Over 1,000 young people now part of Student Squads
February 17 is the Day of Russian Student Squads. In order to organize the process of students’ work activities and develop their professional skills, the Headquarters of the Student Team of Kazan Federal University annually forms several student teams from among students in various areas for temporary employment during the summer period at enterprises and facilities throughout Russia.
The history of student squads at KFU dates back to 1957, when the first construction team, Fizmatovets, was created. The modern student team movement was revived at Kazan University in 2011 and has been actively developing at the university since 2016.
Currently, 15 student employment squads are active at KFU – construction teams “Maximum” and “Eurydice”, teacher teams “Sapphire”, “Fractal”, “Kaleidoscope”, “Tiger”, “Sirius” and “Clover”, train conductor teams “Sparta”, “Magellan” and “Zhara”, service industry teams “Volna” and “Aurora”, as well as social service teams “Miras” and “Matur”.
“The modern movement is a team of strong, responsible, hardworking students who honor traditions and successfully combine education with work and social activities. The results of our headquarters’ work speak for themselves: they are multiple winners of grants, laureates in the nomination Student Organization of the Year in the Student of the Year of the Republic of Tatarstan award. Last year, our student teams were noted at the highest level for the first time – the practice of organizing the activities of KFU teams entered the top 5 among Russian universities. Student teams of Kazan University are about values, strong friendship, mutual assistance, and useful work,” emphasizes the Head of the Section of Social Protection and Organization of Work on Social Support of Students of the Department of Youth Policy Yekaterina Senchenkova.
“During the academic year, our squad organizes and attends joint events with other squads or headquarters, which helps to establish relations between universities. We also carry out a social mission – we visit orphanages and animal shelters,” says student Nodir Togaimurodov about his activities.
Alina Askhadullina is the commander of the “Zhara” train conductor squad.
“Our work is very responsible and important. The conductor plays a key role in a comfortable and safe journey. He is responsible for organizing order in a train car, helps passengers with their issues. The conductor checks tickets, ensures that all safety rules are observed, and also informs about upcoming stops and other important points,” the activist shares.
Most often, students of the Yelabuga Institute choose the pedagogical track and work as camp counselors. Karina Tokmakova, Institute squad commander, is an experienced worker already.
“I went to work in a children’s camp for the first time after my freshman year. I worked as a counselor in Sochi. I have already worked 15 camp shifts. This occupation is interesting, because I am mastering the profession of a teacher, and I believe that this is my calling. In Sochi, I also worked as a waiter in a hotel, accommodation and meals were spelled out in the working conditions, you could choose a convenient schedule for yourself. We also managed to rest ourselves, and even went to Abkhazia,” says Karina.
20 students of the Naberezhnye Chelny Institute are members of the “Vega” conductor squad, created at the NCI in 2022. Its members ensure the comfort and safety of passengers on trains, working mainly on summer resort routes to the Krasnodar Krai. In 2024, the Vega team became a finalist in the city competition Student of the Year in the nomination Student Employment Squad.
Very soon, the traditional trips of the social assistance squads “Matur” and “Miras” to the municipal districts of the Republic of Tatarstan will take place to provide targeted help to the population in vulnerable life circumstances. This year, 30 young people will go to the Apastovsky and Tetyushsky districts.