Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting
Meeting of the St Petersburg University Board of Trustees
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and a graduate of St Petersburg University, held a meeting of the University’s Board of Trustees. The meeting was also attended by: Chairwoman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko; Deputy Prime Ministers Marat Khusnullin and Dmitry Chernyshenko; Governor of St Petersburg Alexander Beglov; Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev; and other members of the Board of Trustees.
The main areas of discussion were preparations for the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University and the construction projects for the University’s campus and the Neva Delta Innovative Science and Technology Centre.
‘St Petersburg University has a long-standing reputation for world-class scientific research. We pay respects to our great scholars. Over the centuries, they have been giving their talents and efforts to contribute to the prosperity of our big country, strengthening its position in the world and advancing science and technology — the areas in which we have been and, I believe, will remain leaders. We are to do what needs to be done to proudly celebrate the anniversary of our renowned University, to give it an additional impetus for intensive development as a modern multidisciplinary centre of education, culture and research,’ said Dmitry Medvedev.
St Petersburg has already prepared its part of the anniversary programme. On the day of the University’s 300th anniversary — 8 February 2024 — torches will be lit on the Rostral Columns on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. St Petersburg University flags will be raised on the Palace Bridge. The city public transport will be decorated with the University’s symbols. New tourist maps will feature the locations of the University buildings, with thematic and historical materials about the University placed nearby. During St Petersburg’s City Day celebrations in May 2024, St Petersburg University will be a participating venue. The traditional "Scarlet Sails Festival" will also be dedicated to the anniversaries of St Petersburg University and the Russian Academy of Sciences (In 2024, St Petersburg University celebrates its 300th anniversary).
Events dedicated to Higher Education Teacher’s Day
In the renovated assembly hall of the School of International Relations in the historical building of the Smolny Monastery, i.e. an 18th-century architectural monument, a ceremonial meeting of academic staff was held to mark Higher Education Teacher’s Day and the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University.
The new professional holiday is very young. It was established by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in November 2021. The date 19 November was not chosen by chance. On this day in 1711, Mikhail Lomonosov, one of the first students and later the head of St Petersburg Imperial University and Gymnasium, was born. This day is a vivid reminder of how important it is to have a teacher for the education, development and formation of a person. The holiday acquired particular importance in 2023, when the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin declared the Year of the Teacher and Mentor.
At the ceremonial meeting, academic staff were awarded diplomas "For educational and methodological work" and "For pedagogical excellence" of the St Petersburg University awards in 2023, departmental awards, gratitude from the Committee for Science and Higher Education of St Petersburg, and letters of gratitude of the Rector of St Petersburg University).
On the occasion of Higher Education Teacher’s Day, the University opened a book exhibition from the collections of the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University. The exhibition is set to mark the 180th anniversary of Kliment Timiryazev, a famous University student, a major researcher in plant physiology.
The Youth Forum "Culture Code — 2023"
The Youth Forum "Culture Code — 2023" has been held by St Petersburg University for the second time. This year, the forum touches on three areas. Among them are the following: knowledge of history through culture; artificial intelligence; and traditional culture in developing a civilised society. The forum programme includes more than 20 events. Among them are the following: discussions, round tables, workshops, public lectures, exhibitions, excursions, and a concert. Representatives of leading creative, educational and museum organisations in Russia took part in the events. Among them are the following: the State Hermitage Museum, the Alexandrinsky Theatre, the Stieglitz Academy, the Rimsky-Korsakov St Petersburg State Conservatory, and the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library to name just a few.
Young artists presented their works created with the help of computer graphics, photographs of wooden architecture monuments of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage of the Kizhi Museum-Reserve, the results of the restoration of old printed publications, and the results of the scientific expedition to the Russian North. As part of the forum events organised by the University, leading figures in culture, art and science discussed issues of mutual influence of art, education, and cultural industries in the context of modern challenges.
The forum at St Petersburg University also featured the discussion "Creativity and management: a joint path to success". Representatives of education, culture and the state discussed how to manage creative processes and why it is important for the development of culture. The discussion brought together Fedor Boltin, Chairperson of the Committee on Culture of St Petersburg; Sergei Emelianov, Director of the Alexandrinsky Theatre; Anastasia Yarmosh, Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and Partnerships at St Petersburg University; and Hans-Joachim Frеy, an artistic director of the Talent and Success Foundation. The discussion was moderated by Arsenii Maiorov, General Director of the International Cultural Centre "Tchaikovsky-Strauss". The discussion participants paid special attention to modern projects in the field of culture, the influence of art on the perception of social changes and the role of education in the development of the creative economy.
St Petersburg University pays great attention to preparing managers in the field of performing arts, who will develop modern theatre, cinema, choreography and other arts in Russia. In 2022, the Alexandrinsky Theatre and St Petersburg University, in partnership with the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts GITIS and the Russian Institute of Performing Arts, launched an educational project "National theatre school" for managers of culture and art. During the year, educational residencies were in Dagestan, Tatarstan, Buryatia, Bashkortostan, Mari El, Komi, and Karelia to name just a few. Experts in the field of management and production of theatre projects conducted crash courses in more than 20 regions of Russia and several countries around the world, for example, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, and Turkmenistan. Today, more than 500 graduates of the project successfully apply the acquired knowledge in practice. A new stage of cooperation between the Alexandrinsky Theatre and the University will start in the nearest future. In 2024, St Petersburg University will open a master’s programme in "Economics and Management in the Arts" developed by St Petersburg University and the Alexandrinsky Theatre.
As part of the forum, the illustrated album ‘Precious collection of St Petersburg University. Minerals’ was presented to mark the 300th anniversary of the University.
St Petersburg University continues to publish books that introduce readers to the wealth accumulated over its three-century history. Previously, the St Petersburg University Publishing House prepared the series "Alma-mater of outstanding people", which included the albums "Famous artists at St Petersburg University" and "Students of Peter’s University". In the selection "Collection of knowledge", four books were published, dedicated to the book collection, museums, the Botanical Garden, and the architectural appearance of the University.
The new series opens with a book dedicated to minerals, as one of the first museum, educational and scientific collections at the University was mineralogical. The mineral collection of St Petersburg University dates back to the 18th century. On 13 October 1785, the University received a collection of 371 specimens. Over almost two and a half centuries, the collection has grown significantly and has become one of the best in Russia in terms of its quality and composition. Today, the Mineralogical Museum displays more than 30,000 items, and the geography of finds covers five continents. At the University, you can see samples from Austria, Brazil, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the USA, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, France, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, and Russia. At St Petersburg University, as part of the Youth Forum "Culture Code — 2023", a discussion was held on the topic "Is generative culture a culture?" Experts at St Petersburg University discussed the concept of using artificial intelligence and computer systems to create new ideas, art objects, products, and services. Is virtual reality becoming a part of the life of a modern person? How to make fashion accessible to everyone? What technologies have appeared in the work of clothing designers today? These and other questions were discussed by experts at the Youth Forum "Culture Code — 2023".
As part of the 2nd Youth Forum "Culture Code — 2023", which brought together students, university teachers and connoisseurs of art and science, educational events were held at St Petersburg University aimed to introduce participants to the historical and cultural heritage of the city and the oldest university in Russia.
Installation of a monument to Sergey Uvarov
At St Petersburg University, in front of the Twelve Collegia building, a solemn opening ceremony of the monument to the Minister of National Education of the Russian Empire Sergey Uvarov took place.
Count Sergey Uvarov was the President of the Imperial Academy of Sciences (1818–1855) and the Minister of National Education of the Russian Empire (1833–1849). He initiated the transformation of the Main Pedagogical Institute into St Petersburg Imperial University in 1819. This was one of the stages in the three-century history of St Petersburg University, established by the Decree of Peter the Great in 28 January (8 February) 1724, simultaneously with the Academy of Sciences.
The opening of the monument brought together Vladimir Medinsky, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Chairperson of the Russian Military Historical Society; Sergey Kravtsov, Minister of Education of the Russian Federation; Alexander Beglov, Governor of St Petersburg, Member of the Board of Trustees at St Petersburg University; and Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The initiator of the installation of the monument to Sergey Uvarov was the Russian Military Historical Society, which organised the work to hold a competition for the best sketch design of the monument and financed its production and installation. The event is set to mark the celebration of the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University. The decision to unveil the monument to the Minister of National Education of the Russian Empire Sergey Uvarov was unanimously adopted at the meeting of the Academic Council at St Petersburg University in July 2023.
Position of St Petersburg University in the rankings of Russian universities in terms of the quality of training of specialists in artificial intelligence
Sergey Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research, said that St Petersburg University is one of the best higher education institutions in Russia that train experts in artificial intelligence.
The ranking, compiled by the Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, included 180 universities from 64 regions of the country. The ranking of Russian universities in terms of the quality of professional education was presented at the international conference AI Journey 2023. The ranking is conducted with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation and is based on a methodology approved by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. It is based on an evidence-based mathematical model that has been validated by a wide range of experts from Alliance member companies and the academic community. The model was constructed using both publicly available and specially collected data on the quality of university education.
To objectively assess the quality of AI education, the experts selected 13 criteria, including: graduate salary levels; employer demand; employment statistics in Alliance companies; publications at conferences and in scientific journals; the number of student Olympiad winners and the average Unified State Exam scores; and the availability of programmes that are professionally and publicly accredited by the Alliance.
St Petersburg University actively develops research in the field of digital technologies and trains specialists to address its most pressing issues. To achieve these goals, the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science was established at St Petersburg University. The centre is aimed at developing and implementing large-scale self-organising adaptive and distributed digital platforms for Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) and industrial applications of this technology — digital industry. Additionally, St Petersburg University now has a research and education centre called "Mathematical Robotics and Artificial Intelligence", which brings together the University’s researchers who work on intelligent control, mathematical robotics, and educational robotics. One of the centre’s projects was to create a new method of searching for people lost in the forest using drones.
The Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies is the best in the ranking of public medical institutions in St Petersburg
The level of medical care in St Petersburg is considered one of the best in the country. There are several hundred medical institutions in the city: from large federal centres to small private medical offices. Not only local residents, but also patients from other regions of Russia are treated in St Petersburg.
The Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University won the Grand Prix in the ranking of public medical institutions in St Petersburg and was awarded the title "The Best Medical Institution in St Petersburg". At the same time, the Pirogov Centre of the University on 13 Kadetskaya Line (the base of the same clinic) took second place in this ranking. It was the patients’ choice. It was by their ratings and reviews that the ProDoctorov website identified the best. Thousands of patients from all over Russia gave their feedback on the work of the University doctors and the medical centre .
St Petersburg University scholars take part in the 6th Professors Forum
From 14 to 16 November, St Petersburg University took part in the 6th Professors Forum "Science and education as the basis for the development of Russia. Personnel for the innovative economy". The forum is held by the Russian Professorial Assembly and is aimed to support the Decade of Science and Technology, discuss current problems and scientific achievements, identify priority tasks for the development of science and education, and highlight the role of the scientific and educational elite of Russia in their implementation.
According to Elena Chernova, Senior Vice-Rector at St Petersburg University, St Petersburg University organised four panels of the forum. Among them are the following: "Theology in education: unity of purpose, specificity of tasks, precision of emphasis"; "Physical sciences"; "Legal sciences"; and "Philosophical sciences". Panels were held on 16 November.
The panel "Theology in education" was held at the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation in Moscow, while three others were held at two sites in St Petersburg, i.e. in the Mendeleev Centre at 1 Nevsky Prospekt and in the building at 7, 22nd Line, Vasilyevsky Island. Rectors, vice-rectors, deans, and professors of leading universities in St Petersburg and other cities took part in the discussion. The panel ‘Theology in education’ brought together 108 people (62 people on site and 46 online) from St Petersburg University, National Research University ‘Higher School of Economics’, the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), Moscow Theological Academy, St Petersburg Theological Academy, Nikolo-Ugreshskaya Theological Seminary, Ekaterinodar Theological Seminary, Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox University of the Humanities, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Russian Islamic University, and Bulgarian Islamic Academy to name just a few.
The participants discussed how to implement the government executive order, which concerns the development of the concept for the development of theology in Russia. Theology should become the value and worldview core of the entire education system. It must unite and connect with a single meaning both traditional humanities disciplines (history, philosophy, etc.) and the new courses on the foundations of statehood, the history of religions, and spiritual and moral culture.
Thirty people took part in the panel "Physical sciences". Among the discussion participants are representatives of Chelyabinsk State University; Alferov Federal State Budgetary Institution of Higher Education and Science ‘Saint Petersburg National Research Academic University of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ (Alferov University); Donetsk National Technical University; National Research Tomsk State University; Kazan Federal University; Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University; School of Sciences at the Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Ural Federal University; Coordination Council of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation in the field of "Mathematical and natural sciences"; Federal Educational and Methodological Association "Physics and astronomy"; and St Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI".
The panel participants presented reports on current topics related to the issues of teaching physics in universities to prepare scientific and engineering personnel for the Russian economy. The problems of teaching physics at school and popularising engineering and fundamental education were discussed, and ways to solve these problems were outlined. The experience of using various approaches to teaching physics is considered as case studies of various educational organisations of higher education.
The panel "Legal sciences" brought together 61 participants (25 participants on site and 36 people online). Presentations were made by representatives of Lomonosov Moscow State University; Kutafin Moscow State Law University; North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk; Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University; Kuban State Agrarian University named after I.T. Trubilin; and the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The panel focused on the following topics: general issues of the development of legal education in the Russian Federation, prospects for the development of legal science, and professional competencies of a lawyer.
The panel "Philosophical sciences" brough together 40 people, i.e. employees of: St Petersburg University; Lomonosov Moscow State University; the Higher School of Economics; the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia; the Graduate School of Philosophy, History and Social Sciences at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University; and Russian Christian Academy for the Humanities named after Fyodor Dostoevsky. Participants in the section presented reports to discuss new areas of study and academic programmes, issues of combining values and technologies, and the issue of the tandem of education and science as key resources for ensuring national security.
St Petersburg University academic staff receive the awards ‘Professor of the Year’ and "Dean of the Year"
The annual awards "Professor of the Year" and "Dean of the Year", awarded by the all-Russian public organisation "Russian Professorial Assembly", are among the most prestigious awards established by the professional community of lecturers and researchers of higher education. Prize winners are professors and deans of Russian universities whose activities are marked by outstanding results in the field of education and science. Throughout the history of these awards, from 2018 to the present day, lecturers at St Petersburg University have always been among the laureates.
Professor Anatoly Puyu, Director of the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St Petersburg University, is a laureate of the award ‘Dean of the Year — 2023’ of the Russian Professorial Assembly for outstanding results in the management of the University structural unit. His contribution to the development of the scientific field was assessed in the category "Media communications and journalism".
The Russian Professorial Assembly awarded the award "Professor of the Year — 2023" to the following professors at St Petersburg University:
- in the category "Political sciences": Olga Popova, Professor in the Department of Political Institutions and Applied Political Science
- in the category "Philosophical sciences": Igor Osipov, professor in the Department of History of Philosophy
- in the category "Chemical sciences": Vadim Kukushkin, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor in the Department of Physical Organic Chemistry
- in the category "Economic sciences": Viktor Ivanov, Professor in the Department of Credit Theory and Financial Management
The results of contests for the awards "Professor of the Year" and "Dean of the Year" of the Russian Professorial Assembly are another evidence of recognition of the outstanding merits of academic staff at St Petersburg University in the development of university education and science.
The meeting participants congratulated their colleagues on the well-deserved awards.
Victories of St Petersburg University lecturers in the contest "Golden names of higher school"
The results of the next contest "Golden names of higher school", organised by the interregional public organisation ‘League of higher school teachers’, created in 2015 on the platform of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, have been summed up. The competition is held for university academic staff with the support of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. Applications for participation in the contest are submitted by academic staff.
The winners are identified based on the following: achievements in educational, scientific, methodological, social activities, and social work; and a significant contribution to improving the quality of higher education, the scientific potential of Russian higher education organisations, to education, training and advanced training of personnel for the development of technology and science, sustainable development of the country, taking into account national interests. One of the main objectives of the contest is to collect, analyse, summarise and disseminate the best practices in educational, methodological, scientific work and experience in implementing social and communication projects in the field of higher education. The names of the laureates are included in the Book of Honour of University Teachers of the Russian Federation "Golden names of higher school".
In 2023, 1,750 lecturers representing universities from 79 regions of Russia took part in the contest "Golden names of higher school". The contest was held in ten categories. In six categories, 11 lecturers at St Petersburg University are laureates. Among them are the following:
- in the category ‘For contribution to science and higher education’: Alexey Tikhonov, Professor in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
- in the sub-category "For mentoring": Liudmila Kartsova, Professor in the Department of Organic Chemistry; Nikolay Kuznetsov, Head of the Department of Applied Cybernetics; Boris Mironov, Professor in the Department of Source Studies of Russian History
- in the sub-category "For project initiative": Ivan Pchelin, Associate Professor in the Department of Faculty Therapy
- in the category "Young scientific and pedagogical talents": Aleksandr Krylatov, Head of the Department of Mathematical Theory of Decision-Making in Economy
- in the category "For dedication to the profession and continuation of the traditions of Russian higher education": Sergei Sutyrin, Professor in the Department of World Economy
- in the category "For the development of international cooperation in the field of higher education": Evgeny Abakumov, Professor in the Department of Applied Ecology; Anastasia Penkova, Professor in the Department of Analytical Chemistry
- in the category "For the development of practice-oriented higher education": Maria Tsenzharik, Associate Professor in the Department of Department of Economics of Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- in the category "For the development of student scientific, competitive and olympiad movements": Natalia Naumova, Associate Professor in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
In terms of the number of winners, St Petersburg University took first place, confidently ahead of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics (six winners); Bauman Moscow State Technical University (six winners); and Ural Federal University (five winners). The results of the contest confirm that the high level of professional qualities of the academic staff at St Petersburg University enables the University academic staff to occupy leading positions among colleagues representing educational institutions of Russian higher education. The meeting participants congratulated their colleagues on the well-deserved awards.
Parliamentary hearings "State policy in the field of preservation, protection and development of the Russian language: status, problems and solutions"
On 14 November, parliamentary hearings on the topic ‘State policy in the field of preservation, protection and development of the Russian language: status, problems and solutions’ were held in Moscow. The hearings were chaired by Valentina Matvienko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council. The hearings were attended by: Petr Tolstoi, Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma; Sergey Kravtsov, Minister of Education of the Russian Federation; Natalia Narochnitskaia, a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation; Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University; rectors of leading universities in Russia and the CIS countries; teachers; and experts.
Opening the hearings, Valentina Matvienko emphasised the global importance of the Russian language and said that great literary works were written in Russian, outstanding scientific discoveries were made in the Russian language, and the first word spoken in the outer space was also Russian. She also touched upon the need for a thorough analysis of the implementation of all executive orders of the President of Russia on the topic of supporting the Russian language, language policy and management. She also recalled that 2023 in the CIS countries has been declared the Year of the Russian language as a language of interethnic communication. As part of this initiative, an extensive programme of events is being implemented in the CIS countries to support the Russian language and enhance its status.
Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, also spoke at the parliamentary hearings. He noted that the Federal Law ‘On the state language of the Russian Federation’ was adopted more than 18 years ago in 2005. It has already been amended several times, yet the law still has not yet begun to operate. The goals that were pursued when the law was adopted were never achieved in all areas. One of the goals was to protect the Russian language from a huge wave of foreign words in the public space and from obscene language; another goal was to clarify what the language norms are that citizens are obliged to observe when using the language as a state language.
To solve these problems, Nikolay Kropachev proposed effective measures.
The first measure. A dictionary of foreign words must be compiled, the use of which will not violate the requirements of the law. This will ensure that both citizens and law enforcers will understand which foreign words can be used and which cannot. Now, specialists at St Petersburg University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Institute of Linguistics at the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Presidential Council for the Russian Language, and the Ministry of Education are completing work on compiling the dictionary.
The second measure. There was the same uncertainty, as with foreign words, regarding what constituted obscene language. Specialists at St Petersburg University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, and academic institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences prepared a draft regulatory act to send it to the Presidential Russian Language Council and to the Government Committee on the Russian language. Only with the approval of the list at the official level, it will be clearly defined which roots cannot be used to form words and which words cannot be used as obscene in texts used in the areas of compulsory use of the state language of the Russian Federation.
The third measure. The main goal of adopting the law on the state language is to create conditions for general mutual understanding in our country, conditions for the understandability of the language, at least in those areas in which the use of the state language is mandatory. The main way to improve mutual understanding is to prepare and normatively consolidate a high-quality explanatory dictionary of the modern Russian literary language, which will be the ‘gold standard’ of language norms for the purposes of the state language. A uniform understanding of those words that are used in various regulations, in other official documents, in office work is a prerequisite for making the documents of the state language clearer and, no less important from a legal point of view, more specific.
Phone fraud
In June, a round table was held at St Petersburg University that focused on the measures to protect residents of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region from phone fraud. The discussion brought together Alexander Beglov, Governor of St Petersburg; Nikolay Kropachev, Chairperson of the Public Council under the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Sergei Markin, Chairperson of the Arbitration Court of the Northwestern Federal District; Aleksandra Volodkina, Chairperson of the Arbitration Court of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region; St Petersburg Prosecutor Viktor Melnik; Leningrad Region Prosecutor Sergei Zhukovskii; Oleg Bobkov, Acting Head of the Main Investigation Directorate of the Investigative Committee; Evgenii Negrozov, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region — Head of the Main Investigation Directorate; Natalia Kuznetsova, Deputy Chairperson of the St Petersburg City Court; Gennadii Lebedev, Deputy Chairperson of the 13th Arbitration Court of Appeal; Professor Alla Shaboltas, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at St Petersburg University; Marina Gorlacheva, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law at St Petersburg University; representatives of law enforcement agencies and courts of the city and the Leningrad Region; and experts from St Petersburg University. A number of proposals were put forward to combat fraudsters.
Ekaterina Dmitrikova, Associate Professor in the Department of Administrative and Financial Law, Head of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research on Control and Supervisory Activities at St Petersburg University, recalled the round table held in June 2023 and said that lawyers and psychologists at St Petersburg University continue to work in this direction. As a result, changes have been made to the legislation to simplify the return of money to victims. She gave an example of a specific case when the court decided the case in favour of the victim. The University, which took the initiative in organising a solution to the complex issue at the regional level, is ready to continue this activity and improve the qualifications of judges.
Organisation of the teaching and learning process
Over the past week, 25 enquiries were addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. The majority of enquiries relate to transfer to St Petersburg University and preparation of various documents. An analysis of the information on the organisation of the teaching and learning process provided by the heads of academic and research subdivisions has been carried out. Classes are held according to the timetable. Issues that arise are being resolved in due order. As of 25 November, the information was not sent by Anna Germer, Director of the Medical College.
Over the past week, meetings were held with student activists: group heads, and representatives of student councils and student scientific societies to name just a few. They discussed issues with organising the teaching and learning process. The meetings were held at: the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication; the Institute of Philosophy; the Faculty of Biology; the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty; the School of International Relations; the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes; the Faculty of Psychology; the Faculty of Sociology; the Faculty of Physics; the Faculty of Philology; and the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology.
Results of the survey of students about satisfaction with the learning conditions of academic programmes
The Centre for Monitoring the Quality of Education at St Petersburg University conducted the annual survey of students on satisfaction with the learning conditions of academic programmes in the 2022/2023 academic year. Data was collected using offline questionnaires from April to June.
According to Mariia Soloveva, Acting Vice-Rector for Teaching Methods at St Petersburg University, the majority of respondents (bachelor’s and master’s students) at the time of participation in the study were studying full-time (a third were master’s students), on a government-funded basis, they had good and excellent academic performance.
The results of the study demonstrate a high level of satisfaction of students with the implementation of the teaching and learning process in the 2022/2023 academic year. The majority of students are satisfied with the aspects and components of the teaching and learning process: working with a supervisor when preparing a term project, a graduation project or a dissertation, seminars, practical and lecture classes in academic disciplines, and conducting an interim assessment (an examination period). In terms of assessing the learning conditions, the majority of students are satisfied with communication with classmates and lecturers, conditions of the buildings at St Petersburg University (including the cleanliness of buildings, accessibility of toilets), and classroom equipment and facilities.
The activity of students in participating in various academic events in the 2022/23 academic year can be assessed as high. Many respondents attended public lectures, forums, career days and took part in research activities: participating in research supported by grants, preparing scholarly articles, and presenting results at conferences.
The majority of students completed the 2022/2023 academic year with a positive mood. They highly rated the quality of completion of academic assignments, their interest in the profession and attendance of classes. Every second student expressed gratitude to the University for success in implementing academic programmes in the 2022/2023 academic year.
Students demonstrate a high level of loyalty to St Petersburg University. This is evidenced by high interest in learning, pride in studying at St Petersburg University and reluctance to change the place of study.
Students highly appreciated the internship in the 2022/2023 academic year. The highest rankings were given to pedagogical/teaching practice, research work/research internship and pre-graduation practice.
Bachelor’s and master’s students were satisfied with the use of information services. In particular, high marks were given to the email service, the St Petersburg University electronic timetable service and the Unified Payment Service.
Senior students highly rate their own readiness to work in the area of the academic programme: the majority of senior students highly rate their own level of theoretical knowledge and practical skills after having studied at St Petersburg University. The majority believed that the skills acquired at the University were sufficient to work in the area of the academic programmes for which they were prepared. The also highly assessed the compliance of their studies with the requirements of the labour market.
At the University, monitoring of the quality of implementation of academic programmes is carried out constantly and represents a system of research. This information is necessary for the heads of the University’s subdivisions to make managerial decisions.
St Petersburg University is the leader in the number of applications for participation in the Olympiad "I am a Professional"
St Petersburg University is an absolute leader among all Russia’s universities in terms of the number of students registered in the areas "Geography" and "Linguistics and literary studies" of the Olympiad "I am a Professional". The University took first place among St Petersburg’s universities in terms of the number of applications received in two other areas: "Law" and "History and culture of Russia".
According to Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions at St Petersburg University, St Petersburg University has become the organiser of four areas of the All-Russian Student Olympiad "I am a Professional" for the third year. Two of them, i.e. "Geography" and "Law", are held for several years in a row. In the current seventh season of the Olympiad, the University is also an organiser of two new directions: "History and culture of Russia" and "Linguistics and literary studies".
More than 72,600 applications were submitted to participate in the contest in the areas of the Olympiad held by the University. As a result, St Petersburg University took second place among Russia’s universities. Two new areas of the Olympiad, organised by St Petersburg University, became the most popular among the areas included in the Olympiad for the first time. About 20,000 applications were submitted for each of them.
The qualifying round of the All-Russian Student Olympiad "I am a Professional" started on 17 November and will be held online until 3 December. At the end of the year, the results of this round will be announced. The students who have scored the required number of points will become participants in the final round of the contest. The final programme will include tasks to test the professional competencies of the participants.
In May 2024, the organisers will sum up the results and identify the winners of the Olympiad. Bachelor’s students, master’s students, students in specialist’s programmes, and students receiving basic and specialised higher education can take part in the educational project. According to the results of the sixth season of the Olympiad "I am a Professional", St Petersburg University took second place in terms of the number of diploma recipients (253 out of more than 25,000 students). "I am a Professional" is one of the flagship projects of the presidential platform ‘Russia is a land of opportunities’, which is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
International activities
The following events were recently held at St Petersburg University.
St Petersburg University awarded the Vietnamese Friendship Order
The University was awarded the Friendship Order of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at a ceremony that included the presentation of the first annotated translation of one of the most important sources on military strategy by Vietnam’s first president.
The Friendship Order is Vietnam’s highest honour conferred to foreign citizens and organisations. It was awarded for the work of the Ho Chi Minh Institute, which opened at St Petersburg University on 19 May 2010 and is the only research centre of its kind outside Vietnam. Over the years, it has become an advanced academic and research centre for the study of Vietnam’s history and culture, as well as the ideology of its prominent political leader and cultural figure, Ho Chi Minh.
On behalf of the Vietnamese government and people, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Dang Minh Khoi thanked St Petersburg University for its great contribution to promoting the Vietnamese language in Russia, strengthening and developing friendly relations and the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia.
St Petersburg University at the International BRICS Forum
The 5th International Municipal BRICS+ Forum has been held in St Petersburg. The Forum was attended by over 7,000 experts, business representatives and policy-makers from 56 countries across the globe. At the panel sessions and roundtable discussions, St Petersburg University academics shared their experience in improving students’ financial literacy, made presentations and spoke about the University’s digital transformation.
St Petersburg University researchers are taking part in round tables and meetings at the 5th International Municipal BRICS+ Forum. They express expert opinions on a wide range of topics: from interaction between countries in the Arctic to the trends in corporate philanthropy.
The conference of the international discussion platform "Baltic Platform"
The conference "The Greater Baltic region: historical and cultural heritage, ethnocultural and educational specifics" of the international discussion platform "Baltic Platform" has been held in St Petersburg University. It is part of the 11th Baltic Forum of Compatriots.
The main topic of the event was the cultural aspects of cooperation between countries in the Baltic Sea region; the preservation of the intangible cultural heritage of small peoples and nations; ethnocultural issues; the best Russian practices and mechanisms to support the development of the national culture of Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, and other peoples living in the Baltic-Scandinavian region; and projects of continuing education in the Russian language for Russian-speaking citizens living in the foreign countries.
St Petersburg University’s Representative Office opened in Thailand
St Petersburg University has opened its Representative Office at Walailak University (the Kingdom of Thailand). The grand ceremony, which was held in a hybrid format, was attended by: Nikolay Kropachevby, Rector of St Petersburg University and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; and Professor Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, President of Walailak University.
As part of international cooperation, St Petersburg University has been implementing the programme of representative offices of the University for many years. At present, the University has representative offices in Korea, the People’s Republic of China, Spain, Greece, Italy, Iran, Moldova, and the Republic of Belarus. St Petersburg University is also the first Russian university to have recently opened its own representative office in the Navoi Free Economic Zone (the Republic of Uzbekistan). The new Representative Office of St Petersburg University in the Kingdom of Thailand will host joint research and educational projects, conferences, seminars, public lectures by renowned Russian scholars and public figures, and events aimed at promoting the Russian language, history and culture.
Visit to St Petersburg University of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, has met with Dauren Abaev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation. During the visit, aimed at strengthening cultural and educational cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, the diplomat also delivered an open lecture to students on the relationship between Russia and Kazakhstan.
Representatives of both sides expressed interest in developing academic exchange and cultural cooperation. They also discussed the need to start to teach the Kazakh language at St Petersburg University. Dauren Abaev declared his readiness to support the initiative of the Rector of St Petersburg University and added that this decision would be one of the important steps towards strengthening friendly relations and a network of partnerships between students and scientific communities of Russia and Kazakhstan ("Russian language is our strength": St Petersburg University expands cooperation with Kazakhstan).
Events of the Korea-Russia Dialogue Forum
On 10 November, a strategic conference of the working groups on "Politics and International Relations" and "Economy, Trade and Resources" of the Korea-Russia Dialogue Forum was held in an online format. The conference focused on the relations between the two countries in the present context. The event consisted of three sessions that covered issues of trade interaction, regional security, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region to name just a few. The participants were addressed with welcoming remarks by: Andrey Kulik, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Korea; Lee Kyu Hyung, Chair of the KRD Coordinating Committee on the Korean side; and Elena Chernova, Senior Vice-Rector of St Petersburg University.
On 23 November, the 8th seminar for experts in youth policy was held in an online format. The issues discussed during the event related to young people building a career and measures to support young people at the start of their career. The moderators of the meeting were Vladimir Filippov, Head of the Youth Dialogue working group from the Russian side, the President of the Patrice Lumumba People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), and Jin-won Lee, secretary of the Youth Dialogue working group from the Korean side, Director of the Korea Youth Work Agency (Measures to support school and university graduates discussed at the seminar on the youth policy at the Korea — Russia Dialogue Forum).
On 24 November, the 10th Forum of Rectors of Leading Universities of Russia and the Republic of Korea was also held online. The first session of the forum was devoted to the issues of interaction between educational institutions and business in order to train professional staff. At the second session, the participants shared their experience of uniting universities. The event was attended by representatives of 22 universities of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea.
Work of the Centre for Open Education and Russian Language Studies of St Petersburg University in the Republic of Tanzania
The Centre for Open Education and Russian Language Studies, opened in 2023 by St Petersburg University in Dar es Salaam (the Republic of Tanzania) with a grant from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, continues its work. The centre regularly holds meetings of Russian language speaking clubs for applicants. Specialists from St Petersburg University regularly conduct workshops and professional development courses for Tanzanian teachers, and intensive Russian language courses for Tanzanian young people. At the moment, another group has been launched to teach Russian to foreigners from scratch (St Petersburg University successfully popularises the Russian language in Tanzania).
Events at the St Petersburg University Representative Offices
On 14 November, the St Petersburg University Representative Office in the Republic of Korea hosted the University’s Open Door Day. During the presentation, Korean students were provided with information about the University, the procedure for admission to St Petersburg University, and the opportunity for applicants to participate in various events.
On 14 November, the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain hosted an online lecture on the development of research behaviour at school age. It was delivered by Leonid Iliushin, Professor in the Department of Pedagogy at St Petersburg University. On 23 November, there was an online lecture on the Gothic fantasies of Nicholas Benois. It was delivered by Evgeniia Petrashen, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design at the University.
Third season of lectures on the history of Russia in the Hellenic Republic
St Petersburg University, in cooperation with Russian Word, the largest Russian language and culture centre in Northern Greece, has launched a free course of lectures on the history of Russia for residents of Greece. The course was developed as part of the Russia-Greece Cross Year of History and launched in autumn 2021. This year, over 150 students will study the history of Russia.
‘In the previous two years, students were introduced to the history of the formation of the Old Russian state, the connection between Byzantium and Russia, and the role of the Russian Empire in the emergence of the New Greek state. The continuation of the programme provides an insight into the international relations of Russia in the 20th century and the USSR.
Contract for testing in Russian as a Foreign Language between St Petersburg University and the Russian Cultural and Educational Centre "Phoenix"
A contract for testing in Russian as a foreign language has been signed between St Petersburg University and the Russian Cultural and Educational Centre ‘Phoenix’ (the Italian Republic). The text of the agreement can be found on the St Petersburg University portal in the list of Partner Universities in the International Cooperation section.
Contract for testing in Russian as a Foreign Language between St Petersburg University and Jiangsu IU Education High Technology Company
A contract for testing in Russian as a foreign language has been signed between St Petersburg University and Jiangsu IU Education High Technology Company (the People’s Republic of China). The text of the agreement can be found on the St Petersburg University portal in the list of Partner Universities in the International
Cooperation section. Cooperation agreement between St Petersburg University and the University of Letters and Human Sciences of Bamako
A cooperation agreement has been signed between St Petersburg University and the University of Letters and Human Sciences of Bamako (the Republic of Mali). The text of the agreement can be found on the St Petersburg University portal in the list of Partner Universities in the International Cooperation section.
The mentoring programme at St Petersburg University
Mentoring is a programme to support motivated students and young graduates in building a career. Under the guidance of a mentor, programme participants will create an individual career plan and will be able to learn new skills. The project’s mentors are University graduates and experts from major Russian companies.
According to Mariia Edinova, Deputy Head of the Alumni Office, third- and fourth-year bachelor’s and master’s students and graduates of St Petersburg University who are starting their career path can take part in the mentoring programme. A mentee, i.e. a student or a recent graduate of St Petersburg University, will have three or more meetings with an experienced mentor and will maintain contact with him/her for two months. Based on the results of working with the mentor, the mentees will prepare a career plan and will have the opportunity to present it at the final meeting.
A mentoring programme between St Petersburg University and Nexign, i.e. a partner track, was recently launched. The programme was developed to support motivated students in building a career in the IT industry. Under the guidance of a Nexign mentor, programme participants will create a personalised career plan and learn new skills.
The project mentors are senior developers, testers, analysts and team leads of one of the largest IT companies in Russia. Project participants will have access to educational materials from St Petersburg University and Nexign to improve soft and hard skills. This year’s programme is coming to an end. On 15 December, the defence of career plans will take place, summing up the results at St Petersburg University.
Senior bachelor’s and master’s students studying in the academic programmes in the field of physical and mathematical, computer, information sciences or economics, and graduates of St Petersburg University who wish to become participants in this programme, will be able to do this in 2024. Registration for the new stream will begin at the end of January.
Liability of persons distributing materials of foreign agents without markings
Elena Chernova, Senior Vice-Rector at St Petersburg University, drew the attention of the meeting participants that soon, in accordance with current legislation, fines of up to 500,000 roubles would be applied to persons distributing materials of foreign agents without markings (for publishing materials of foreign agents in the media without indicating their status), as reported by Deputy Minister of Justice Oleg Sviridenko. First, those who distribute the materials will be issued a warning, and then, if the media does not respond, they will be fined.
Exercises on anti-terrorist protection of St Petersburg University’s facilities
On 22 November, on the territory of the Peterhof Training and Research Complex, exercises were held to develop practical skills and coordinated actions in the event of a terrorist threat. The events were organised as part of the implementation of the plan for tactical and special training and tactical and special exercises of the territorial bodies of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region for 2023. The training took place in accordance with the recommendations of the St Petersburg Committee on Science and Higher Education on strengthening comprehensive security measures for educational organisations.
During the exercise, joint actions of representatives of law enforcement agencies and employees of St Petersburg University were practiced when a mock intruder entered a University facility, discovered an explosive device, and took hostages.
Contest to create a design of a postage stamp for the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University
Until 30 November, open online voting continues for the audience award in the All-Russian student contest to create a design of an original postage stamp for the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University.
From February to October 2023, St Petersburg University and JSC Marka held a creative contest among students of art educational organisations to create a state postage stamp dedicated to the history of the oldest university in Russia. During this time, more than 100 applications were received from young artists and designers from all over the country.
The winner of the contest, chosen by an expert jury, will be awarded a prize, and a new postage stamp will be issued based on the winning design for the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University. The presentation and solemn ceremony will be held in February 2024.
Cultural events at St Petersburg University during December
Elena Lebedkina, Head of the Main Department for Exhibitions, Museum, Library and Publishing Activities at St Petersburg University, presented a digest of cultural events at the University in December.
Opening of the exhibition "Genealogy of Little Red Riding Hood"
On 1 December, the exhibition "Genealogy of Little Red Riding Hood" opens at the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University. It is a continuation of the 2021 project "Abandoned" that is already familiar to museum visitors.
Presentation of St Petersburg University’s publication "Nabokov’s House"
On 2 December, the St Petersburg University Publishing House presents the St Petersburg University’s publication ‘Nabokov’s House’ at the international fair of intellectual literature NON/FICTIO No 25. The book is not just a history of the building. This is the history of the area of Morskaya Streets, the Admiralty part, and the old city. The presentation will focus on who owned the mansion on 47 Bolshaya Morskaya before the Nabokov family, how the appearance of the building changed, and what features of the writer’s home we can find in the works by Vladimir Nabokov.
Online exhibition ‘Mikhail Artamonov — "Honesty and courage": on the 125th anniversary of Mikhail Artamonov’
On 5 December, the St Petersburg University History Museum opens the online exhibition ‘Mikhail Artamonov — "Honesty and courage": on the 125th anniversary of Mikhail Artamonov’. He was a graduate, Professor, Acting Rector of Leningrad State University in 1950, and Director of the State Hermitage Museum. He conducted a study of monuments of the Bronze and Iron Ages in the Don region, North Caucasus, the Ukraine; developed problems of the history of the Scythians, Khazars and early Slavs; created the world’s first systematic overview of the history of the Khazar Khaganate based on archaeological and written sources, laying the foundation for Soviet Khazar studies; led the Volga-Don expedition (1949–1951), heading the Department of Archaeology at Leningrad State University; and contributed to the formation of the Leningrad school of archaeology.
Online exhibition of the mineral collection of Professor Ernst Reinhold von Hofmann
On 7 December, the Mineralogical Museum at St Petersburg University opens an online exhibition of the collection of minerals of Professor Ernst Reinhold von Hofmann, who in 1845–1863 headed the Department of Mineralogy and Geognosy at St Petersburg Imperial University.
Open lecture and presentation of the monograph "Notch signalling pathway in the cardiovascular system"
On 8 December, the St Petersburg University Publishing House will host an open lecture and presentation of the monograph by Aleksandra Kostina, Anna Malashicheva and Kseniia Perepelina "Notch signalling pathway in the cardiovascular system". The publication contains the results of the authors’ research and will be of interest to specialists involved in translational medicine, cell biology, and pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
Interactive lecture "Russian dinosaurs"
On 8 December, the Palaeontology Museum at St Petersburg University holds a popular science interactive lecture "Russian dinosaurs". It will be held in the social rehabilitation department for disabled people of working age at the St Petersburg State Budgetary Institution "Centre for social rehabilitation of disabled people and children with disabilities of the Vyborgsky District".
Book exhibition "The collection and its presenters"
On 11 December, a series of exhibitions "To mark the anniversary of the book collection of the Scientific Library at St Petersburg University" will open in the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University. The exhibition "The collection and its presenters" begins the anniversary programme.
Exhibition "Fyodor Tyutchev: the poet’s powers elemental"
On 12 December, the exhibition "Fyodor Tyutchev: the poet’s powers elemental" will open in the M. Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University.
Children’s drawing contest "Me and my ancient pet"
On 15 December, the children’s drawing contest "Me and my ancient pet" starts at the Palaeontology Museum at St Petersburg University.
Online exhibition "A city grew in the Arctic. To the 120th anniversary of Konstantin Koshits"
On 15 December, the online exhibition "A city grew in the Arctic. To the 120th anniversary of Konstantin Koshits" will open at the Petrography Museum at St Petersburg University. The exhibition focuses on the life and work of the Soviet geologist Konstantin Koshits, a graduate and lecturer at Leningrad State University and a discoverer of the Kovdor iron ore deposit.
Open lecture "Instead of a novel. Essays by Jorge Luis Borges"
On 20 December, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University holds the open lecture ‘Instead of a novel. Essays by Jorge Luis Borges’. It will be delivered by: Boris Kovalev, a translator, a Spanish philologist, and a graduate of St Petersburg University; and Kirill Korkonosenko, a translator at the Institute of Russian Literature (the Pushkinskij Dom) at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Exhibition "St Petersburg University artists. To the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University"
On 21 December, the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art opens the exhibition "St Petersburg University artists. To the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University". The exhibition will feature works of various genres and techniques from the museum collection of St Petersburg University and private collections of 34 authors. Among them are the following: Alexandre Benois, Ivan Bilibin, Vsevolod Voinov, Georgy Vereisky, Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, Nicholas Roerich, Andrei Khlobystin, and Evgeniia Evenbakh to name just a few.
Exhibition "Through the pages of pre-revolutionary magazines. How New Year and Christmas were celebrated at the beginning of the 20th century"
On 22 December, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University holds a traditional exhibition "Through the pages of pre-revolutionary magazines. How New Year and Christmas were celebrated at the beginning of the 20th century".
Online exhibition "Vladimir Fock: 125th anniversary"
On 22 December, the Museum of History of Physics and Mathematics at St Petersburg University opens an online exhibition "Vladimir Fock: 125th anniversary". The exhibition focuses on the famous theoretical physicist and Professor at Leningrad State University.
Exhibition "Primal memory" at the Vladimir Nabokov Museum
On 22 December, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum opens the exhibition "Primal memory". It was organised jointly with the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art at St Petersburg University. The exhibition’s display refers to the tradition of the Nabokov family to decorate the New Year tree in the dining room.
Opening of the exhibition "Christmas at Nabokov’s"
On 23 December, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum opens the exhibition "Christmas at Nabokov’s", where the St Petersburg artist Mariia Gadalova will create the atmosphere of Christmas during the writer’s childhood in the small dining room of Vladimir Nabokov’s house.
Online exhibition "Awards of Dmitri Mendeleev" (continued)
On 27 December, the Dmitri Mendeleev Museum and Archives at St Petersburg University opens the online exhibition "Awards of Dmitri Mendeleev" (continued).