ITMO and Samolet Group Introduce New Master’s Program for IT Team Leads

The program will welcome Bachelor’s and Specialist’s graduates with backgrounds in software engineering, computer science, and information systems and technologies. During their studies, future professionals will boost their IT skills and knowledge and apply them when solving real-life industry cases. At the same time, they will acquire the soft skills that make a great team lead: the ability to build a team from scratch and manage digital projects of different scales, as well as skills associated with flexibility and self-presentation.

Additionally, the program will serve as a career booster for those who have already started their professional path as junior or mid-level managers. Practicing business analytics managers and startup founders, on the other hand, will be able to master efficient new tools and approaches to implement into their workflow.

There are four modules included in the curriculum. The most work-intensive one, the tech module covers design and architecture of information systems, programming and machine learning, AI systems, and data analytics. In the management module, students will learn to launch, manage, and promote IT products and services, while in the financial module they will master procurement management, as well as startup and behavioral economics. Within the soft skills module, students will train to work in distributed teams, practice time management, modern business communication, and negotiations. All lectures and seminars will be delivered by experts from Samolet Group and ITMO lecturers.

“We are focusing on both hard and soft skills. Thanks to such a range of competencies, graduates of the program will not only have an in-depth understanding of development and be able to lead teams, but will also be capable of creating and implementing product development strategies,” says Anton Kuznetsov, the head of ITMO’s Institute of Applied Computer Science.

Applications to the program are already open. In 2024, it will welcome 30 students, for 10 of which Samolet Group will be paying tuition. This is an on-site program with classes to be held in St. Petersburg. Students will be able to combine their studies with a part-time job. Upon graduation, they will be able to work as team leads, product and project heads, as well as head business analytics teams.