The professional retraining program “Mathematical Talent and Mathematical Education” was initiated by Adyghe State University in March 2023 as part of the strategic project “Mathematics: A New Look,” aligned with the “Priority 2030” program.

 The training, conducted over a span of four semesters in a blended format, was successfully completed by students from six universities in Southern Russia: Adyghe State University, Volgograd State Social and Pedagogical University, Voronezh State Technical University, Crimean Federal University named after V.I. Vernadsky, North Caucasus Federal University, and Southern Federal University.

The primary objective of the program is to prepare graduates from non-pedagogical disciplines—such as mathematicians, physicists, and IT specialists—to assume roles within the additional professional education system as mathematics teachers and educational organizers.

-We have set ourselves the objective of training a specialist capable of conducting diagnostics of giftedness and utilizing effective pedagogical technologies for the development of mathematical abilities. This specialist should also possess the skills to support and motivate gifted students, as well as to anticipate their development. I believe we have successfully achieved this goal. This represents a valuable tool for addressing the challenge of training teachers in additional education within the field of mathematics across various regions of the country,- stated Daud Mamiy, the rector of ASU.

The program convened leading experts in Olympiad Mathematics alongside experienced practitioners who implement mathematical projects for schoolchildren at both the all-Russian and international levels. Notably, the “Basic Course of Olympiad Mathematics” was developed by Kirill Sukhov, the coach of the Russian National Team at the International Mathematics Olympiad and head of the Laboratory of Technologies for Teaching Mathematical Concepts at ASU. The program placed significant emphasis on the psychological aspects of working with gifted children and the role of communication in education. The course on “Applied Psychology” was authored by Dr. Elena Grigorenko, a Doctor of Psychology and Scientific Director of the Scientific Center for Cognitive Research at NTU “Sirius.” Meanwhile, the “Communications in Education” course was developed by Dr. Tatyana Sergeeva, a Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences and Professor at the Moscow City Pedagogical University.

The program encompasses modules designed to master pedagogical and psychological methods for working with gifted schoolchildren, as well as the technical and methodological aspects of fostering mathematical culture among students. It also addresses methods for popularizing mathematics, the integration of modern digital technologies in education, and strategies for developing, designing, and implementing new educational programs while adapting existing ones to meet specific goals and objectives. Additionally, the program covers legal regulations in the field of additional education and technologies for developing and executing intellectual projects aimed at schoolchildren.

The training was conducted in a blended format, incorporating both face-to-face intensive courses and distance learning. It also included internships and practical training through specialized programs, project shifts, Olympiads, and summer mathematics schools, organized by ASU and its partners: VDC “Orlyonok,” Educational Center “Sirius,” REMSh, and Regional Center “Polaris-Adygea.”

–Each semester, students participated in face-to-face modules—intensive, week-long courses held at Adyghe State University—while the remainder of their classes were conducted remotely. We strategically integrated these face-to-face modules into the program calendar to ensure students engaged with our mathematical projects: the Caucasian Mathematical Olympiad, the South-Russian Mathematical Olympiad “Assara” for girls, the Southern Mathematical Shift at the All-Russian Children’s Center “Orlyonok,” the Summer Mathematical School in Adygea, and the All-Russian Conference “Mathematical Talent and Mathematical Education.” This approach provided students with the opportunity to interact with leading mathematicians in the country, gain invaluable experience in organizing high-level mathematical events, and connect with talented children participating in these projects.– This was emphasized by Svetlana Bedzhanova, the head of the NOC “Institute of Exact Sciences and Digital Technologies” at ASU and director of the REMSh.

The program “Mathematical Talent and Mathematical Education” was developed by ASU in collaboration with NTU “Sirius” as part of the consortium “University Mathematical and Digital Ecosystem of the South of Russia.” It is implemented through the Institute of Exact Sciences and Digital Technologies at ASU. This program draws on established methodologies for engaging talented schoolchildren and leverages the extensive experience of the Republican Natural Science and Mathematics School (REMSH), which has been operating in Adygea for over twenty-five years with the active involvement of the university.