The oath to become part of the University brotherhood and Ships of Hope: about 10,000 first-year students accepted into St Petersburg University
Petersburg University. The online event gathered thousands of viewers. This year, applicants have submitted over 100,000 applications to St Petersburg University. However, only about 10,000 of the most high-profile applicants have become freshmen of the oldest university in Russia in all areas and levels of education.
In a live broadcast, the Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev announced the beginning of the 298th academic year. He noted that the pandemic of the new coronavirus disease has become a challenge for the whole world. However, St Petersburg University managed to adapt advantageously to the changed conditions without reducing the quality of education. He also stressed that the most high-profile applicants traditionally become students of St Petersburg University: the average Unified State Exam score of those enrolled this year exceeds 93 points.
You are the best. And the fact that you have managed to enter St Petersburg University confirms this. Today you find yourself surrounded by the best University students and teachers who will help you fulfil your potential. Continue to perfect yourselves in your professions, but do not forget to take pleasure in this process. Enjoy the luxury of time at the University and all the opportunities that it gives you.
Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University
The Rector of St Petersburg University pointed out that the University students and staff have the Research Park at their disposal. It is the best research park in Russia and one of the best in the world, equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment. They also have: the M Gorky Scientific Library, which contains almost seven million storage units; a unique museum complex that includes the Dmitri Mendeleev Museum and Archives, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum, the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Arts, and the Palaeontology Museum to name just a few; and many other resources of the University.
A guide for first-year students – 2021
Rector Nikolay Kropachev also read out greetings from Dmitry Medvedev, a graduate of St Petersburg University, Chairman of the University Board of Trustees and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation: ‘Today, at the University, you are starting an exciting journey of knowledge – you will finish it as first-class certified experts. After all, the future of the country depends largely on you – representatives of a new generation of lawyers, economists, engineers, doctors, and teachers, whom you will soon become. And outstanding teachers who work at St Petersburg University will help you acquire the necessary skills and take your first steps in the profession.’
Among those who sent their congratulations to the University students and staff were: Mikhail Mishustin, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation; Valentina Matvienko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Igor Krasnov, Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation; Konstantin Chuychenko, Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation; Aleksandr Gutsan, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Northwestern Federal District; Alexander Sergeev, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Veronika Skvortsova, Head of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency; Alexander Beglov, Governor of St Petersburg; Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad Region; Viacheslav Makarov, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg; Sergei Bebenin, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Leningrad Region; Vladimir Gruzdev, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Lawyers of Russia; Andrey Kostin, President and Chairman of VTB Bank Management Board; Alexey Mordashov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC Severstal; Georgy Poltavchenko, Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC ‘United Shipbuilding Corporation’; and other friends, partners, trustees and alumni of the University.
Despite the online format of the event, all the main University traditions were kept. The best first-year students – Alina Usmanova, Mikhail Budnikov, Milena Soldatenko and Matvei Isupov – were personally given student ID cards by the Rector. In the status of students, the winners of the International Mathematics Competition for University Students Nikita Dobronravov and Dmitrii Iartsev read the oath to become part of the brotherhood of St Petersburg University.
After student ID cards were solemnly given and the oath to become part of the University brotherhood was read, the Rector gave the command to fly flags on Academician Sakharov Square. The traditional student ‘Gaudeamus Igitur’ hymn was then performed online by the St Petersburg University Choir directed by Edward Krotman.
After the solemn part of the event, scientists and science communicators told Aleksandr Malich, TV presenter and graduate of St Petersburg University, about their research and development. Yesterday’s applicants were addressed by: Professor Alexey Kavokin, Head of the Spin Optics Laboratory and the only Russian scientist awarded the Quantum Devices Award; Valerii Zapasskii, Leading Research Associate at the Spin Optics Laboratory, laureate of the National Award in Science and Technology; and Professor Pavel Musienko, Head of the Laboratory of Neuroprosthetics at the Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Doctor of Science (Medicine) and developer of the NeuroPrint soft neuroprosthesis 3D printing technology.
Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, and Aleksandr Babich, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Admissions, spoke in more detail about the opportunities for the matriculated students and the results of the large-scale admissions campaign in 2021. These included: a wide range of online courses at the University; the SPbU Start-up contest; double degree programmes; and many other advantages of studying at the oldest university in Russia.
The festive ceremony was anchored by famous graduates of St Petersburg University Roman Gerasimov and Liudmila Shiriaeva. They presented a talk show about career opportunities and prospects that open up for the University students during their studies. Students Anna Markova, Ivan Nikiforov, Anastasiia Kazantseva, Valeriia Kudriavtseva, Anastasiia Goriainova and Roman Ignatenko spoke about their projects.
At the end of the festivity, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, and Semen Altov, a writer and an Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation, set their ‘ships of hope’ afloat into the water area of the Neva River. This year, the tradition of setting ships with a wish afloat from the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, put forward by Semen Altov, turned ten. As the Rector of St Petersburg University noted, wishes made in this way are sure to come true. University students could virtually ‘set their boats afloat’ with a wish, by designing it to their liking using a special application on the site. In total, almost 3,000 virtual sailboats were set afloat during the broadcast According to tradition, at the same time, yachts with the inscription ‘I love SPbU’ on the sails were manoeuvring in the water area of the Neva River.