The AI Alliance has released its third ranking of Russian universities for AI training

The AI ​​Alliance has published an updated ranking, which includes 203 Russian universities from 68 regions. This year, HSE University was awarded the highest category, A++, for the first time, while the total number of top universities remained unchanged at five. Traditionally, the highest concentration of leading universities remains in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The new system of personal accounts for universities has stimulated dialogue with businesses. We note the high level of engagement among participants – educational institutions are actively interested in opportunities to advance in the rankings.

The 2025 ranking leaders are:

— National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) became the absolute leader in the ranking, entering the highest category, A++, a new group formed for the first time this year. Traditional leaders ITMO University and MIPT have once again entered Group A+, demonstrating their consistently high performance.

Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) and St. Petersburg State University (SPbU) maintained their positions in Group A.

Furthermore, the universities with the most dynamic growth included the Financial University (making its debut in Category B), as well as Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Ural Federal University, and Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod.

The university assessment was based on open data and independent research by the Alliance. Specifically, the following were taken into account:

-Surveys of over 150 employers on the demand for graduates.

-Questionnaires of over 12,000 students on the quality of the educational environment.

-Data verification through university personal accounts, which increased the transparency and reliability of the analysis.

The ranking includes universities offering undergraduate and specialist programs in artificial intelligence.

The full ranking is published on the website.

Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation:

«Today, the entire world stands on the threshold of a new technological paradigm, one of the key components of which is artificial intelligence. Therefore, Russian universities urgently need to train qualified specialists with the necessary skills and knowledge. The AI ​​Alliance brings together representatives of the university community and business to discuss the issues facing the higher education system in light of the widespread implementation of artificial intelligence in various sectors of the economy. An important result of this collaborative work was the creation of a ranking of universities based on the quality of training specialists in the field of artificial intelligence. This year, the ranking is being presented for the third time and can already serve as a benchmark for technology companies when hiring graduates.»

Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the AI ​​Alliance:

«The Alliance’s university rankings not only reflect the level of Russian AI education but also serve as a roadmap for developing the domestic digital economy and ensuring Russia’s technological sovereignty. Investments in human capital and close collaboration between science, education, and business create a solid foundation for innovation, which will drive national progress and enhance the country’s global competitiveness in the AI ​​era.»

Valeria Vorobyeva, CEO of the Artificial Intelligence Alliance:

«The Alliance, as an association of the country’s largest employers, is interested in universities graduating specialists with high levels of AI competencies. This will significantly narrow the gap between the competencies developed by universities and the competencies required by employers.» To help universities cope with the Alliance, with the support of the Russian Government, the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia is implementing a number of initiatives, the key one being the Ranking of Universities by the Quality of Training Specialists in AI. We are pleased that each year, the activity and openness of universities is only increasing, competition between universities is intensifying, and the overall level of education in AI is steadily improving. The ranking is no longer just an assessment; it is a tool for development and, undoubtedly, a platform for dialogue between universities and industry.»