Hold the Bar High! – The Federal Stage of the XX "Educational Psychologist" Professional Skills Competition Has Started at MSUPE
On September 28, a ceremonial opening of the jubilee, twentieth All-Russian Professional Skills Competition "Educational Psychologist — 2026" took place at MSUPE.
Winners of the regional stage of the competition from all constituent entities of the Russian Federation came to Moscow to participate in the federal stage. 82 participants have been announced for the federal stage.
The competition is held to raise the professional level of educational psychologists, develop the psychological service in the education system of the Russian Federation, and enhance the prestige of the professional activity of educational psychologists.
"This year we are holding the twentieth, jubilee competition. Over these years, it has become a true flagship for the development of the country's psychological service. The competition unites bright, talented, active representatives of the psychological professional community in their aspiration to demonstrate high achievements and represent their region at the all-Russian level.
The 'Educational Psychologist' competition is a resource for the entire national system of providing psychological and pedagogical assistance in the field of education. Modern challenges set fundamentally new, sometimes complex tasks before us. Our main priority today is the formation of an absolutely safe, supportive educational environment, the strengthening of traditional family values, the prosperous development of every child, and the unlocking of their unique personal potential. It is you who help children gain confidence in their abilities and find guidance in life", noted Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Sergeevich Kravtsov in his video address to the competition participants.
Maria Alekseevna Lvova-Belova, Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights of the Russian Federation and Chair of the All-Russian Public-State Organization "Children's Defense Fund," also addressed the competition participants. She noted that educational psychologists are reliable assistants to the institution of Commissioners in working with families in need of support and at-risk adolescents: "You identify children in crisis, you are among the first to notice difficulties in a child or their parents," she said.
According to the Ombudsperson, the work of an educational psychologist requires constant improvement: "I am confident that participation in the competition will become an important step in your professional growth and development," concluded Maria Lvova-Belova.
Co-Chair of the Competition's Organizing Committee, Academician, President of MSUPE, and Chief Freelance Educational Psychologist of the Russian Ministry of Education Vitaly Vladimirovich Rubtsov said that over the 20 years of the competition's existence, the professional community has strengthened and become a serious, in-demand resource that has proven its effectiveness largely through the interdisciplinarity of competencies, which allows educational psychologists to solve complex problems of children and childhood.
Also, according to the President of MSUPE, over these years the number of doctoral and candidate dissertation defenses by specialists of the psychological service in education has increased. A large number of service specialists have submitted their theses for participation in the All-Russian Interuniversity Scientific-Practical Forum with International Participation "The Time of L.S. Vygotsky: From Fundamental Theory to Contemporary Practice," which will be held in November: "Cultural-historical psychology is the most advanced science today; it is becoming an integral part of your practical work. New methods, technologies, and digital solutions are emerging", noted Vitaly Rubtsov.
Oksana Alexandrovna Draganova, Head of the Department for the Development of the System for Preventing Antisocial Behaviour in Minors of the Department of State Policy for the Protection of Children's Rights of the Russian Ministry of Education, spoke about support measures for educational psychologists and the policy of accessibility of psychological assistance. In particular, she noted that competition winners receive a monetary award — this year it will be 200,000 rubles. She also spoke about the launch of the "SCHOOL OF TRUST" psychological assistance line, which ensures accessibility and rapid response to crisis situations and provides prompt methodological support to specialists.
Vice-Rector for Educational and Social-Psychological Work at MSUPE Olesya Valentinovna Vikhristyuk invited the contestants to participate in MSUPE projects, in particular the Registry of Best Practices aimed at forming a favourable socio-psychological climate in educational communities, preventing bullying and other types of socially dangerous behaviour among participants in educational relations, and the Federal Registry of Crisis Psychologists.
Chair of the Competition Jury, Director of the Federal Center for the Development of Inclusive General and Supplementary Education at MSUPE, and Vice-President of the All-Russian Public Organization "Federation of Educational Psychologists of Russia" Svetlana Vladimirovna Alekhina addressed the contestants with a parting message:
"Each jury member comes to the next competition hoping to see high professionalism, naturalness, genuine psychological thinking, and psychologists who know how to work with people. Show your professional mastery — that is what you came here for. You represent your regions — this is the highest responsibility. But behind you are also children and colleagues who support you. May this responsibility give you strength. We hope to see professionals. Hold the bar high!"
This year, specialists from 30 kindergartens, 38 schools, 8 centers for psychological-pedagogical, medical, and social assistance, 4 colleges, and two organizations of supplementary education will compete for victory.
On September 28, they will face the competitive test "Professional Technological Map", as well as events of the extracurricular program.
On September 29, the specialists will undergo an expert interview at MSUPE. On September 30, the names of the 15 superfinalists will be announced. Also on that day, the jury will evaluate the professional cases of the educational psychologists.
The winners, prize-winners, and laureates will be awarded on October 1.
Video recording of the ceremonial opening of the competition
Organizer of the Competition: Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. Operator of the Competition: Moscow State University of Psychology and Education.
The competition is included in the action plan for 2024–2030 for the implementation of the Concept for the Development of the System of Psychological and Pedagogical Assistance in General and Secondary Vocational Education in the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030, approved by the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation S.S. Kravtsov on June 18, 2024, No. SK-13/07vn.
About the opening of the competition on the official website of the Russian Ministry of Education