Dmitry Chernyshenko chairs a meeting of the Organising Committee for the celebration of the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University

The meeting was attended by: Alla Manilova, the State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation; Dmitry Afanasiev, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; Pavel Kadochnikov, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation; Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad Region; Andrey Maksimov, Chairman of the St Petersburg Committee for Science and Higher Education; Mikhail Piotrovsky, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the State Hermitage Museum and Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies of St Petersburg University; and Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

'Since its establishment, St Petersburg University has been one of the most important centres of science, education and culture in our country.  It conducts research in every field of science. Maintaining the best traditions of national higher education, the University actively implements modern technologies and has already become a leader in the digital environment. Its graduates are always sought after. The jubilee events should be memorable and meaningful. The festivities should reflect both the rich history of the University and the unique combination of traditional approaches to education and digitalisation of science. Today, we have approved a plan for the main festive initiatives. They must be implemented by 2024,' said Dmitry Chernyshenko, Chairman of the Organising Committee and Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

Since its establishment, St Petersburg University has been one of the most important centres of science, education and culture in our country. It conducts research in every field of science. Maintaining the best traditions of national higher education, the University actively implements modern technologies and has already become a leader in the digital environment.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, Chairman of the Organising Committee and Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation

More than 30 events are planned as part of the University's 300th anniversary celebrations. These include: naming a space facility after St Petersburg University; renovation of the Botanical Garden of the University; major renovation of the halls of residence; issue of a commemorative coin; and a joint meeting of the Academic Council of St Petersburg University and the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences. New medallions with images of Nobel laureates will also be made to mark the anniversary. They will decorate the fence in front of the entrance to the Twelve Collegia building.

St Petersburg University, the oldest university in Russia, was founded on 28 January (8 February) 1724. This is the day when Peter the Great issued a decree establishing the University and the Russian Academy of Sciences. On 8 February 2024, St Petersburg University will celebrate its 300th anniversary. Today St Petersburg State University is a world-class scientific, educational and cultural centre. The University can set its own educational standards, issue its own diplomas, and conduct defence of dissertations for academic degrees according to its own rules. The University offers more than 400 degree programmes in all levels of study and more than 800 non-degree programmes. Scholars of the University conduct research in almost all fields of knowledge. There is a Research Park comprising 23 resource centres to implement scientific and innovative projects. St Petersburg University has over 500 partner universities from 80 countries around the world.

Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, emphasised that it would have been impossible to organise such a large-scale celebration without the support of the members of the Organising Committee, members of the University Board of Trustees, and partners and friends of St Petersburg University. He also noted the support of Alexander Beglov, Governor of St Petersburg, for the initiative to declare the year 2024 as the Year of St Petersburg University.

300 years is a significant milestone in the history of Russia, in which St Petersburg University has played an important role.

Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences

'300 years is a significant milestone in the history of Russia, in which St Petersburg University has played an important role. I am sure that there are more brilliant scientific discoveries and innovative breakthroughs ahead of us. This celebration will largely determine what future generations will remember of the University,' said Nikolay Kropachev.

Following the meeting, Dmitry Chernyshenko instructed the Ministry of Education and Science and the University to ensure that the Area of St Petersburg University Development, a new university campus in the Pushkinsky district, is also included in the plan.