10 October 2022 Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

№ 546
dated 10.10.2022

    St Petersburg Historical Forum 2022

    From 10 to 16 October, St Petersburg University hosted the 2nd International St Petersburg Historical Forum. Over 1,000 scholars in the field of history from 25 countries participated in the forum. The forum was co-organised by: St Petersburg University; the State Hermitage Museum; the St Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences; and Lomonosov Moscow State University. The partners of the event were: the Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences; the Presidential Library; and the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia.

    The forum’s mission is to bring together historians from Russia and throughout the world in an academic event, providing them with a platform for discussion and the presentation of research findings on the most topical contemporary issues in historical science. The 1st International St Petersburg Historical Forum, held in 2019, focused on the role of the individual in history. This year, its main theme is ‘Dialogue and Interaction of Cultures in the Post-Soviet Space’. It makes it possible to bring together multiple views of historians and allows for a broader perspective on the historical past of neighbouring countries and the history of humanity.

    On the opening day, the participants were welcomed by: Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Academician Valery Tishkov, Scientific Director of the Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Mikhail Piotrovsky, Chairman of the Council of the St Petersburg Branch of the Russian Historical Society, Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies at St Petersburg University, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Director of the State Hermitage; Abdulla Daudov, Chairman of the Forum Programme Committee, Director of the Institute of History at St Petersburg University; Aleksei Sirenov, Director of the St Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; and Lev Belousov, Acting Dean of the Faculty of History at Lomonosov Moscow State University (St Petersburg University hosts the 2nd International St Petersburg Historical Forum).

    The scientific programme of the forum consisted of 20 sections, including: archaeological research in the post-Soviet space; archives; museums; interdisciplinary research and new methods for cognition of history; anthropological and ethnographic research; the history of art; centre and regions: the system of relationships from the Middle Ages to Modern times; and teaching history at school. Separate panels included: "St Petersburg — the capital of a multinational empire"; "The Siege of Leningrad as a site of historical memory in the National History"; and the round table "How to study and teach the history of the post-Soviet space?". On 14 to 15 October, the youth scientific conference "Visual Arts and New Forms of Their Museum and Curatorial Representation in the Post-Soviet Space" was also held as part of the forum (The 2nd International St Petersburg Historical Forum "Dialogue and Interaction of Cultures in the Post-Soviet Space").

    As part of the forum, a presentation of the book dedicated to the 350th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Peter the Great was held in the reading room of the M Gorky Scientific Library of St Petersburg University. The two-volume edition ‘Peterhof that remembers Peter the Great’ was prepared by a team of authors under the guidance of Elena Kalnitskaya, Head of the Peterhof State Museum-Reserve, Head of the Assembly of Museums of Peter the Great in Russia (A unique edition ‘Peterhof that remembers Peter the Great presented at St Petersburg University).

    Another highlight was the presentation of the book "New Martyr Yuri Novitsky: In Service to the Law and to the Truth". It is a unique illustrated album designed to perpetuate the memory of St Petersburg University professor, and legal advisor to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, who was executed by firing squad in 1922 for resisting the seizure of church valuables and later canonised. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ prepared an address especially for the readers of this book. It is published on the front pages of the edition (New Martyr Yuri Novitsky: In Service to the Law and to the Truth).

    The participants in the Rector’s meeting noted that on the opening day of the forum there had been not many students among the participants in the forum events. Professor Abdulla Daudov, Director of the Institute of History, explained this fact by the lack of coordination between the conference organisers and the Academic Affairs Department for History. The Rector instructed Vice Rectors Marina Lavrikova and Elena Chernova to look into this and to ensure that in future students would have the opportunity to participate in such research and teaching activities of the University during their classes.

    The 2nd Strategic Session "Federal State Educational Standard 3++. Degree programmes for training teaching staff"

    On 1 October, the 2nd Strategic Session ‘Federal State Educational Standard 3++. Degree programmes for training teaching staff’ was held within the framework of the 4th All-Russian Academic Forum with International Participation "The Mission of University Teacher Education in the 21st Century".

    The event addressed the issues of: improving the quality of implementation of degree programmes for training teaching staff; developing master’s programmes for training research and teaching staff; and continuity in training research and teaching staff. The strategy session was attended by more than 100 people from 124 universities. The session was moderated by Professor Elena Kazakova, Doctor of Pedagogy, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy at St Petersburg University, Academic Director of the Centre for Development of Teacher Education of the Russian Academy of Education, and Chair of the Federal Educational and Methodological Association in Higher Education for consolidated group of areas of specialisation and main fields of study 44.00.00 "Education and Pedagogy".

    Here are the key points of Professor Kazakova’s presentation.

    • Recently, there has been a shortage of teaching staff in the education system. The deficit in quantity is due to demographic reasons. The deficit in quality is due to a great difference in the level of training of graduates from different higher education institutions
    • Joint projects with employers are important to retain young teachers in the profession
    • The quality of teacher training can be improved by involving in the training of teaching staff: regional government agencies in the spheres of education, labour and employment; as well as non-governmental organisations
    • The teacher, the educator, is a key figure in ensuring the quality of general education 
    • It is necessary to develop in school students an understanding of a human-centred professional activity. Pupils should have opportunities to develop the skills of the 21st century and to gain experience in psychological teaching and social teaching activities
    • Particular attention should be given to the issue of the status of the subjects "Russian" and "Literature" in the curricula of academic programmes

    St Petersburg University, like other universities, is preparing proposals to be included in the federal concept for training teachers for the education system for the period until 2030, adopted in June 2022. The staff of the Institute of Pedagogy at St Petersburg University have identified a number of activities to implement this concept. The Rector instructed the directors and deans to send suggestions to Elena Kazakova to be included in this document.

    The meeting also discussed the issue of the transition to five-year teacher education, which is repeatedly raised by representatives of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. Professor Elena Kazakova explained that in such a case all teacher training colleges, which train teachers for two years, and all master’s programmes would have to be closed. It is important to consider the opinion not only of the heads of the 34 universities that operate under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, but also that of other, several hundred higher education institutions as they might have a different point of view.

    The Rector pointed out that some graduates of our University also go to work in schools. Thus, if the decision is made to train teachers for five years, bachelors of St Petersburg University who have studied for four years will not be allowed to teach schoolchildren. However, life shows that they are not worse prepared than graduates of teacher training universities that are considered to train the best school teachers. The Rector said that it is necessary to formulate the University’s position in the staffs of its institutes and faculties on the issue of the unreasonableness of increasing the period of study in teacher training institutions to five years.

    Praesidium meeting of the Presidential Council for Science and Education

    Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, held a Praesidium meeting of the Presidential Council for Science and Education. It was attended by Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The first item on the agenda was the improvement of the system of vocational education and training levels in Russia.

    The participants discussed what changes the current educational system in Russia needs in order to respond properly to today’s challenges. Starting from the solution of specific problems, the meeting participants worked out the general principles on which the entire system of higher education will be based. It was stressed that the three-level system of higher education in Russia takes into account various international experiences. There are still a lot of international students in Russia, and cooperation with other countries in education and science continues. It is noted that any changes to the higher education system need to be introduced taking into account the experience already gained.

    For example, there was some discussion as to whether it is possible to enter a master’s programme in a different field than the one studied to obtain a bachelor’s degree. There is a simple and convincing argument: if a student has passed the entrance examinations fairly, then he/she can study in the chosen academic programme. If the teaching and learning process in a master’s programme is organised fairly, the student will receive the grades that he or she deserves. Consequently, if they deserve to be suspended, they will be suspended anyway. We should conduct admissions honestly and assess learning outcomes honestly, but we should not prohibit the very possibility of applying and being enrolled. At the meeting, several heads of large organisations shared their own experience that after their first degree they had been enrolled in another university that was not in their major and had successfully completed their studies there. Similar examples were given by the participants in the Rector’s meeting.

    The issue of a mass transition to five-year specialist’s programmes (instead of four-year bachelor’s programmes) did not find strong support either. Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, noted that the discussion on the improvement of higher education should shift the focus from the topic of the duration of training to the topic of its quality. He mentioned as an example graduates of St Petersburg University and other leading universities, who are in high demand among employers even after four years of study (the head of Rosatom State Corporation, for example, confirmed this at the meeting). However, graduates from less reputable and successful universities can often be unemployed even after six years of study. Additionally, those who propose extending the duration of training at higher education institutions did not say anything at the council meeting about the duration of secondary special education or about the possibility of credit transfer for periods of study at a secondary special education school. However, these issues are closely related and not only in school teacher training programmes. Also, specific changes for doctoral programmes were not proposed and were not justified. However, they must inevitably arise if there are changes in the duration of master’s programmes.

    The Rector instructed the University staff, heads of departments and members of the Federal Educational and Methodological Association to discuss the proposals of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Ministry of Education in the teams of the institutes and faculties.

    Visit to St Petersburg University of Metropolitan Varsonofy of St Petersburg and Ladoga

    On 4 October, Metropolitan Varsonofy of St Petersburg and Ladoga and Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev signed a supplementary agreement to the cooperation agreement concluded between the St Petersburg diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and the University in 2020.

    According to Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova, the supplementary agreement provides for: joint activities of the St Petersburg diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and St Petersburg University; participation of representatives of the diocese in the work of the Council of the academic programme in Theology and the teaching methodology committee in Theology; participation of the University professors in work of field-specific diocesan bodies, educational and other organisations of the diocese as experts and lecturers; and other areas of cooperation.

    During the visit, Metropolitan Varsonofy of St Petersburg and Ladoga presented a gift of an icon of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian to the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul of St Petersburg University. He also awarded Rector Kropachev in recognition for his services to St Petersburg Metropolia. Metropolitan Varsonofy decorated Nikolay Kropachev with a commemorative sign in honour of the 100th anniversary of the death of the hieromartyr Benjamin, Metropolitan of Petrograd and Gdov.

    St Petersburg University receives the right to host the "I am a Professional" Olympiad

    St Petersburg University has received high marks from the expert jury in the 6th season of the All-Russian Student Olympiad "I am a Professional" and has become the organising university of the Olympiad in four areas. According to Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, in the 2022/2023 academic year, about 100 applications were submitted from universities claiming the right to host the Olympiad. Among the criteria assessed were: the experience in holding intellectual contests for students; the quality of tasks and methodological materials; the ability of universities to provide information support for the federal project; the facilities and resources; and the personnel potential of the organisers.

    This year, the University will hold the Olympiad in four areas: Geography, Linguistics, Philology, and Law. Bachelor’s, specialist’s and master’s students from Russian universities are eligible to take part. The aim of the project is to support talented students in different fields, enabling them to continue their studies at the country’s leading university or to start a professional career, as diploma holders can also do internships at one of the leading companies that are Olympiad’s partners. Registration is open and will continue until 15 November.

    Аleksandr Babich noted that last year the University held the Olympiad in the same four areas, before that in three areas (Geography was added in 2021).

    A special thing of this year’s Olympiad is that St Petersburg University will also hold an Educational Socio-Humanitarian Forum (one of 14 forums in the country), where participants will immerse themselves in real practice: they will learn the subtleties of the profession, acquire the necessary knowledge and skills, and test themselves in business games and case-solving championships. The Forum is unique in that it provides the interactive format of the sessions, which are delivered by St Petersburg University academic staff and representatives of leading employers. A key partner of the forum is the St Petersburg University Endowment Fund, which provides co-financing for educational events held as part of the ‘I am a Professional Olympiad’ (St Petersburg University receives the right to host the "I am a Professional" Olympiad).

    St Petersburg University starts training theatre managers in partnership with the Alexandrinsky Theatre

    Makhachkala hosts the first teaching and learning space of the educational project "The National Theatre School" where the project participants will be trained according to the programme ‘Fundamentals of Management in the Contemporary National Theatre’ developed at St Petersburg University. Anastasia Yarmosh, Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and Partnership of St Petersburg University, reported that this project is an initiative of the National Drama Theatre of Russia (Alexandrinsky Theatre) and the Association of National Theatres of the Russian Federation. Leading experts in the field of stage and production management from St Petersburg University and the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts acted as teachers at the three-day intensive training event.

    The National Theatre School will tackle the problem of a shortage of qualified theatre managers. In 2022-2023, the school will be held in seven more regions of the country. The participants in the first project event were 45 cultural and art workers of the Republic of Dagestan aged 18 to 35. Students who have passed the final assessment will receive state-recognised diplomas of advanced training from St Petersburg University on the programme "Fundamentals of Management in the Contemporary National Theatre" (St Petersburg University trains theatre managers in partnership with the Alexandrinsky Theatre). The next teaching and learning space of the educational project, in Kazan, is already being prepared. It will be attended by more than 50 people.

    The Rector noted that similar events could be held in other areas, by establishing cooperation between a strong partner and St Petersburg University, as the University brings together experts in the widest range of competencies. Attention should be paid to national museums and national libraries.

    Organisation of the teaching and learning process

    Over the past week, the Virtual Reception received 16 enquiries addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. Three of them were about the military obligations of St Petersburg University students. Additionally, 21 enquiries were registered in the student enquiry register. The majority of enquiries relate to transfer and reinstatement issues, and the provision of training sessions using information and telecommunication technologies. The enquiries are being resolved in due order.

    The heads of academic and research subdivisions continue to hold meetings 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. Over the past week, meetings were held with the heads of: the Institute of Philosophy; the Faculty of Biology; the Faculty of Foreign Languages (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication); the Faculty of Arts; 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; the Faculty of Law; and the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication).

    International Scientific Conference "Emerging Markets 2022"

    From 5 to 8 October, the international research conference "Emerging Markets 2022" was held at St Petersburg University. The event included nine main tracks: Business in Society; Business Strategy in Emerging Markets: Firm and Government Perspective; Doctoral Colloquium "Advanced Research in Management"; Managing Human Resources and Talents in Turbulent Times; Marketing in the Era of Turbulence; Operations Management and Business Informatics; Public Sector Issues; Re-thinking Entrepreneurship in Times of Uncertainty; and Strategic Finance. Among the conference attendees were more than 100 participants from leading universities in Russia and abroad: Australia, Great Britain, Israel, China, Mexico, Belarus, and Germany.

    Researchers demonstrated the results of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) project in Russia. Based on the research findings, the participants were able to answer the questions: "Will the trend of the last decade to increase the number of entrepreneurial firms continue?"; "How is entrepreneurial behaviour currently changing?"; "Introducing socially oriented practices: a fashion statement or strategic entrepreneurial behaviour?"; and "Can entrepreneurship education help overcome today’s challenges?".

    Additionally, the conference included a round table on "Mathematical Models and Methods in Management − History and the State-of-Art: to the 110th Anniversary of Leonid Kantorovich Birthday". A study on latent oscillations was presented at the round table. It was conducted by members of the Graduate School of Management (GSOM) teams and mathematicians from St Petersburg University.

    Yuriy Fedotov, Executive Director of the Graduate School of Management, noted that only two speakers from academic staff of other teams at St Petersburg University (the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty and the Faculty of Economics) took part in the conference. However, only eight students and two doctoral students who are affiliated only with the Graduate School of Management were present from the student body. The organisers would like to ensure an interdisciplinary approach to research. Yuriy Fedotov therefore invited representatives of other teams to participate in the next GSOM conference. In order to ensure greater involvement of students and teachers from other teams, the Rector instructed the directors and deans to always include the heads of various academic and research subdivisions in the programme committees of such interdisciplinary research conferences in future.

    The 14th Conference and School "Problems of Geocosmos 2022"

    From 3 to 7 October, the 14th International Conference and School "Problems of Geocosmos 2022" organised by St Petersburg University was held in Peterhof at the V.A. Fock Institute of Physics, St Petersburg University.

    The Conference and School "Problems of Geocosmos" with a focus on solar-terrestrial physics was first held at St Petersburg University in 1996. This year’s participants included scientists from: Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands); Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Great Britain); the World Radiation Centre (Switzerland); Harbin Institute of Technology (China); and advanced laboratories and research centres in Russia. In total, over 140 participants took part in the event.

    The scientific programme included four sections: palaeomagnetism and rock magnetism; seismology and geodynamics; solar-terrestrial physics; and ozone layer dynamics. The range of issues discussed traditionally concerned not only physics, but also the most topical interdisciplinary problems: global climate change; rock magnetism and seismic activity of the Earth; methods of studying and processing earthquake data; and engineering research in the field of geoecology, space climate and space weather.

    The conference included guided tours of the St Petersburg University Museum of the History of Physics and Mathematics. The conference participants visited the exhibitions of the physics and mathematics, mechanics, and astronomy sections; saw instruments and mechanisms of the 19th century and present-day exhibits of the Museum; and got acquainted with the materials on the history of physics development in St Petersburg University (Leningrad State University).

    At the meeting, Aleksei Titov, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Physics, noted that the conference had been well attended by international participants from Europe and China. He also stressed that scientists had missed the live communication during the pandemic. The discussions on all issues were therefore particularly intense.

    Events dedicated to the 350th anniversary of Peter the Great

    From 3 to 5 October, the International Scientific Conference "Peter the Great and the Formation of Russian Science" was held at St Petersburg University. It was co-organised by the University and the St Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The conference is included in the plan of the main events for the preparation and celebration of the 350th anniversary of the birth of Peter the Great, developed by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

    The opening ceremony and plenary session were held in the Assembly Hall of the Twelve Collegia building. The participants were welcomed by: Abdulla Daudov, Director of the Institute of History at St Petersburg University; Nikolai Kazansky, Academic Director of the Institute for Linguistic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Vladimir Kirillov, CEO of the State Museum of the History of St Petersburg; and Aleksei Sirenov, Director of the St Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    Four panels and one round table were held, with 86 scholarly papers being presented. More than 200 people from 50 academic and research organisations took part in the event. As part of the conference, an exhibition of handwritten and printed books, engravings and maps on the development of science and education in Russia during Peter the Great’s time was opened in the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    Also, on 5 October, the public lecture "Student Scientific Societies at St Petersburg Imperial University" was held in the M Gorky Scientific Library of St Petersburg University. It was a continuation of the exhibition "Mr Student at St Petersburg Imperial University".

    Аbdulla Daudov stressed that all services of the University had been actively involved in preparing and holding the conference (Aleksei Sirenov, Director of the St Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke about this at the meeting). In order to ensure students’ participation in such events, changes in the timetable of training sessions and/or the possibility of crediting participation in the conference for participation in training sessions will be agreed upon in advance.

    Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova noted that the University takes part in many federal events organised by various ministries. Thanks to the efforts of the University administration, St Petersburg University became one of the organisers of this international scientific conference. Other similar events are expected in future. In this regard, the Rector’s meeting discussed the participation of historians and other representatives of the University in federal programmes and events of nationwide importance. The directors and deans were instructed to submit relevant proposals.

    International activities

    At the Rector’s meetings, the international activities of St Petersburg University are regularly analysed (Minutes of the Rector’s meetings dated 22 August 2022; 29 August 2022; 5 September 2022; 19 September 2022 and 3 October 2022). According to Valeriia Malomuzh, Acting Vice-Rector for International Affairs, a number of new events took place last week.

    Lecture by Kumar Gaurav, Consul General of India in St Petersburg

    On 4 October, Kumar Gaurav, Consul General of India in St Petersburg, delivered an open lecture to St Petersburg University students on "The Current Position of India in a Changing World". This presentation was dedicated to the 75th anniversary of India’s independence from the United Kingdom celebrated in 2022. The Consul General spoke of the course the republic had made over the years and of its key achievements. At the same time, the Consul General spoke of the paradox of the English language as one of the factors that had united the nation. Twenty two languages are still considered official in India. For the joint struggle for independence, it was therefore important to have a common language of communication.

    Kumar Gaurav noted that the partnership between Russia and India could be considered unique. Moscow and Delhi share the same views on the basic principles of international policy, believe in the principles of multipolarity and are striving to continue their long-standing cooperation and friendship.

    Lectures at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain

    On 4 October, the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain hosted an online lecture dedicated to Elizabeth II. It was delivered by Anna Silyunas, a theatre critic, an art historian and Director of the Cultural Foundation "Russian House in Barcelona". The event is part of the new series of lectures "Woman. Epoch. Fate". On 6 October, the lecture "House with a tower of Vyacheslav Ivanov and symbolism in the Russian literature" was delivered by Nina Shcherbak, Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology and Cultural Linguistics at St Petersburg University, a writer and screenwriter.

    St Petersburg University Online School starts a new academic year

    St Petersburg University is again accepting applications for an international educational project from students throughout the world who are eager to study in Russian. The first classes started on Saturday 8 September. The number of compatriots and foreign nationals willing to master the Russian school curricula is growing every year: this summer, 2,500 children from 12 countries already received diplomas and certificates of participation in the Online School of St Petersburg University.

    Now, studying remotely has become even more convenient. A website has been developed for students with everything they need in one place: registration forms for new participants, class schedules, lecture recordings, quizzes, and tests (St Petersburg University Online School starts a new academic year).

    Russian language courses for residents of the Republic of Nicaragua

    Since 5 October, St Petersburg University has been running free online Russian language courses for residents of the Republic of Nicaragua. The project is supported by the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nicaragua and the Russian House in Managua.

    Recognition incentives for academic staff

    In order to increase the interest of the University staff in achieving high results in research, educational, methodological, expert, and other activities, St Petersburg University is constantly working to improve the incentive programme for members of the academic and research subdivisions.

    As Vice-Rector for Human Resources Vladimir Eremeev said, on 26 September 2022, changes were made to the Order establishing analytical signs / codes for incentive payments to academic staff (Order). For most indicators, the University officials in the relevant areas of St Petersburg University activity are responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of the allocation of incentive funds. They should take into account the need to implement the University’s Strategic Plan and other documents and comply with the obligations of the University.

    This does not exclude the possibility of the heads of the academic and research subdivisions to submit proposals for encouraging academic staff. To this end, no later than two weeks before the end of the reporting period, i.e. a quarter, an academic year, or a calendar year, it is necessary to send proposals to the officials indicated in the Order. The proposals should indicate the following information: a last name, a first name, a patronymic name of the employee; a position; an incentive code; and a proposed incentive amount.

    Alexey Rodionov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies, noted that the scope of responsibilities of Vice-Rectors for the distribution of incentive funds has been expanded. Vice-Rectors do not always tell the directors and deans what (according to what codes) the academic staff are paid incentives for. He suggested reporting these decisions starting next quarter to avoid situations where the academic staff were rewarded for the same work twice. Based on the results of the discussion, the Rector of St Petersburg University agreed with the proposal of Alexey Rodionov. The Rector instructed the Vice-Rectors to regularly send information to the directors and deans about the reasons / grounds for incentives for academic staff. The information should be sent in regard to not only future periods, but also the third quarter of this year.

    Following the suggestion of Alexey Rodionov and the Dean of the Faculty of Psychology Alla Shaboltas, the Rector instructed Vice-Rector Vladimir Eremeev to organise a separate meeting with the participation of the heads of the academic and research subdivisions in order to explain to them the new system of codes for recognition incentives to academic staff.

    Repair work in the halls of residence of St Petersburg University

    Until 2008, the University administration did not make due efforts to organise the repair works of the St Petersburg University halls of residence. Significant deterioration of engineering networks, floors, ceilings, wall decoration, and equipment has resulted in a complex of problems that does not allow ensuring normal living conditions for students in some halls of residence. Due to the unsatisfactory technical and (or) sanitary conditions, residential blocks have to be decommissioned. In 2009, 4,353 places were taken out of service, while about 4,000 places were in a state of "on the verge of withdrawal". Two buildings of halls of residence in Peterhof, i.e. No 8 and No 10, were practically empty.

    As Dmitrii Mikhailov, Chief Engineer − First Deputy for Senior Vice-Rector, said, it is not possible to solve all the problems that have accumulated over many years at once when having limited funding. The officials of the University carry out work aimed at repairing the premises in the halls of residence of the University. For more information see:

    This work will continue in 2022. As part of the preparation of residential places in the University halls of residence for settlement, from 25 August 2022, the work was organised on the current repair of residential blocks that had been decommissioned. During the 2021/2022 academic year, contracts were signed with contractors for the repair works of 105 places in Hall of Residence No 4; 954 places in Halls of Residence № 14, № 15, № 20, № 21, № 22, and № 23. As a result, living rooms, showers, bathrooms, kitchens, engineering networks were replaced. Additional 226 places were repaired and put into operation in the blocks that had been previously decommissioned due to a violation of the waterproofing of walls and shower floors.

    As a result, 1,285 places were put into operation. The work was completed in August 2022. The premises are equipped with furniture and household equipment. Most of them are currently occupied by students.

    For the relevant purposes, the University allocated financial resources in the amount of 375,831,578.67 roubles to Dmitrii Mikhailov, Chief Engineer − First Deputy for Senior Vice-Rector. Among these financial resources are: 215,816,000 roubles allocated from budgetary subsidies for financial support for the implementation of the government assignment; and 160,015,578.67 roubles allocated from the funds from income-generating activities of St Petersburg University.

    It is important to note that some students living in the halls of residence violate the obligation to pay for accommodation in the halls of residence. As of 1 September 2022, receivables for accommodation in St Petersburg University halls of residence amounted to 15,747,478.56 roubles. The receipt of these funds by the University would make it possible to repair from 55 to 200 residential places, depending on the level of complexity of the necessary repair woks. It is noted that small amounts of debt of each student entail millions of losses for the University, which could be used for repair works.

    At present, 1,548 places have been decommissioned in the University’s halls of residence, and another 1,882 places will be decommissioned in the next two years. Most of them are located in the halls of residence that require major repair works: № 1, № 2, № 3, № 13, and № 16.

    Partial mobilisation in the Russian Federation

    In the Russian Federation, the partial mobilisation announced on 21 September 2022 by Decree № 647 of the President of the Russian Federation continues (see the Minutes of the Rector’s meetings dated 26 September 2022 and 3 October 2022). As Vice-Rector for Security Dmitry Gryaznov said, the Military Registration Office of St Petersburg University continues work for the University students to receive a deferment of conscription for military service during mobilisation and in wartime.

    On 5 October 2022, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed Decree № 712 ‘On Amendments to Decree № 664 "On granting a deferment of conscription for military service during mobilisation" of the President of the Russian Federation dated 24 September 2022’. According to the Decree, deferment of conscription for military service during mobilisation is provided to citizens who are receiving an education of the appropriate level for the first time, studying in full-time and part-time forms of education, including:

    • in educational and scientific organisations for state-accredited academic programmes of non-university level higher education and higher education (including clinical residency programmes and assistantship-internship programmes)
    • in educational and scientific organisations for training research and teaching staff in aspirantura programmes

    Taking into account the content of the appeals received by the Vice-Rector for Security, Dmitry Gryaznov asked once again to pay attention to the need to obtain information about partial mobilisation only from official sources of information. Additionally, there is a possibility to use special resources. Among them are: the hotlines of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation; the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Internet resource "Объясняем.РФ". The St Petersburg University website also contains the section on the issues of partial mobilisation.