President of Bolivia awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of St Petersburg University

The ceremony took place during the visit of the President of Bolivia to the University as part of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The event was attended by Celinda Sosa Lunda, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Plurinational State of Bolivia; and María Luisa Ramos Urzagaste, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

The title was awarded by the decision of the Academic Council of St Petersburg University on 4 June 2024 for his outstanding contribution to the development of economic science and education, long-standing active participation in the development of international cooperation with Russia and Latin American countries. The President of Bolivia, Dr Luis Arce, Doctor of Economics, has held senior government positions and contributed to the country’s rapid economic development as Minister of Economy and Public Finance. The Bolivian leader has extensive teaching experience in both public and private higher education institutions. He was honoured as an ‘Outstanding Teacher’ by his alma mater, the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés. He is also an honorary doctor of the Universidad Privada Franz Tamayo (UNIFRANZ) and the Universidad de los Andes. 

The diploma of an honorary doctor was presented to the Head of State by Elena Chernova, Senior Vice-Rector of St Petersburg University. She congratulated Luis Arce on this honourable position and pointed out that the ceremony was taking place in the year of the 300th anniversary of the oldest university in Russia, whose creation was a turning point in the history of national education. 

The Vice-Rector noted that Russia and Bolivia are united by a long friendship: in 2023, the countries celebrated the 125th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. "Bolivia’s foreign policy, like Russia’s, is aimed at defending national interests and enhancing international prestige. Its basic principles are to protect sovereignty, maintain territorial integrity and ensure non-interference in the internal affairs of the state," Elena Chernova stressed. "The mission of the University as a higher education institution is to provide trade, economic, scientific and cultural cooperation with high-calibre personnel and applied results of scientific developments."

Today’s university is much more than higher education. It is a place of opportunity for research, professional development, intercultural dialogue and youth exchange. Thanks to the efforts of world leaders such as President Luis Arce, we can look forward to the future.

Elena Chernova, Senior Vice-Rector of St Petersburg University

In his response, the new honorary doctor of St Petersburg University thanked the University on behalf of the Bolivian people and on his own behalf, noting that as a teacher he was pleased to receive recognition from one of the best universities in Russia and the world. For 300 years, St Petersburg University has been training and educating people, setting the pace for the development of science, technology, education and culture in the country, and its graduates, who are high-calibre experts, contribute to the development of the country with the skills they have acquired at the University, Luis Arce said. According to him, Peter the Great, the founder of the University, would have been happy to know that thousands of outstanding scholars, politicians, writers, cultural figures and musicians have studied and worked here for three centuries.

We share with the Russian people the belief that culture and education make people free and dignified.

President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia Luis Arce

The student hymn "Gaudeamus Igitur" was played in honour of the new Honorary Doctor of St Petersburg University. 

Before the grand ceremony of conferring the Honorary Doctorate of St Petersburg University and awarding the gown, there was a meeting between President Luis Arce and Acting Rector and Senior Vice-Rector of the University Elena Chernova. During the meeting, which lasted more than 25 minutes instead of the scheduled 15 minutes, they discussed the development of academic cooperation between St Petersburg University and educational institutions in Bolivia. On behalf of the President, Elena Chernova was presented with: a chakana, i.e. a badge symbolising the diversity of cultures in the Plurinational State of Bolivia; honey; and a handmade cosmetic bag made of national fabric. The Acting Rector presented Luis Arce with a painting depicting the Twelve Collegia building and books published by the St Petersburg University Publishing House. During the meeting, the President wished the Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Nikolay Kropachev, a speedy recovery from the coronavirus. 

The title "Honorary Doctor of St Petersburg University" is conferred upon outstanding scholars, educators and cultural workers, statesmen and public figures who have contributed to the development of international scientific, cultural, economic and political cooperation. It has been awarded to: Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation between 2008 and 2012; Gerhard Schröder, Federal Chancellor of Germany between 1998 and 2005; Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China; Alexander Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia; Nobel Prize winners — writer Orhan Pamuk, discoverer of the DNA structure James Watson, and chemist Ryōji Noyori; and other honoured scholars. 

After the grand ceremony, the President of Bolivia delivered a public lecture to the students and staff of the University on the socio-economic model of community production that he had developed during his years at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés and the results of its application.