Start of the literary contest and new educational opportunities: St Petersburg University Day in the Republic of Belarus

Aleksandr Babich, Acting Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions at St Petersburg University, addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. He said that the international literary project was implemented for the first time in the 2021/2022 academic year to enable Belarusian and Russian schoolchildren to get acquainted with the creative heritage of the fraternal peoples of Russia and the Republic of Belarus and to try to prepare a research project.

"The contest is held by St Petersburg University with the support of the representative office of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) in the Republic of Belarus. It is traditionally dedicated to two writers. This year, for the schoolchildren’s research papers we have chosen outstanding 20^th century poets: Arkadi Kuleshov and Aleksandr Tvardovsky, largely due to the celebration of the 80^th anniversary of the victory in World War II next year," said Aleksandr Babich.

By participating in the contest, Russian schoolchildren can score additional points for individual achievements, which are added to the results of the Unified State Examination, said Aleksandr Babich. Belarusian pupils who are winners and prize-takers of the literary contest have the opportunity to enter a university without having to pass entrance examinations within the framework of the Russian government’s quota.

Representatives of the contest’s partner institutions also addressed the guests of the event with welcoming speeches. Among them were the following: Aleksandr Lenin, Deputy Head of the representative office of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation in the Republic of Belarus; Elena Matveeva, Director of the Centralised System of State Public Libraries of Minsk; Anna Kislitsyna, Head of the Department of Theory and History of Literature at the Yanka Kupala Institute of Literary Studies at the Centre for Belarusian Culture, Language and Literature Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus; Olga Maltseva, Director of Smolensk Regional Universal Scientific Library named after A T Tvardovsky; and Mikhail Koryshev, Dean of the Faculty of Philology at St Petersburg University.

The methodological committee will evaluate research projects, with a particular focus on the knowledge of the biography and life of the authors, analysis of key works of poets, research quality and the use of high-quality sources.

This year, St Petersburg University marks its 300^th anniversary and therefore offers a number of initiatives to develop educational ties with partners, including the Republic of Belarus.

As part of the St Petersburg University Day, Aleksandr Babich spoke about the history of the oldest university in Russia, its academic and research subdivisions, open resources, and extracurricular activities. He also provided information on possible admission trajectories for citizens of the Republic of Belarus in 2025. He announced new academic programmes at the University, some of which are being implemented at the Advanced Engineering School at St Petersburg University, which was opened in 2023. In cooperation with the industrial partners (e.g. Gazprom Neft and the Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defence Corporation) the University offers students unique opportunities to gain additional competencies.

At the end of the event, as a sign of gratitude for cooperation and support of the project, St Petersburg University donated books prepared by the University Publishing House to the Centralised System of State Public Libraries of Minsk.

The delegation of St Petersburg University also visited Belarusian National Technical University and MITSO International University to discuss prospects for scientific and educational cooperation. The delegation of St Petersburg University also included Olesia Lopach, Deputy Head of the Admissions Office for International Students, and Tatiana Syrchikova, Deputy Head of the Department for Youth Affairs in Mathematics, Mechanics, Control Processes, Physics and Chemistry.

Vladimir Pozdniakov, Rector of MITSO International University, greeted the guests and Yuri Shevtsov, First Vice-Rector of MITSO International University, conducted a tour of the key university facilities, including the Centre for Chinese Language and Culture, the Centre for Occupational Safety and Health, the educational and practical laboratory of modern identification technologies, and the exhibition "Belarus United."

Representatives of St Petersburg University also visited the Belarusian-Russian Centre for Modern Educational Technologies, where they discussed the opportunities and prospects for implementing joint academic programmes that would make it possible for citizens of the Republic of Belarus to gain knowledge from leading educators at St Petersburg University.

"As part of the work of the joint centre, we are planning to develop joint academic programmes. Students will be able to study at the universities in the Republic of Belarus, which will implement joint academic programmes with St Petersburg University. Part of the teaching and learning process will take place remotely under the guidance of our qualified educators. As a result, students will be able to receive two diplomas of higher education," emphasised Aleksandr Babich.

Following the business meeting with the delegation of Belarusian National Technical University, the parties agreed to involve students at Belarusian National Technical University in the implementation of projects of the Student Scientific Society of St Petersburg University, including an annual scientific conference for young researchers and publication of their own scientific journal "Vestnik of the Student Scientific Society of St Petersburg University" on a regular basis.

The delegation from Belarus included Ksenia Yakushenko, Vice-Rector for Research of Belarusian National Technical University; Viktoriia Nevodnichaia, Head of the Centre for Ideological and Educational Work; and Pavel Shirvel, Dean of the International Cooperation Faculty.

During the negotiations, a decision was made on the need to expand cooperation in the field of youth policy through the development of new projects and organisation of joint scientific and educational events.