SPbU will establish its first Russian branch in Gatchina
St Petersburg University is to open its first Russian branch in Gatchina, Leningrad region, by the end of 2022. Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, announced this initiative during the signing of an agreement between St Petersburg University and the Government of the Leningrad Region at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Currently, SPbU implements several programmes in close cooperation with the National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute" — Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute located in Gatchina. Among these programmes are "Condensed Matter Physics at MEGA-Science Facilities" and "Physics" programmes with a block of disciplines "Neutron and Synchrotron Physics" and "Nuclear Physics".
Under the guidance Mikhail Kovalchuk, Dean of the Faculty of Physics and President of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute» — Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute (PNPI), SPbU students are actively involved in fundamental research at national MEGA-science facilities. Consolidated actions of two organisations enable students to undertake professional training, write a diploma thesis and conduct researches in collaboration with experts of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute" — Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute.
After discussing the initiative, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, and Mikhail Kovalchuk, Dean of the Faculty of Physics at SPbU and President of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", decided to address to Alexander Drozdenko, the Governor of the Leningrad region, with a proposal to establish the branch of St Petersburg University in Gatchina, Leneingrad region.
The establishment of the branch allows SPbU and National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute» to enhance cooperation, solve infrastructural and logistical issues related to conducting of training and joint research projects, strengthen the quality of teaching for physics students.
The project will contribute to the implementation of the Scientific and Technical Programme for the Development of Synchrotron and Neutron Research and Research Infrastructure, which focuses particularly on personnel training.
It is planned to implement programmes not only in the field of physics, but also in other fields, such as biology, medicine, chemistry, Earth science, etc. It will expand opportunities for multi-disciplinary training of specialists for further work at National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute" and other leading scientific centres.
The establishment of the branch will increase opportunities for prospective students from the Leningrad region and North-western neighbouring regions to apply for educational programmes at SPbU. It will also contribute to attracting within the quota from countries and regions where MEGA-science facilities are being built or exploited.
Gatchina as the capital of the Leningrad Region will therefore open up wide opportunities for the implementation of educational programmes of St Petersburg University that cover various subject areas at the branch of SPbU.
‘I am glad that our idea received support and the place where the first branch of St Petersburg University in Russia will be established has already been determined,’ said Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University. ‘Its unique location next to the modern scientific facilities of PNPI, in the very heart of the Leningrad Region, in its capital, will help to make the most of the scientific, human and educational capacities of the University for the benefit of the region and entire country’.