“There are cockroaches”: conditions in Russian student dormitories named

Putin promised to overhaul about 800 dormitories

An important part of the President’s Address on February 29 was devoted to the system of higher education and student life. The head of state drew attention to the state of the dormitories in which 21st century science students live and gnaw granite. The fact is that most “dorms” are stuck in the last century.

The President instructed to carry out major renovations of 800 university dormitories in the next six years.

“We will also allocate an additional 124 billion rubles and over the next six years we will carry out major repairs of about 800 university dormitories,” Vladimir Putin said in particular.

Back in the summer of 2023, the research and communication platform “Caring Man,” created as part of the federal program of the Russian Ministry of Education, conducted a survey on the topic of the life of a Russian student. Researchers found that less than a quarter of Russian students live in dormitories – 23 percent. Of this number, 17 percent of students are completely satisfied with their living conditions. 32 percent said they were somewhat satisfied. 7 and 14 percent, respectively, evaluate the conditions negatively or rather negatively.

“I don’t like living in a dormitory,” a student at Bauman Moscow State University told MK. – The buildings are old. There is little space in the rooms. We live in groups of four. There is one kitchen for the whole block. There are always a lot of people pushing around, it’s inconvenient to cook. Well, there are cockroaches. Now a new dormitory is being built at Baumanka. It’s a pity that we won’t get there anymore.

“MK” invited the scientific director of the expert-analytical center for scientific and educational policy (NEP), Evgeniy Szhonov, to comment on the president’s message regarding the construction of new dormitories.

– To build new campuses and renovate dormitories are tasks that are already included in the “National Development Goals of Russia until 2030” and a number of national projects related to education. In particular, in the national project “Sciences and Universities”. What the president has just voiced is nothing more than a continuation and strengthening of the national project task. The work of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in this direction – the construction of new campuses, new campuses – has been actively carried out since 2020. World-class university campuses are being built throughout the country, and educational buildings and dormitories are being renovated. This has already made it possible to strengthen the competitiveness of strong regional universities and reduce the outflow of young people to megacities. Also, foreign students are more willing to come to modern campuses and dormitories. And now the president has given further “green light” to this direction of work.