On April 30, the Rector of KNRTU, Yury Kazakov, introduced new directors during the Academic Council meetings of the Institute of Polymers and the Institute of Innovation Management (which encompasses departments focused on social and humanitarian programs). Starting May 1, Ildar Musin replaces Oleg Stoyanov as Director of the Institute of Polymers, while Anna Sukhristina succeeds Raushaniya Zinurova as Director of the Institute of Innovation Management.

The upcoming personnel changes were initially announced on April 28 during the meeting of the KNRTU Academic Council. At that time, Rector Yury Kazakov presented letters of appreciation to Professors Oleg V. Stoyanov and Raushaniya I. Zinurova, acknowledging their significant contributions to the development and growth of the institutes they led.

During both council meetings, Yury Kazakov briefly discussed the rationale behind the decisions. “Holding a leadership position is a heavy responsibility and carries a high risk of burnout,” the rector said, “and we sincerely hope to retain Professors Oleg V. Stoyanov and Raushaniya I. Zinurova as department heads, as respected scholars with strong reputations and great commitment to the university.” He emphasized that “this was a mutual decision.”

When introducing the new directors, Yury Kazakov outlined the key challenges ahead. For the Institute of Polymers, these include strengthening cooperation with major industrial partners such as “SIBUR”, preparing for the upcoming admission campaign (expected to be particularly challenging for chemical and technological programs), integrating the institute’s development strategy with the university’s strategic development program, and adapting to the forthcoming national higher education reform. The Institute of Innovation Management also needs to begin preparations for the 2025 admission campaign. The rector reminded attendees that one of the institute’s key missions is fostering patriotic values among youth. Additionally, the institute must clarify its role within KNRTU’s system for training engineering personnel. “You have the potential, you have the departments, you have the experts!” he told colleagues.

Ildar N. Musin graduated from KSTU in 1998 with a degree in Chemical Technology, specializing in the Processing of Plastics and Elastomers. In 2001, he defended his candidate’s dissertation titled “The Influence of Molecular Characteristics of Initial Polymers on the Properties of Thermoelastoplast Blends” (scientific advisor: Prof. Svetoslav. I. Volfson, DSc in Engineering). He has extensive managerial experience: he previously led the university’s Educational and Social Affairs Department, headed the university’s trade union from 2009 to 2021, and currently chairs the Department of Medical Engineering. He delivers original lecture courses such as “Structural and Biomaterials,” “Current Issues in Biomedical and Environmental Engineering,” and “Principles of Technical Equipment in Medical Institutions.” He holds the honorary title of Distinguished Educator of the Russian Federation.

Anna S. Sukhristina is a graduate of the KSTU Institute of Polymers (2006). In 2005, she completed additional professional training in “Philology” with a “Translator” qualification and has professional experience in translation, including simultaneous interpretation from English. She worked in the university’s Office of International Affairs and became its head in 2022. That same year, she defended her PhD in Pedagogy with a dissertation titled “International Cooperation as a Means of Shaping a Unified Educational Space for Engineering Universities (Case Study: Russia and Vietnam)” (scientific advisor: Prof. Yulia. N. Ziyatdinova, DSc in Pedagogy). She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages in Professional Communication and lectures on “Professionally-Oriented Foreign Language,” “Foreign Language,” and “Entrepreneurial Values: Cultural Diversity and Unity.”