The final round of the Fifth B.N. Khristenko Interregional Olympiad in Financial Literacy for Schoolchildren has taken place. This traditional event is held by the Department of Economics and Finance of the SUSU School of Economics and Management. A well-known economist, a specialist in development and implementation of business games in economics, Boris Khristenko introduced active methods of teaching students at Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute (future SUSU) and headed the first laboratory of business games in the USSR. The laboratory complex of business games and active teaching methods of the Department of Economics and Finance is named after Boris Khristenko.
The partners of the event were the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and the Kurchatov Regional Centre for Support of Gifted Children.
SUSU Vice-Rector for Education Marina Potapova and Head of the Department of Economics and Finance Irina Solovyova addressed the participants of the Olympiad with welcoming speech. They told the schoolchildren about our university, its advanced projects, wished the children success, and noted that knowledge in financial literacy is necessary for modern people both in everyday life and in their career.
Irina Solovyova spoke in detail about the Olympiad: it has existed in interregional status for five years, and before that it was regional for 15 years − for schoolchildren of the city of Chelyabinsk and our region. Many of those who back in their day were winners and prize-winners later entered SUSU, and after graduating achieved success and career growth. As Irina explained, the Olympiad for schoolchildren was held in two rounds: qualifying (extramural) and final (intramural). Students in the 8th to 11th forms can participate. At the extramural stage, which took place on the digital platform of South Ural State University from December to February, schoolchildren answered basic questions in the field of financial literacy and performed small calculations: for example, how to properly manage a personal budget, where it is better to invest money without unnecessary risk, but with the highest benefit. About five hundred people took part in the qualifying round; almost forty schoolchildren from Chelyabinsk, Asha, Zlatoust, Miass, Kopeysk, Plast, Snezhinsk, Nizhny Tagil, Yekaterinburg and even Moscow made it to the final round.
In the finals, they had to undergo group testing, solve cases and an individual blitz. For group tasks, participants were divided into several teams by lot. All teams performed the same tasks. Here it was already necessary to show deeper knowledge, solve applied, practical problems as close to real situations as possible – when drawing up problems, stories from life were taken as a basis. Moreover, there could be several solution options; one could come to the same conclusion in different ways, but they had to justify their calculations. The guys recorded their thoughts and decisions in special formsheets, which were then checked by the commission. For example, it was necessary to determine which option for investing money is the most profitable now (buying shares, bonds, foreign currencies), what risks of investing financial resources exist in the current situation. They were allowed to use data from the Central Bank. For schoolchildren, participation in the Olympiad provides certain advantages when entering universities since it is included in the list of Olympiads and other intellectual and creative competitions, events aimed at developing intellectual and creative abilities, and the State information resource "Talents and Success". And, of course, participation in the Olympiad means experience, knowledge, and communication.
In addition to completing the Olympiad tasks, a cultural program was provided. During an excursion to the People and Technologies of the Urals University Museum, which was conducted by the head of the museum Iuliia Vasina, schoolchildren were able to see the most interesting exhibits and learn about the life and way of life of the peoples who inhabited the Urals in ancient times: what our ancestors ate, what tools they used, what fortifications were built? Iuliia paid special attention to the world-famous Arkaim.
While the Appeal Commission was working, a "My Motherland" quiz was held for everyone. Participants had to answer a wide variety of questions about Russia and the world, including from the fields of architecture, space exploration, electrical engineering, and geography.
And now the results have been summed up. The guys were congratulated by Irina Solovyova, as well as representatives of the Olympiad partners: from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation − Aleksandr Biryukov, and from the Kurchatov Centre − Marina Angelovskaia. They noted that by participating in the Olympiad, schoolchildren gain deeper knowledge in financial literacy, which will be useful to them in life and at work, and they also learn to manage money wisely.
"For me, participating in the Olympiad means gaining experience. I already took part in it the year before and decided to try my hand again. The tasks are quite difficult, but interesting. I think the knowledge gained will be useful in the future. I also really liked the "My Motherland" quiz. Participation in the Olympiad provides an opportunity to receive additional points for admission to a university. And, of course, it’s nice to win a prize!" said Ivan Molodtsev, an eleventh-form pupil from Chelyabinsk Lyceum No. 11, who won the second place.
Participants were awarded certificates, and the winners of the first, second and third places were awarded certificates and prizes. In addition, the guys who did not take prizes, but showed excellent results in testing and problem solving, received separate awards.
"Although I have previously taken part in Olympiads, this is the first time I am participating in this one. Of course, I’m very happy about the victory. I couldn’t even believe it right away: after all, the participants were older than me. The questions were quite difficult. I would like to thank the History and Social Studies teacher Rimma Okorokova, who helped me prepare for the Olympiad," winner of the first place, eighth-form pupil Dariia Prosvirnina from the Snezhinsk School No. 125 shared her impressions.
The participants liked everything: interesting tasks, our university, the museum and communication with peers.