As part of the International Year of Cooperatives, the V International Scientific and Practical Conference of Students, Postgraduates, and Young Scientists "Sustainable Development and Cooperation: Promoting Innovation" was held at the Russian University of Cooperation.

The following addressed the participants with a welcoming speech:

Alsu Rustemovna Nabieva - Doctor of Economics, Professor, Rector of the Russian University of Cooperation

Dear conference participants!

Today we are opening the 5th, anniversary, conference "Sustainable Development and Cooperation: Promoting Innovation", which is held at the Russian University of Cooperation. It is no coincidence that RUC became the basis for this annual conference. It is the oldest educational institution in Russia engaged in training personnel for cooperation.

I would like to note that the significant scientific potential of RUK was formed due to the active involvement of young people in research activities at different stages of their formation as specialists.

In 2024, the Russian University of Cooperation received a grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The university was allocated a subsidy of 3 million rubles from the federal budget for the implementation of the ambitious scientific and educational project "Youth, Science and Cooperation" through the development of the Student Scientific Society (SSS).

The goal of the SSS RUK is to prepare young people for a successful career in cooperation.

The number of members of the student scientific community of the Russian University of Cooperation, who regularly participate in scientific and research activities, as part of the scientific community has increased to 4,108 people.

From September to December 2024, 15 scientific student events were held.

In 2024, 4 collections of student articles and works indexed in the RSCI "Youth and Cooperation" and "Cooperation and Sustainable Development", "Days of Student Science", "Articles of Participants of the International Youth Forum of Cooperators" were prepared and published.

I wish everyone participants of the fruitful work, interesting discussions and successful holding of the scientific conference," noted Alsu Nabieva.

Also joining in the welcoming words were: Ilyasov Vener Zakievich - Chairman of the Board of Bashpotrebsoyuz, Osipova Svetlana Nikolaevna - Chairman of the Council of Mordovpotrebsoyuz, Shaimardanov Ruslan Valerievich - Deputy Chairman of the Board of Tatpotrebsoyuz, Chukin Nikolay Ivanovich - former Chairman of the Council of the Vladimir Regional Consumer Union, Sharipova Gulnazym Kairkenovna - teacher at QS School Karaganda (Kazakhstan) and Kuznetsova Inna Viktorovna - PhD in Economics. sciences, associate professor, director of the Institute of Scientific Research and Development of Professional Competencies LLC

The conference paid special attention to cooperative educational institutions that took an active part in the discussion of key issues of sustainable development and innovation: Russian University of Cooperation, Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives, Siberian University of Consumer Cooperatives, Kostanay Higher College of Kazpotrebsoyuz (Kostanay, Kazakhstan), Kazakh National Research Technical University named after K. I. Satpayev, Kazakh National Pedagogical University named after Abay and QSSCHOOL QARAGANDA LLP (Karaganda)

The conference moderator was Olga Valerievna Kaurova, Doctor of Economics, professor, vice-rector for research work at the Russian University of Cooperation.

The geography of the participants covered more than 40 universities in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The conference will become a significant scientific platform for exchanging experiences, presenting research and strengthening cooperative ties in the international space.