Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

Perpetuation of the memory of Fedor Solomonov

On 1 April, Fedor Solomonov, a student at St Petersburg University, died in the line of military duty. He was a second-year student in history (In memory of Fedor Solomonov, who died heroically in the zone of the special military operation).

Fedor Solomonov was called into service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as part of the partial mobilisation in the autumn in 2022. As Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, said, the student left for military service voluntarily, took an academic leave and did not exercise the right to deferment. Fedor Solomonov is an example of bravery and courage. Students who knew Fedor remember him as a kind and sympathetic person, a reliable comrade and friend. His openness and honesty will forever remain in the hearts of the University students.

The funeral of Fedor Solomonov was held on 29 April in his hometown Zelenograd. Vladimir Savinov, Vice-Rector for Educational Activity, and the University staff and students took part in the funeral. On behalf of the University, Vladimir Savinov said words of support and condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Fedor Solomonov and laid flowers and a wreath from the University staff and students on the grave of the hero.

On 11 May, at the meeting of the Academic Council of the Institute of History at St Petersburg University, members of the Academic Council put forward an initiative to install a memorial plaque in memory of the student’s heroic act. The Rector instructed Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova to organise this work and install the memorial plaque in the nearest future. On 18 May, the University hosted a vocal evening "For friends" to honour the memory of Fedor Solomonov (St Petersburg University hosts a vocal evening in memory of the University student Fedor Solomonov).

Dissemination of information about the actions of Mikhail Belousov in the media and social networks

The media and social networks published information about the actions of Mikhail Belousov and a screenshot of the message signed by Mikhail Belousov related to the death of Fedor Solomonov, a student of St Petersburg University who died in the line of military duty during the special military operation. An employee with the same name and surname is an associate professor at St Petersburg University. In this regard, Vice-Rector for Security Dmitry Gryaznov sent a request to law enforcement agencies to conduct an inspection. In the event that law enforcement agencies establish facts that the University employees and/or students, mentioned in the materials, have committed illegal actions against these persons, the issue of applying disciplinary measures against them, up to and including dismissal / expulsion, will be considered.

Dmitry Gryaznov, Vice-Rector for Security at St Petersburg University, noted that since the end of the last week the University had been conducting an internal audit. Dmitry Gryaznov also sent an enquiry to the Ethics Committee at St Petersburg University.

As Mikhail Belousov pointed out in the written explanations dated 26 May 2023 and 28 May 2023, he had not committed such actions. On 26 May, Mikhail Belousov sent an enquiry to law enforcement agencies, in which he said the following: ‘Today, I discovered that a page on the Telegram was created without my knowledge. It features my photo and my name. The message was written from this page that denigrates my honour and dignity’.

The Vice-Rector for Security asked the University staff and students who have any information relating to the case to send this information to the Vice-Rector for Security and to the Ethics Committee at St Petersburg University.

Earlier, the corresponding comment by Vice-Rector for Security Dmitry Gryaznov was published in the Virtual Reception at St Petersburg University: Dissemination of information about the actions of Mikhail Belousov in the media and social networks.

The answers of Vice-Rector for Human Resources Vladimir Eremeev to the enquiries received about the internal audit were published in the Virtual Reception. Among them are the following: Actions of Mikhail Belousov; Actions of Mikhail Belousov, an employee of the Institute of History at St Petersburg University; Actions of Mikhail Belousov, an employee of the Institute of History at St Petersburg University in social networks; and Actions of Mikhail Belousov.

St Petersburg University researchers awarded the gold medals of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Yuri Natochin, Professor at St Petersburg University, and Igor Tikhonovich, Professor at St Petersburg University, have received the gold medals, i.e. the highest awards of the Russian Academy of Sciences. During the General Meeting of the Academy’s members in Moscow, St Petersburg University scientists were awarded by Gennady Krasnikov, Member and President of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Yuri Natochin was awarded the Lomonosov Big Gold Medal for fundamental contribution to the study of kidney physiology and water-salt metabolism. Yuri Natochin is a doctor; Doctor of Biology; Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Honorary Professor of St Petersburg University; and an initiator to open the Faculty of Medicine at the University and its first dean.

His method for normalising water-salt metabolism in ischemic stroke made it possible to halve mortality rates among patients with this diagnosis. His method of adapting a person to a long stay in the outer space is used in space medicine. Professor Yuri Natochin delivered the lecture "Mind and a kidney" for the participants in the General Meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The video recording of the lecture can be found via the link.

Igor Tikhonovich was awarded by the Nikolai Vavilov Gold Medal for the series of works "Symbiogenetics of plant-microbial interactions". Igor Tikhonovich is Dean of the Faculty of Biology at St Petersburg University; Academic Supervisor of the All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology; and Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

He is an outstanding scientist in the field of molecular genetic mechanisms of microbial-plant interactions and is widely known both in Russia and abroad. His research helps to find new ways to mobilise the planet genetic resources to create modern farming technologies (Gold medals awarded to scientists of St Petersburg University at the General Meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences members).

The Institute of Pedagogy celebrates its fifth anniversary

On 28 May, the Institute of Pedagogy celebrated its fifth anniversary (Pedagogy of success: the Institute of Pedagogy at St Petersburg University celebrates its fifth anniversary). An extended online meeting of the Institute’s staff was held in connection with this event. The opening report "Dialogues on the Ladder of Success" was presented by Professor Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy, Doctor of Pedagogy, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education. Other members of the Institute also delivered their lectures. This festive occasion had more than 3,000 hits.

The establishment of the Institute of Pedagogy was made possible thanks to many years of expert activity of the University’s faculty and staff, which was aimed both at evaluating educational standards and developing new teaching methods designed to discover and support children’s talents. No less important was the University’s support for this initiative (Teacher of the 21st Century: the Institute of Pedagogy opened at St Petersburg University).

Today, the staff of the Institute of Pedagogy trains experts in three master’s programmes ("Genius: Teacher for Gifted Students"; "Educator for High Technology School"; and "Intercultural Education") and one doctoral programme ("Pedagogical Psychology, Psychodiagnostics of Digital Educational Environment"). The Institute also supervises the projects of the Sirius Educational Centre and the Autonomous Non-Profit Educational Organisation "School League". Among the graduates of the Institute’s academic programmes there are already candidates of science, and heads of academic institutions and serious projects. Conditions are created for undergraduate and postgraduate students to improve their professional skills on real projects under the guidance of teachers. It is for this purpose that the Clinic for Digital Support of Educational Projects, or the Pedagogical Clinic of St Petersburg University was opened in March (Pedagogical Clinic opens at St Petersburg University).

Congratulations on the anniversary (in the Year of the Teacher and Mentor) were extended to the Institute’s staff by colleagues from Autonomous Non-Profit Educational Organisation "School League"; the Centre for Regional and International Cooperation; the Leningrad Region Centre for Creative Development of Gifted and Talented Children and Young People "Intellect"; other organisations; and students and alumni.

St Petersburg University’s positions in the Agency RAEX Subject Rankings

St Petersburg University is ranked first in two subject areas: "Law" and "Political Science and International Relations", according to the ranking RAEX. In the league table of the top Russian universities, St Petersburg University ‘received medals’ in 15 subject areas.

An expert jury evaluated 164 universities from 42 regions in Russia to choose educational institutions that provide high-quality education and research in various subject areas. The rankings are based on statistical data and evaluate universities by several indicators. Among them are: teaching and research, and the importance of the university for society, country, and region.

This year, St Petersburg University is ranked first in such subject areas as "Law" and "Political Science and International Relations". The University is ahead of other universities by several points. The University offers a number of academic programmes in law, including those with in-depth study of the law of various countries. St Petersburg University annually organises the International Youth Legal Forum, which this year took place during the first day of the St Petersburg International Legal Forum 2023. Since 1998, the Legal Clinic has been part of St Petersburg University. Students provide legal advice to various groups of citizens under the supervision of experienced academic staff.

The achievements of St Petersburg University in teaching and research in the field of political science and international relations are highly valued both in Russia and abroad. The University pays great attention to the development of international cooperation. Today, the University has representative offices in Korea, the People’s Republic of China, Spain, Greece, Italy, Germany, and Iran. Recently, St Petersburg University has opened a representative office in the Navoi Free Economic Zone (Navoi FEZ) in the Republic of Uzbekistan. In the new academic year, St Petersburg University opens its branch in Cairo. It is set to reduce the shortage of medical personnel in the region.

In the league table of the best universities in Russia, St Petersburg University received "silver medals" in mathematics, biology, ecology, geography, chemistry, sociology, linguistics and foreign languages, history, and archaeology. "Bronze medals" were awarded to the University in physics, geology, psychology, management, philology, and journalism (RAEX rankings: St Petersburg University is the best university in Russia in the field of law, political science and international relations).

Sergei Belov, Dean of the Faculty of Law, asked what criteria had been used to evaluate the work of universities in this ranking and how many points the University received for each criterion. Sergei Belov noted that in order to understand where to develop, it is necessary to know how we are evaluated, where we lag behind and where we are ahead. Ivan Grigorev, Advisor to the Rector’s Office, replied that this and other questions will be asked to representatives of the RAEX ranking agency.

Results of the St Petersburg University Olympiad for Schoolchildren

St Petersburg University has held the awarding ceremony for the winners and prize-winners of the St Petersburg University Olympiad for Schoolchildren for the 2022/2023 academic year. This year, the Olympiad gathered over 105,000 students from all over Russia and more than 20 foreign countries. Schoolchildren from 87 regions of Russia qualified for the final stage. The results of the final stage are published on the St Petersburg University website in the Schoolchildren Olympiad section.

According to Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, the most active participants came from St Petersburg, Moscow, the Republic of Bashkortostan, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Republic of Tatarstan, the Moscow Region, the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the Chelyabinsk Region, the Sverdlovsk Region, the Rostov Region, and Krasnodar Krai. The list of the Olympiad participants is not limited to schoolchildren from Russia. Every year, more and more foreign students join the Olympiad. This year, citizens of Abkhazia, Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, Georgia, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Moldova, Mongolia, and Serbia participated in the qualifying stage.

This academic year, the Olympiad was conducted in 22 subjects and interest areas, including new ones: "Mathematical Modelling and Artificial Intelligence"; "International Relations"; "Political Science"; "Psychology"; and "Philosophy, Ethics and Religious Studies". Most of them, as before, are classified as Level I Olympiads by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The winners and prize-winners of these Olympiads have the opportunity to enter any Russian university, including St Petersburg University, without entrance examinations or to obtain 100 points in their field-specific USE subject.

The St Petersburg University Olympiad for Schoolchildren gives an opportunity to see the creative and research abilities of the participants. It also demonstrates the level of preparation required for studying at the University (The St Petersburg University Olympiad for Schoolchildren brings together over 105,000 school students from all over Russia and more than 20 foreign countries).

The final of the SPbU Start-up 2023 contest

St Petersburg University has held the final of the 8th contest of interdisciplinary projects "SPbU Start-up 2023". For the first time, not only could students of St Petersburg University take up in the contest, but also early-career researchers, undergraduates, postgraduates, and clinical residency students from other universities and research institutions of Russia could. The finalists of the contest of innovative projects were congratulated by: Aleksei Korabelnikov, Vice-Governor of St Petersburg; Elena Chernova, Senior Vice-Rector; Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities; and Elena Mishutina, Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the SPbU Start-up 2023 contest and Executive Director of the Endowment Fund "Development of St Petersburg University".

For the second year in a row, the expert jury decided that two start-up projects should share the title of the winner. This year, they are the following: Genomex, which is developing a range of peptide carriers for the treatment of uterine fibroids; and Sanguis, aimed at creating instant haemostatic agents. The winning teams received the largest non-recurrent grant in a contest of this kind: 1.5 million roubles were granted to each team to commercialise their projects.

The peptide carrier technology developed by the Genomex team aims to treat benign tumours of the female muscular organ without surgery. The non-viral nucleic acid delivery system is able to deliver drugs to the pathological focus without distributing the medication throughout the body. This method of treatment reduces the risks of various diseases, including infertility, and, instead of surgery, it involves an intravenous injection into the uterus.

The Sanguis project, another winning team, aims to simplify complex surgical procedures and speed up the work of surgeons. The product developed immediately stops the bleeding, closes wounds and glues open areas of muscle tissue, while the use of only naturally occurring substances in the product avoids allergic reactions and ensures the safety of human health and life.

Second place went to the ESiS team from Kazan State Power Engineering University. It developed software with artificial intelligence technology required for correct processing of data from an online chromatograph. The team of early-career researchers and students from St Petersburg universities that won third place presented a finished project of an application that allows diagnosing minerals and automating the analysis of bulk mineral mixtures.

This year, 15 teams from various Russian universities, who proposed the most original and important ideas for the scientific world, made it to the finals of the Start-up contest. St Petersburg University is one of the first higher education institutions in the country to organise its own contest for innovative and commercially promising projects. Additionally, the University students who became finalists of the SPbU Start-up 2023 have an opportunity to present their start-up projects instead of defending their term projects and graduation projects (Two projects in the field of medicine win the SPbU Start-up 2023 contest).

Organisation of the teaching and learning process

Over the past week, 21 enquiries were addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. The majority of enquiries relate to preparation of documents on studies, the procedures for granting academic leaves and interim assessment results. 

An analysis of the information on the organisation of the teaching and learning process provided by the heads of academic and research subdivisions has been carried out. Classes and pass/fail tests are held according to the timetable in due order. As of 26 May 2023, the information was not sent by: Igor Tikhonovich, Dean of the Faculty of Biology; Alla Shaboltas, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology; Aleftina Timoshenko, Director of the Institute for Competition Development and Antimonopoly Regulation; and Aleksandr Zhidkov, Acting Director of the Academic Gymnasium.

The heads of academic and research subdivisions continue to hold meetings with student activists: group heads, and representatives of student councils and student scientific societies to name just a few. Over the past week, meetings on the organisation of the teaching and learning process were held with the heads of: the Faculty of Foreign Languages; the Faculty of Medicine; the School of International Relations (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication); the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences; the Faculty of Sociology; the Faculty of Physics; the Faculty of Philology; and the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication).

The work of the committees to check compliance with the timetable of classes and interim assessments is underway. From 22 May to 26 May, 112 inspections were conducted. Three cases of violations were identified. The acts of detected violations have been submitted for revision to Vladimir Eremeev, Vice-Rector for Human Resources.

On 11 May, the State Final Assessment began.

Sergei Belov, Dean of the Faculty of Law, reported that during one of the graduation project defences of law students, the Blackboard system had stopped working (and the materials had become inaccessible to the members of the State Assessment Committee). The system was restored, but Sergei Belov asked what should be done in such cases. The Rector instructed Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, Yury Penov, Vice-Rector for Legal Affairs, and Vladimir Starostenko, Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation and Information Security, to investigate the causes of the malfunction and develop an algorithm of actions to be taken in such cases.

Marina Lavrikova’s answer has also been published in the Virtual Reception of St Petersburg University. It describes the algorithm of students’ actions in case of such situations: Display of graduation projects in the Blackboard system.

Personalised learning, individual educational trajectories

According to Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University, as provided by approved Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation № 1069-r ‘St Petersburg University Strategic Plan 2021-2030 (Event 3 "Increasing the flexibility and practical orientation of academic programmes, individualisation of educational trajectories")’ dated 26 April 2021, St Petersburg University students are provided with opportunities to develop individual educational trajectories and have their learning process personalised, including:

• choice of elective disciplines, choice of the topic of the term papers and a research supervisor (Order № 470/1 "On approval of the new edition of the Academic Regulations for degree programmes of higher and secondary vocational education at St Petersburg University" dated 29 January 2016)
• choice of a place for practical training and internship (Order № 12108/1 "On approval of the Regulations on practical training of students at St Petersburg University in degree programmes of higher education and clinical reside On approval of the Regulations on internships of students in degree programmes of higher and secondary vocational education at St Petersburg University" dated 29 March 2021ncy programmes’ dated 28 December 2020; Order № 2408/1 ‘)
• choice of the topic of the graduation project and the research supervisor (an annually issued order on the procedure for choosing topics for graduation projects; for the current academic year Order № 10778/1 "On the formation of an electronic registry, selection and approval of topics for graduation projects of St Petersburg University students in the 2022/2023 academic year" dated 12 October 2022)
• compulsory mastering of a foreign language within the framework of the bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes, depending on the initial level of proficiency in the relevant language

Outside the curriculum, the University students have the right to:

• master disciplines of other academic programmes of the University at their choice (Order № 798/1 "On approval of the procedure for mastering along with academic subjects, courses, disciplines (modules) in the pursued academic programme of any other academic subjects, courses, disciplines (modules)" dated 4 February 2019)
• master, at their choice, disciplines in other educational institutions, crediting the obtained learning outcomes for the disciplines of the curriculum of the pursued academic programme at St Petersburg University (Order № 2711/1 "On approval of the procedure for crediting the results of students mastering academic subjects, courses, disciplines (modules), practice, non-degree programmes at St Petersburg University" dated 5 April 2021; Order № 8330/1 "On the procedure for crediting the results and periods of study at St Petersburg University when organising academic mobility" dated 17 October 2016)
• master online courses of their choice, crediting their results for the disciplines of the curriculum of the pursued academic programme (Order № 8852/1 "On approval of the procedure for crediting the results of mastering online courses by St Petersburg University students" dated 8 September 2017)
• participate in the project, volunteer and other socially significant activities organised at St Petersburg University, with subsequent consideration of its results as disciplines (modules), practices of the pursued academic programme (Order № 7971/1 "On accounting the results of extracurricular activities of St Petersburg University students" dated 12 August 2021)
• use entrepreneurial achievements as the term papers and graduation projects (Order № 6853/1 "On accounting entrepreneurial achievements of St Petersburg University students" dated 12 July 2018

Students may be given an opportunity for accelerated education (Order № 6406/1 "On approval of the procedure for providing accelerated education to St Petersburg University students" dated 25 June 2018).

Marina Lavrikova asked the heads of the academic and research subdivisions to organise educational, research and extracurricular activities of students to ensure personalisation of the learning process.

Academic performance of persons transferred to St Petersburg University

During the period from 1 September 2019 to 26 May 2023, 577 bachelor’s, specialist’s and master’s students transferred to St Petersburg University from other universities. According to Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, as of today:

• 324 students (70.1 %) continue their studies
• 44 students (9.5 %) have successfully completed their studies
• 15 students (3.2%) are on academic leave
• 79 students (17.1 %) have been expelled, including:
  • for academic failure − 31 students (39.2 % of those expelled)
  • due to transfer to another university − 20 students (25.3% of those expelled)
  • at their own request − 19 persons (24 % of those expelled)
  • due to failed attendance after the end of the academic leave − four persons (5.1 % of those expelled)
  • for non-payment − four persons (5.1 per cent of those expelled), and
  • one person (1.3 per cent of those expelled) for submitting a forged certificate

We have analysed the academic performance of students during the time when they studied at the university from which they transferred to St Petersburg University and during their period of study at St Petersburg University (the sample group is 462 students). Information about the change in academic performance by areas of study is presented in the table below:

Area of study	Number of transferred students	Grade point average in another university	Grade point average at St Petersburg University
Biology	20	4.7	4.1
Asian and African Studies	8	4.6	3.7
Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication	41	4.4	3.9
Institute of History	20	4.6	4.1
Institute of Earth Sciences	17	4.3	4.0
Institute of Philosophy	10	4.7	4.4
Institute of Chemistry	21	4.3	3.7
Arts	13	4.3	4.3
Mathematics and Computer Science	14	4.5	3.4
Mathematics and Mechanics	22	4.4	2.7
Medicine	2	4.6	4.6
International Relations	29	4.4	4.0
Management	31	4.2	3.6
Political Science	9	4.5	3.8
Applied Mathematics — Control Processes	31	4.6	3.7
Psychology	43	4.6	4.2
Liberal Arts and Sciences	24	4.3	4.3
Sociology	14	4.7	4.2
Dentistry and Medical Technologies	3	4.1	4.2
Physics	17	4.4	3.8
Philology	21	4.4	4.0
Economics	21	4.4	3.4
Law	34	4.4	3.7
Overall	462	4.4	3.9

In general, 71 students (15.4%) have improved their academic performance; 26 students (5.6%) have remained unchanged; and 365 students (79%) have worsened their academic performance.

The directors and deans have been instructed to analyse the results of the changes in the academic performance of the transferred students in the areas of study and send proposals to improve the work of lecturers.

Implementation of the module "Fundamentals of Military Training"

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation developed the module "Fundamentals of Military Training". The work was part of the relevant instructions of the President of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Russian Federation on the inclusion of the discipline of initial military training in the academic programmes of higher education. The documentation was sent to universities for organising work.

As Elvira Zeletdinova, Vice-Rector for Teaching Methods at St Petersburg University, said, the module is being implemented in person as part of the discipline "Life Safety". Since 2023, it has been mandatory for students of bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes of citizens of the Russian Federation who are on military registration and fit for military service according to their state of health (the assessment is a pass/fail test). Citizens of the Russian Federation who are not suitable for military service, are not registered in the military, fit for military service according to their state of health and study in bachelor’s and specialist programmes are ’to study the module "Fundamentals of Military Training’ or study the online course of St Petersburg University "First Aid (online course)" (the assessment is a pass/fail test). Foreign citizens and stateless persons studying in bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes are to study the online course of St Petersburg University "First Aid (online course)" (the assessment is a pass/fail test). Students of the military training centre at St Petersburg University are credited with the results of training under the military training programme for reserve officers and sergeants.

The discipline "Life Safety" consists of two modules:

• Module 1 "Life Safety (online course)", which is mandatory for all students of bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes
• Module 2 "Fundamentals of Military Training" or "First Aid (online course)" (the assessment is a pass/fail test).

Directors and deans were instructed to tell the students about the implementation of the discipline "Life Safety" during the meetings with them.

St Petersburg University joins the RISC-V alliance

St Petersburg University has joined the Association of Independent Software and Computing Developers based on RISC-V architecture. St Petersburg University’s participation in the alliance will make it possible to: train IT specialists capable of working with products based on this technology; and engage in its promotion and development in Russia.

RISC-V is an open standard instruction set architecture based on established reduced instruction set computer (RISC) principles to control microprocessors and microcontrollers.

Sergey Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research of St Petersburg University, underlined that RISC-V is one of the most important cutting-edge trends in the development of computing technology. Intelligent software and materials are essential components of the processes of development, production and implementation of advanced technologies in microelectronics. However, special attention should be paid to the training of future experts and the improvement of existing academic programmes. Therefore, the University is already actively involved in the development of academic courses, guidelines and teaching aids on RISC-V technology to help all interested educational organisations.

This year, first master’s and bachelor’s graduation projects based on research into RISC-V software technology are already going to be defended at St Petersburg University. The University plans to develop this research area with industrial partners interested in its research team. Interaction in the alliance will make it possible to jointly solve urgent tasks in the field of RISC-V technology even more successfully than before for other platforms (The University joins the RISC-V alliance).

Organisation of translation of materials necessary for the implementation of academic programmes at St Petersburg University

Translating into the languages of the Asia-Pacific region and the countries of the Middle East is in demand by partner organisations of the University. In May 2023, a group led by Alexey Rodionov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies at St Petersburg University, completed the translation of materials from the Alexandrinsky Theatre website. The translation was from Russian into Chinese. According to Anastasia Yarmosh, Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and Partnership at St Petersburg University, due to the increase in incoming requests from partner organisations for similar tasks and in order to involve students in language areas in project activities, a decision was made to open a new educational clinic at St Petersburg University, i.e. the Centre for Asian and African Languages.

The translation of materials from Asian and African languages into Russian is also relevant to use in the academic and research activities at the University. In order to prepare for the 2023/2024 academic year, it is proposed to translate individual publications, texts, articles in the Asian and African languages into the Russian language in order to include these translations in teaching materials of the disciplines as part of the degree programmes at St Petersburg University.

Anastasia Yarmosh asked the heads of the academic programmes to send proposals for specific texts indicating the disciplines where the use of the translations of these materials would be in high demand.

Cultural events at St Petersburg University during June

Elena Lebedkina, Head of the Main Department for Exhibitions, Museum, Library and Publishing Activities, has presented the digest of cultural events of the University, which will take place in June.

Exhibition "Teachers and students"

On 1 June, the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art at St Petersburg University opens an exhibition of youthful paintings from the funds of the Ioganson Academic Art Lyceum of the Russian Academy of Arts. The event is part of the Year of the Teacher and Mentor declared and set to mark International Children’s Day. The display will feature about 30 best paintings of the 1960s-2010s by students of the famous School of Art. The paintings are dedicated to the theme "Teachers and students". The exhibition is open until 23 June.

Online exhibition "On that shore, wave-swept and empty..."

In honour of the 320th anniversary of St Petersburg, the Mineralogical Museum at St Petersburg University will hold the online exhibition "On that shore, wave-swept and empty...". The St Petersburg University website introduces the history of the creation of the famous monument to the founder of St Petersburg "The Bronze Horseman".

Open lecture "History and modern life of the St Petersburg Society of Naturalists"

At 4 pm on 1 June, the M Gorky Scientific Library will hold the open lecture "History and modern life of the St Petersburg Society of Naturalists". The lecture will be delivered by Dmitrii Vlasov, Professor in the Department of Botany at St Petersburg University and President of St Petersburg Society of Naturalists. The event is to mark the Day of Libraries. It is also to mark the end of the 10-year work of St Petersburg University on the return of the book collection of the library of the St Petersburg Imperial Society of Naturalists to the University staff, students, and alumni (A Fresh Start: How we put an end to the chaos).

Virtual exhibition "Political leaders: Xi Jinping"

On 1 June, the M. Gorky Scientific Library will open the virtual exhibition "Political leaders: Xi Jinping". It will feature the works of Chinese President Xi Jinping and books about him.

Tour of the exposition "Pages of Andrey Beketov"

At 2.30 pm on 2 June, the M Gorky Scientific Library will offer a tour of the exhibition "Pages of the life of Andrey Beketov". It is part of the opening of the 2023 season at the Botanical Garden at St Petersburg University.

Opening of the exhibition "History of the Botanical Garden at St Petersburg University"

On 2 June, the M Gorky Scientific Library will open the in-person exhibition and the online exhibition "History of the Botanical Garden at St Petersburg University". It presents albums, botanical atlases of the 19th century and the works of the famous botanist Andrey Beketov.

Open lecture "The works by Vladimir Nabokov in the context of the philosophy of symbolism"

At 6 pm on 8 June, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University will hold the open lecture "The works by Vladimir Nabokov in the context of the philosophy of symbolism". The lecture will be delivered by Nina Shcherbak, Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology and Cultural Linguistics at St Petersburg University. Through the prism of the philosophy of Russian symbolism and the philosophical interpretation of the word and symbol, the lecture focuses on the works by Vladimir Nabokov. Among them are the following: "Pale Fire", "Transparent Things", and "The Real Life of Sebastian Knight".

Opening of the exhibition "My fatherland — Russia"

On 9 June, the M Gorky Scientific Library will open the book and illustrative exhibition "My fatherland — Russia" to mark the Day of Russia. The exhibition will feature publications on the history of Russia and outstanding personalities who have made an invaluable contribution to the development of the country in different periods of its history. It will also present materials on the state symbols. Among them are the following: the Constitution, the anthem, the flag, and the coat of arms. It will present books about life, customs, culture of Russia, peculiarities of the Russian national character, the beauty of natural landscapes, and architectural monuments.

Round table "Defence of Borges"

At 6 pm on 14 June, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University will host the round table "Defence of Borges". It will present the first in Russia edition of the complete collection of poems by Jorge Luis Borges.

Opening of the exhibition "Chitin incunabula"

At 6 pm on 17 June, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University will open the exhibition "Chitin incunabula" by Stanislav Kazimov, a St Petersburg artist, member of the Union of Artists and employee at the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art at St Petersburg University. It will present 10 books, i.e. so-called "artist’s books". The series is based on the artist’s impressions of the decoration elements of the façade and interior of Vladimir Nabokov’s house; large-format engravings; and art objects. The exhibition is open until 29 July.

Opening of the personal exhibition "Levkas" by Italian artist Elio Cassara

At 6.30 pm on 30 June, the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art at St Petersburg University will open the personal exhibition "Levkas" by Italian artist Elio Cassara. It will be held in St Petersburg for the first time. The exhibition is open until 31 August.

Online exhibition "Mechanical engineer Franz Reuleaux and Reuleaux mechanisms collection"

On 30 June, the Museum of the History of Physics and Mathematics at St Petersburg University will open the online exhibition "Mechanical engineer Franz Reuleaux and Reuleaux mechanisms collection". The St Petersburg University Museum has 42 models of the famous engineer’s mechanisms.

Elena Lebedkina also reported on the achievements of St Petersburg University’s staff.

On 23 May, a solemn meeting dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Association of St Petersburg University Museums was held. Certificates of honour and diplomas for their professional contribution to the development of museum activities were awarded to the staff of the Department of Exhibitions and Collections of St Petersburg University: Alina Zaliaeva, Specialist for Object Storage; Stanislav Kazimov, Specialist for Collection Accounting; Viktoriia Nochevna, Tour Guide; Galina Sinilshchikova, Specialist for Museum Object Storage; Ianina Strakhova, Chief Specialist for Collection Storage; Elizaveta Tapakova-Boyarskaya, Head of the Department of Exhibitions and Collections.

On 18 May, the International Museum Day, the staff of the St Petersburg University Museum of the History of Physics and Mathematics took part in the open contest of guidance papers ‘Lesson in the Museum: from the Arctic to Didactics’. Among the contestants were: Galina Sinilshchikova, Specialist for Museum Object Storage; and Olga Mazalova, Chief Specialist for Museum Object Storage. They presented the guidance paper for an interactive lesson (a guided tour with a quest) titled "Physics and the Arctic".

Participation of St Petersburg University in the St Petersburg International Book Fair 2023

The 18th St Petersburg International Book Fair was held on the Palace Square from 18 to 21 May. In 2023, the fair marked the significant events. Among them are the following: the 320th anniversary of St Petersburg; the Year of the Teacher and Mentor; and the fact that St Petersburg in 2023 was declared the cultural capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States. About 260 exhibitors-publishers took part in the fair. They presented their books in four specially constructed pavilions. Over 520,000 people visited the book fair during the four days. More than 250 events were held. Among them are the following: book presentations, meetings with writers, workshops, and lectures to name just a few.

As Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova said, St Petersburg University took an active part in the work of the 18th St Petersburg International Book Fair. The University presented unique books by the St Petersburg University Publishing House about science, art and history. Among them are the following:

• the publication "Nabokov house" edited by Andrei Astvatsaturov, Director of the Vladimir Nabokov Museum, Professor in the Department of the History of Foreign Literatures at St Petersburg University; the reviewer is Fedor Dviniatin, Associate Professor in the Department of Russian at St Petersburg University. The team of authors of the publication includes Nina Shcherbak, Associate Professor at St Petersburg University and a literature researcher; and Vladimir Torbik, Associate Professor at St Petersburg University and Head of the Department of Restoration at St Petersburg University, to name just a few
• the publishing project "The rare book", which includes the works of Mikhail Lomonosov; the project was presented by Marina Karpova, Director of the M Gorky Scientific Library
• the publication "Collection of knowledge. Botanical Garden at St Petersburg University", edited by Sergey Korkonosenko, Professor in the Department of Theory of Journalism and Mass Communication, Honorary Professor of St Petersburg University; it was presented by Natalia Diuppei, Director of the Botanical Garden at St Petersburg University
• the publication "Mobilised Middle Ages" edited by Alexander Filyushkin, Doctor of History, Head of the Department of History of Slavic and Balkan Countries; it was presented by Evgenii Rostovtsev, Professor in the Department of the History of Russia from Ancient Times to the 20th Century at St Petersburg University
• the publication "The first in Russia printed textbook of Russian as a foreign language: research and text" was presented by Leonid Moskovkin, who is the author of the publication and Doctor of Pedagogy, Professor in the Department of Russian as a Foreign Language and Methods of Its Teaching at St Petersburg University

St Petersburg University paid special attention to the literature and the results of international cooperation with the East. Apollinariia Avrutina, Director of the Centre for Contemporary Turkish Studies and Russia—Türkiye Relations at St Petersburg University, presented the publication "The Tales of İstanbul". It is a collection compiled by Turkish researcher Naki Tezel. The presentation was attended by Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye Özgün Talu. He spoke about the significance of this publication in the study of Turkish culture.

After the presentation of the new books by the St Petersburg University Publishing House, the authors continued to communicate with the visitors at the St Petersburg University stand. Everyone could get an autograph on the purchased book, ask questions, and take photos. There were six autograph sessions.

As part of the Book Fair at the St Petersburg University stand, the presentations of museums and collections of St Petersburg University took place for the first time. Among them are the following:

• Dmitri Mendeleev Museum and Archives at St Petersburg University
• St Petersburg University History Museum
• Herbarium of St Petersburg University
• Mineralogical Museum at St Petersburg University
• Palaeontology Museum at St Petersburg University
• Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art at St Petersburg University
• Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University

During the four days of the fair at the St Petersburg University stand, the University volunteers conducted a survey among readers and visitors about the most anticipated book of the St Petersburg University Publishing House in 2023. In total, more than 1,500 people took part in the survey.

Top 10 expected new products are the following:

1. Pú Sōnglíng. Liáozhāi zhì yì. Strange Stories from a Failed Scholar’s StudioZhiyi: The Complete Collection in 12 juàns. In 7 volumes. Volume Translated from Chinese
2. Ottoman miniature art. Translated from Turkish by Appolinariia Avrutina
3. Svetlana Gurieva. Theory and practice of negotiation
4. Sergei Belozerov, Elena Sokolovskaia (edited). Japan’s modern financial technologies: a study guide
5. History of perception of modern Chinese poetry by Fang Chang’an. Translated from Chinese; edited by Alexey Rodionov
6. History of St Petersburg University. Three centuries of St Petersburg University
7. Guide to the Mineralogical Museum of St Petersburg University
8. St Petersburg University in the memories of the University staff, students, and alumni
9. Sergei Kashchenko. Landowner estates of the St Petersburg Governorate in the 1860s—1880s. Sankt-Peterburgsky Uyezd
10. Elena Timoshina (edited). Three realms of law: basic models of the reality and effectiveness of law

The most anticipated publications were:

• Sergei Kashchenko. Landowner estates of the St Petersburg Governorate in the 1860s—1880s. Sankt-Peterburgsky Uyezd
• History of St Petersburg University. Three centuries of St Petersburg University
• Svetlana Gurieva. Theory and practice of negotiation

The stand also hosted a historical quiz on the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University. The quiz was developed and conducted by specialists from the St Petersburg University History Museum. Each participant of the quiz received an invitation to an excursion to the St Petersburg University History Museum and the Botanical Garden on preferential terms. In total, about 5,000 people took part in the quiz.

The St Petersburg University stand was decorated in the colours of the University to attract visitors and increase the recognition of the St Petersburg University Publishing House. Recognisable elements were used in the design of the stand: the façade of the Twelve Collegia building and the Dom Universitetskoi Knigi. The technical equipment of the stand was designed in accordance with state-of-the-art interactive trends: television panels and a touch-screen table were used to demonstrate video content in relation to the image of the University. The video materials were broadcast about the M Gorky Scientific Library and about the publication of albums dedicated to the museum, book and architectural collections. By an order of St Petersburg University, the application "Navigation around the University stand" was developed for and installed in the touch-screen table. This made it possible for the visitors to immediately receive online information about the University and purchasing books from the Publishing House, museums, and the Botanical Garden of St Petersburg University.

Anatoly Puyu, Director of the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St Petersburg University, announced that the winners of the contest of youth projects ‘Book of the Future’ were awarded at the St Petersburg International Book Fair. In the nomination "Social Actions and Projects", the winner is Daria Iaromich, a first-year student in the programme "Advertising and Public Relations" at St Petersburg University (Our student Daria Iaromich wins the contest "Book of the Future"). The project "Teens4teens − When Teenagers Write!" developed by Daria Iaromich is set to create an open platform for novice writers, journalists, screenwriters, copywriters and playwrights to train, support, and exchange experience in the format of communication with renowned experts.

Amendments to the Regulations for the approval, signing and accounting in St Petersburg University information systems of civil law contracts with a single supplier − an individual who is not an individual entrepreneur, and certificates of services rendered

The Regulations for the approval, signing and accounting in St Petersburg University information systems of civil law contracts with a single supplier — an individual who is not an individual entrepreneur, and certificates of services rendered are approved by Order № 194/1 dated 16 January 2023. The Regulations do not specify the person who may initiate the signing of the contract, but defines the requirements for the form of an application for signing civil law contracts with an individual approved by Order № 52/1p dated 18 January 2022. As Vice-Rector for Human Resources Vladimir Eremeev said, the application contains a complete package of information that is necessary for preparing a draft contract and its approval in the TurboX electronic system. The signing of each civil law contract requires the implementation of certain procedures regulated by federal laws. It normally takes at least 20 days for contract service employees, subject to all established rules. If it becomes necessary to attract a foreign teacher, it takes at least 50 days.

The teaching and learning process in the degree programmes cannot be organised without the involvement of practicing lecturers who are employed, as a rule, under civil law contracts. The number of contracts for the provision of teaching services is constantly growing and currently accounts for at least 50% of all civil law contracts (about 1,500). Unlike the signing of employment contracts, which is ensured by employees of the Human Resources Department, the process of signing a civil law contract with an individual for teaching activities, as practice shows, requires coordinated interaction between various services of St Petersburg University.

Since directors and deans continue to receive questions with requests for clarification of the provisions of the Regulations, Vladimir Eremeev explained the procedure for signing the civil law contracts. The initiators of the signing of civil law contracts for teaching services are employees of the Educational Programmes Department (the head of the department, their deputies) as officials responsible for planning the teaching and learning process. If it is necessary to involve a lecturer under a civil law contract, they send a corresponding request to the director / dean to recommend the candidate and provide his/her contact details (full name, phone, e-mail). After receiving the proposals, an employee of the Educational Programmes Department forms an application in the Delo information system to send to the Vice-Rector for Human Resources and the Head of the Financial Planning Department. The Human Resources Department supplements the application with personal data required for signing a civil law contract. The Financial Planning Department confirms the sufficiency and correctness of the indication of the source of funding. If a positive decision is made on the advisability of signing a civil law contract with the executor, the Vice-Rector for Human Resources sends an application to the contract service to organise the preparation of a draft contract, its signing, and publishing on the website.

Phone fraud

Vice-Rector for Security Dmitry Gryaznov informed about a new phone fraud scheme aimed at St Petersburg University employees, which was used over the weekend. Malefactors make phone calls or calls via instant messengers to employees of the University, introducing as senior officials of the University administration, specifying the names of some University heads and imitating their voice. Then, the malefactors warn that the employee of the University will be contacted by a Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation. This person, in turn, informs the employee of the University that he/she will be contacted by representatives of the Central Bank and law enforcement agencies, with full names being specified. As a result, the employee of the University is involved in a chain of contacts, the purpose of which is to find out information about his/her bank accounts and convince him/her to transfer money to the attackers. At the same time, a person who is perceived by the University employees as a Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation warns them about the secrecy of all information about this operation to identify fraudsters in a particular bank.

One of the directors of the institutes, being personally acquainted with a Deputy Minister on whose behalf the attackers acted, confirmed that she was convinced that she was talking to this particular person, as the voice was true. He asked questions that testified to an understanding of which city she had just attended a conference, what scientific article she had just published. It was wise enough that after some time she called that Deputy Minister back using the phone number she had and clarified the situation.

Dmitry Gryaznov drew attention to the fact that none of the employees of the University, state bodies, or a bank has the right to find out confidential data about a person and his/her bank accounts over the phone.

He asked to report such calls to the Vice-Rector for Security at: zrb@spbu.ru ; to be careful; and to warn colleagues.