MSUPE – the Main Venue for Conducting Demonstration Exams in the Training Areas and Specialties of the UGSN "Education and Pedagogical Sciences"

By the 2027–2028 academic year, the demonstration exam will become a mandatory form of state final certification for graduates of all pedagogical universities in Russia. The corresponding plan has been approved by the Russian Ministry of Education.

The demonstration exam provides for:

• Simulation of real professional conditions
• Independent expert assessment
• Completion of practical tasks, including in the presence of potential employers

For many universities, the transition to the new format requires not only methodological but also infrastructural preparation.

The Venue at MSUPE

One example of a successful solution is the experience of Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE). In 2022, the Demonstration Exam Centre – DemoCentre – was established here. Currently, it is the main venue for conducting demonstration exams for students in the training areas and specialties of UGSN 44.00.00 "Education and Pedagogical Sciences."

How the DemoCentre Is Organised

The DemoCentre has created special conditions that provide extensive opportunities for the practical training of primary school teachers, educational psychologists, and special education teachers for the education system. Each room here is a model of a real workplace.

Rooms for Educational Psychologists:

• For group work: conducting trainings, managing group dynamics, organising project activities.
• For diagnostics: working with test methods, interpreting results, and designing correctional programs.
• For counselling: a space for practising client intake skills, active listening techniques, and building trusting dialogue.

Demonstration Hall (Primary School Teacher's Classroom):

Students conduct fragments of lessons, work with interactive panels, and practice methodological techniques in conditions as close as possible to the real educational process.

Speech Therapist's Classroom:

A space with specialised equipment for speech diagnostics and correction.

Expert and Meeting Rooms:

• Expert Room (main commission room): independent experts observe the exam and evaluate task performance.
• Meeting Hall (negotiation room) for expert commissions: discussing results and formulating recommendations for students.

Equipment

The classrooms are equipped with the tools graduates will encounter in schools or psychological centres. The equipment includes interactive tables and panels, biofeedback systems, diagnostic kits, tactile paths, balance boards, and other professional tools.

Photo: MSUPE DemoCentre classrooms equipped for demonstration exams.

Why This Matters

For most universities, the introduction of the mandatory demonstration exam will be a challenge requiring significant financial investment in infrastructure. However, MSUPE's experience shows that a properly organised venue works for the future.

What This Approach Provides:

• Increased objectivity of assessment.
• Transparency of procedures.
• Strengthened trust from students, employers, and society.

These principles align with the objectives of independent quality assessment, making the DemoCentre not just an examination facility but a tool for the university's systemic development.