«No People — No Ideas»: Igor M. Namakonov Highlights Talent Shortage in Creative Industries at the SVE Forum

On August 28, on the platform of the Federal Technopark for Vocational Education in Kaluga, the Creative Industries Federation (CIF), together with the Institute for the Development of Vocational Education (IDVE) under the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, held a panel discussion titled «Challenges in the Creative Industries: Talent Shortage» as part of the national SVE Forum.

‍

Representatives of business and higher education infrastructure shared their experiences in identifying, training, and recruiting creative talent.

‍

Opening the discussion, Igor M. Namakonov, CEO of CIF, emphasized the urgency of addressing the talent gap in the creative industries:

‍

«Over the past five years, the creative industries have experienced dynamic growth, which naturally drives increased demand for specialists across various fields. While the education system is adapting, it’s struggling to keep pace with the rapidly changing needs of the market. Human capital is the foundation of the creative industries. If education lags behind, it slows the entire ecosystem. Ideas come from people — no people means no ideas, and without ideas, there are no processes, no creative products.»

‍

A recent study conducted by the Institute for National Projects (INP) in collaboration with CIF, titled «Promising Development Areas for Russia’s Creative Economy in the Medium Term», confirmed that the talent shortage is a top concern for the industry. The study surveyed 176 creative industry experts across 10 Russian regions.

‍

According to Asiya Bakhtigaraeva, Lead Specialist of INP’s Research and Methodology Department:

‍

«54% of respondents identified the shortage of qualified professionals as the most pressing challenge facing the industry — ranking even higher than lack of investment or difficulties accessing international markets. Additionally, 43% cited a shortage of skilled managers in the creative sector.»

‍

How involved are higher education institutions in solving the talent shortage? What kind of collaboration mechanisms exist between universities and business? What do employers expect when they approach universities?

‍

Viktoria Korableva, Deputy Director of the CREATECH Center at Bauman Moscow State Technical University (MSTU), shared her experience:

‍

«At Bauman, we are well aware of the talent shortage issue. One of the goals of the CREATECH Center is to train systems integrators — professionals with strong technical backgrounds and developed creative competencies. We introduce specialized disciplines and involve industry partners directly in the educational process. They provide real cases for our students to work on, fostering hands-on learning and dynamic interaction. We meet regularly with these partners to align on what we can offer students and how to ensure their education stays relevant and in demand.»

‍

From the perspective of how SVE graduates can apply their skills in modern companies, Nikita Gerasimov, Design Director of the Digital Corporate Bank division at Sberbank, noted:

‍

«It’s important to understand that lifelong employment contracts are rare today. Projects begin, evolve, and end. But if a specialist proves themselves — shows creativity, accountability — they’ll always be invited to new roles. Internships during studies are also key. Many of our most promising employees began as interns, bringing fresh perspectives to familiar challenges. Companies benefit from innovation, and students gain real-world experience. This makes SVE education even more valuable — students can start contributing to real projects early on.»

‍

Continuing the discussion on aligning education with real market needs, Vitaly Stavitsky, President of the Union of Designers of Russia, pointed out the growing role of large corporations in creative education:

‍

«We’re seeing universities founded by corporations — like corporate universities of Sber, Tinkoff Bank, and Yandex. They’re training talent aligned with their own values and culture, which is extremely important.»

‍

He also stressed the importance of teachers with practical experience in SVE:

‍

«The real shortage isn’t just talent — it’s those who teach. Industry professionals are not yet eager to move into teaching roles in vocational education. But we need mentors that students will look up to. It’s critical to strengthen ties with the industry — through internships, joint projects, and more.»

‍

Anastasia Voronina-Darintseva, Deputy Director of the Siberian Design Center at Tomsk State University and an expert with IDVE on industrial design, outlined the disciplines that vocational education graduates need to work in industrial enterprises today:

‍

«Our labor market research revealed steady demand for professionals with technical-design competencies. Employers require deep, hands-on training in areas such as 3D modeling and visualization, CAD systems, technical drafting, materials science, manufacturing technologies, and prototyping. For each discipline, we developed curricula and practical training modules aligned with industry needs and included real-world case studies from Russian companies to bridge education and production realities.»

‍

Concluding the panel, Ioann Klindukhov, Vice-Rector of IDVE and Head of the Creative Colleges Project, underlined the systemic nature of the talent shortage in the creative industries:

‍

«The skills gap is a systemic challenge that can’t be solved by educational institutions or businesses alone. This panel has shown the importance of cooperation between colleges, universities, industry, and professional associations. Only by building an integrated, continuous talent development pipeline — from schools and colleges to universities and real-world practice — can we prepare professionals who meet the needs of the creative economy and society.»