On June 26, Skoltech held its 2026 Commencement Ceremony in celebration of its students and faculty. The class of 2026 includes 250 master’s students and 18 bachelor students from 28 countries. Twenty Skoltech professors were recognized for their contributions to the graduates’ future success. The Skoltech community also celebrated Provost Pavlos Lagoudakis, winner of the Bridge Awards in the Science and Innovation category.

Skoltech President Yulia Gorbunova welcomed the graduates, their families, and distinguished guests. She emphasized that, in the era of artificial intelligence, Skoltech graduates have a decisive edge because they can create new tools, not just use them.

“Artificial intelligence will take over routine tasks, so the ability to identify problems, test hypotheses, evaluate quality, and understand consequences will become increasingly valuable. Today, the main advantage lies in asking the right questions rather than just following instructions. A Skoltech diploma signifies academic excellence and social responsibility. Only those who understand the ultimate purpose will be able to create game-changing technologies,” the president noted.

Igor Shuvalov, the chairman of the Skoltech Board of Trustees and the VEB.RF group, thanked the graduates for choosing Skoltech and encouraged the future innovators.

“Today, you are embarking on an exciting journey that will last a lifetime. Remember that it involves new opportunities and responsibilities. Thank you for choosing Skoltech. I hope you never regret it. You will create new companies and technologies that will benefit us all. You will build a completely new world, which I believe will be much better,” said Shuvalov.

Viktor Vekselberg, the deputy chairman of the Skoltech Board of Trustees, urged students not to fear the future because they have already invested in their success. “Don’t worry! No matter what path you choose – working for a major company, pursuing science, or starting your own business – you will be successful. Why? Because you graduated from Skoltech,” he said.

Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Denis Sekirinsky described Skoltech as a technology university. “Skoltech is unique because it was designed as a technology platform to conduct research, integrate its results into education and teaching, and simultaneously create new products and technologies. […] I do believe and hope that you will have a lifelong bond with Skoltech,” said Sekirinsky.

Professor Alexander Auzan, the dean of the MSU Faculty of Economics, was a special guest at the ceremony. He shared his perspective on the economic context in which graduates will build their careers. The professor highlighted the ongoing institutional revolution, the dominance of digital platforms in the economy, and the role of AI in this process.

“If we’re concerned about strong artificial intelligence, then perhaps we should focus on strong natural intelligence, which has two distinct properties. First, it doesn’t degrade when interacting with AI, which isn’t easy. [...]. Second, we need to find a way to combine strong AI and strong NI,” Auzan commented.

This year, 250 students from 14 STEM master’s programs received their diplomas. Joining them on stage were 18 bachelor’s graduates from two joint programs: Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion, a joint initiative with Mendeleyev University; and Cognitive Neuroscience, delivered under a network agreement with HSE and featuring its first graduating class this year. During the past academic year, 18 PhD students received their degrees. Anastasia Shuvalova and Maxim Kuporov defended their master’s theses in the Startup as Thesis track.

Yulia Gorbunova, Igor Shuvalov, Viktor Vekselberg, and Pavlos Lagoudakis presented the diplomas to the graduates.

In keeping with tradition, the graduates took the stage to address the audience. Master’s graduates Anastasia Cvijović from Serbia and Bamiwo Paul Adelere from Nigeria emphasized that Skoltech has become their new home and that their diplomas are an invitation to take on the most daunting tasks. They encouraged their fellow graduates to embrace the unknown, face challenges boldly, and pioneer new endeavors.

PhD graduate Aleksei Kuzin thanked his supervisors, colleagues, and family for their support throughout his arduous journey, expressing special gratitude to his parents, wife, and son. He emphasized that the thesis defense marked the beginning of a new stage in which he would tackle more challenging questions and strive to change the world for the better. Kuzin also encouraged his fellow graduates to keep moving forward and thanked Skoltech for providing the knowledge and support that brought them to this point.

The event concluded with the presentation of the tenth Education Excellence Award to the best professors and mentors.