SPbU hosts open lecture by Deputy Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic

SPbU Rector Nikolai Kropachev told about the University’s unique status as one of two Russian higher education institutions granted with special autonomous rights. Since 2010, SPbU issues its own diplomas, with QR codes added to them from 2016 onwards enabling employers to access a graduate’s personal account, which includes academic transcripts, information about term and graduation theses, and achievements. The University has a right to hold thesis defences and design its own educational programmes (over 510 programmes as of today) according to SPbU own rules and regulations. These programmes are regularly updated to meet current demands by Educational Councils comprising representatives from major Russian and international companies, professional associations, government bodies, and diplomatic corps.

During the meeting, SPbU Rector invited the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan to head Educational Council of the master’s programme ‘Political Global Studies’ (integrated group of training areas code: 41.04.04 ‘Political Science’). The Rector further suggested establishing direct cooperation agreements between SPbU and both the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Employers have a better understanding of market requirements. We would like to offer you the opportunity to contribute to both the educational programme’s content and faculty selection, in order to enhance the Kyrgyz dimension within the University.

SPbU Rector Nikolay Kropachev

Nikolay Kropachev noted that St Petersburg University has been Russia’s most popular higher education institution among international students according to Rossotrudnichestvo for several years. Today, international students from 120 countries, including Kyrgyzstan, study at St Petersburg University. The Rector initiated establishing an SPbU alumni association in the Kyrgyz Republic and open a representative office of the University. Currently, SPbU representative offices are operating in 11 countries and host public lectures by leading academics, Test of Russian as a Foreign Language (TORFL), and international research conferences. Parties also discussed plans to hold 'St Petersburg University Days’ in Kyrgyzstan.

Edil Baisalov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasised the profound significance of cooperation with St Petersburg for his country. He noted that in the 1930s, Leningrad took on both economic and cultural patronage over Soviet Kyrgyzstan, while during the Great Patriotic War, residents of the Kyrgyz SSR send humanitarian aid to the besieged city. The Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to St Petersburg to attend the 13th meeting of the Intergovernmental Russian-Kyrgyz Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Humanitarian Cooperation, also included tours of several universities for building scientific and educational partnerships. Edil Baisalov noted that the Russian language holds equal status of Kyrgyzstan official language with the Kyrgyz language, making adaptation to Russian universities easier for students pursuing higher education abroad compared to other countries. Following meeting with the University’s Rector, Mr Baisalov delivered an open lecture to SPbU students on contemporary bilateral relations between Russia and Kyrgyzstan.