“City 404” United First-Year “Captains”

Before the start of the academic year, first-year students of the “Captains” program spent several days in “City 404.” The introductory intensive for the Entrepreneurship and Project Management program took the form of a business game at the “Solnechny” Educational Center in Kaltay. Overall, 80 students took part in the event.

“City 404” is a place where the line between a game and reality disappears, and every step becomes a key to personal and professional growth. As the storyline unfolds, students find themselves in an abandoned city that must be restored. The city is divided into several districts, each with its own focus — some on production, others on science, and so on. Participants must solve the mysteries of the city and help its residents and services. Along the way, they face various challenges, from a trust-building course to a nighttime spy game.

All participants tried themselves in the role of entrepreneurs, united in teams. Their task was to build and develop their district, providing it with infrastructure and essential resources. Teams completed assignments, earned simulated money, purchased buildings, developed their districts, and faced the true challenges of entrepreneurship — uncertainty, multitasking, and an intensive work schedule.

“The off-site intensive for first-year students is an annual event that shows those enrolled in the Captains program just how different it is from others: the training here is very intensive and interactive. Of course, networking and team-building are also key goals of this game. And finally, the game incorporates various entrepreneurial exercises and tasks, which help us, the organizers, to see how the students think, cooperate, and communicate with each other and with senior peers. In many ways, it’s a test of willpower, reasoning, and ingenuity,” said Elizaveta Varenik, one of the organizers.

First-year students also shared their impressions:

“City 404 helped me discover very important qualities and skills within myself, and it also brought together all the newcomers of the Captains program. During my time in City 404, I had the chance to try myself as an entrepreneur, work in a very friendly team, and enjoy the excellent organization of the entire process. The competitive atmosphere brought out a lot of emotions, and I will remember it for a very long time,” said Dmitry Kondratyuk, a first-year student of the Entrepreneurship and Project Management program.

“City 404 is all about teamwork! For three days we worked productively, and every event forced us to develop strategies to win and overcome obstacles. With each cycle, new conditions and tasks were added, and everyone rushed to complete them and earn the coveted rating points! Despite the many competitive elements, City 404 did a great job of uniting all the new Captains, giving us the chance to get to know our classmates better and test ourselves in different stressful situations. It was very cool and unforgettable!” shared Anastasia Shabunina, a first-year student.