They all share pro-active approach, 90 percent of them have had previous experience in student self government, volunteer and social activities, they are all future leaders who are eager to develop themselves and change the social environment, most of the winners hold more than one degree and combine studies with work.

The Vladimir Potanin Foundation announced also a grant competition for professors on February 1, 2014. The applicants are still working on their applications that will be later assessed by the Expert committee which will be giving priority to leadership potential, commitment to innovative approach to teaching, as well as social value and sustainability of the projects applied. The names of 50 winners will be known on April  30, 2014. The winners of both competitions will have an opportunity to take part in the Foundation’s School where they are able to receive funding for one more socially-oriented project. The So Schools provide them with a perfect platform to present their projects and get a chance to win a grant for their implementation.

Vladimir Potanin Fellowship Program is now the largest project of the Foundation. It started back in 2000 as a program aimed to support goal-oriented, highly motivated students and potential leaders. Through the years of its operation the Program awarded more than 15 600 scholarships. Over 170 000 students from 83 universities and colleges took part in competitions. The Program held 10 Summer and Winter Schools with 300 participants in each of them. Over 130 successful student projects were implemented with the Foudation’s support.

And since 2013 its focus logically shifted to master students and professors and now the program includes three main components: fellowship competition for master students, grant competition for master degree professors and a Foundation’s School for students and professor - winners of the competitions. The project covers students and professors from over 75 leading universities of Russia and encourages partnership and cooperation between students and professors and combination of educational process with  socially oriented activities.