The country’s top lawyers: St Petersburg University presents an exhibition on the 300th anniversary of the University at the Ministry of Justice of Russia

For three centuries, St Petersburg University has been cultivating professionals instrumental in our nation’s success. The University’s academic staff are outstanding people who diligently pass on their knowledge from one generation to the next. Our motto, Hic tuta perennat — Latin for "Here all in safety lasts" — reflects St Petersburg University’s commitment to safeguarding and transmitting knowledge.

Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University

"Today, at this exhibition held at the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, we are delighted to showcase the diverse areas and outcomes of our multifaceted work in recent years," said Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University. "I am confident that this exposition will offer visitors tangible examples of how St Petersburg University serves the Fatherland through its many endeavours."

A key section of the exhibition highlights the clinical approach in education, an innovative teaching methodology pioneered at St Petersburg University. This approach enables students — under the guidance and supervision of experienced academic staff members — to tackle real-life, socially significant issues effectively. In 1998, the University established the first in modern Russia Legal Clinic. Over the years, students, supervised by the University lecturers, have provided free, qualified legal assistance to over 15,000 Russian citizens. The principles and organisational structure of this clinic laid the foundation for a federal law enacted in 2012, which now governs the provision of free legal aid in the Russian Federation.

Professor Kropachev noted that St Petersburg University graduates who began their legal careers as interns at the University Legal Clinic in its formative years have since risen to prominent positions in the legal profession, government, academia, and public service. Among them are also current professors of St Petersburg University.

Currently, there are more than 20 educational clinics at St Petersburg University, including: the Psychological Clinic; the Social Clinic; the Archival Centre, and the Sociological Clinic of Applied Research, among others. Modelled after the Legal Clinic, these educational clinics provide free assistance to over 5,000 citizens annually and complete more than 200 projects in response to partner requests. Each year, approximately 3,000 students from various areas of study gain practical skills and hands-on experience through their internships in these clinics.

The exhibition also highlights the findings of the Centre for Monitoring Law Enforcement at St Petersburg University. Since 2011, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, the University has been implementing the Monitoring Law Enforcement project. Throughout 2022-2023, experts from St Petersburg University conducted numerous assessments of the practical application of legal norms. These assessments were commissioned by the Ministry of Justice, the Commissioner for Children’s Rights, the Federal Tax Service, the Prosecutor’s Office, and other authorities.

Every year, legal scholars at St Petersburg University analyse over 30,000 legal documents across more than 30 different areas.

The exhibition traces the University’s evolution from its founding by Peter the Great to its 21^st century cutting-edge research laboratories, demonstrating the continuity of scientific traditions and continuous upgrade of academic programmes. Special emphasis is given to the advancement of interdisciplinary fields such as nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and big data.

Among the exhibits is a set of unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with an advanced drone defence system, enabling them to resist hacking in the conditions of autonomous flight and fulfil security objectives even under attack. Additionally, the exhibition features an ultralight carbon-composite truss, developed by St Petersburg University physicists for experiments within the NICA mega-science project at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.

The exhibition also features other cutting-edge research and engineering developments by the University’s experts. For instance, the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at St Petersburg University, in collaboration with Healbe, created an intelligent ecosystem for the Federal Medical-Biological Agency of the Russian Federation. This ecosystem includes a smart bracelet and a remote health monitoring service called "BIOT," designed to continuously monitor a patient’s health status. The device can alert physicians to potential risks of developing diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, providing recommendations to both doctors and patients to prevent illnesses and extend workers’ productive years.

Additionally, the exhibition offers detailed information about the University’s library, publishing, and museum activities. Notably, the M. Gorky Scientific Library of St Petersburg University houses over 7 million printed books and manuscripts, including more than 57,000 rare editions. Thanks to modern technologies, the library’s holdings are now accessible not only to the University’s scholars and students but also to researchers across the globe.