the programs). In addition, three joint programs with Shatura Energy Industry College were approved: Operations and Processes Automation (by Industries), Thermal Power Plants, and Power Plants, Grids and Systems (25 students are trained).