Ministry of Science and Education formally appoints Ilya Obabkov as rector of UrFU
Russia's Ministry of Higher Education and Science has appointed Ilya Obabkov, director of the Institute of Radio Electronics and Information Technologies (IRIT-RTF) at Ural Federal University (UrFU), as acting rector of the institution.
Obabkov, a graduate of Ural Industrial University (UrGUT-UPI), has built his career within the university. Since 2018, he has been leading IRIT-RTF. In recent years, he has presented UrFU at industry conferences on cybersecurity and modern technologies. Under his leadership, new IT platforms have been introduced, helping students to create personalized educational paths.
Initially, three candidates had applied for the rector position: Daniel Sandler, first pro-rector for economics and strategic development at UrFU; Ilya Obabkov; and Alexander Mazhuga, a deputy of the State Duma and a doctor of chemical sciences. Unofficial sources indicate that Sandler withdrew from the race during the qualification process.
News of the rector change at UrFU became known in April. The unexpected resignation of Victor Koksharov, who had led the university for the past 15 years, was announced. Despite expectations that Koksharov would continue his tenure, the Ministry of Education and Science declined to extend his contract. Koksharov will transition to a new role, which was specifically created for him. He will serve as president of UrFU.
- As the new acting rector of UrFU, Ilya Obabkov plans to focus on education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and career-development opportunities for students, building upon the IT platforms he introduced during his leadership at IRIT-RTF.
- Meanwhile, Obabkov's appointment also opens up a new chapter in his personal growth and career development, as he navigates the challenges that come with leading one of Russia's premier universities.
