Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting
International activities
According to Vice-Rector for International Affairs Sergey Andryushin, a number of new events have recently taken place.
Visit of representatives of St Petersburg University to the People’s Republic of China
Representatives of St Petersburg University took part in the International Forum of University Rectors of Russia and China and the 3rd Sino-Russia Forum on Science and Technology in Harbin. At the plenary session of the forum, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, made a report (online).
The delegation of St Petersburg University included Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St Petersburg University; Iurii Petrov, Head of the Research Centre "Dynamics", Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor of St Petersburg University; Ruslan Valiev, Head of the Laboratory for Mechanics of Advanced Bulk Nanomaterials for Innovative Engineering Applications, Professor of St Petersburg University; and Valentina Stoliarova, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor in the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry at St Petersburg University. The delegation met Han Jiecai, President of Harbin Institute of Technology, to discuss the issues relating to cooperation. On behalf of Nikolay Kropachev, the delegation of St Petersburg University congratulated Han Jiecai on the successful organisation of the forum and agreed to actively support joint research centres and projects. The forum had meetings with delegations from several Chinese universities.
Visit of Nanjing Tech University to St Petersburg University
On 24 October, a meeting was held between representatives of St Petersburg University and a delegation from Nanjing Tech University (the People’s Republic of China). The delegation was headed by the Chairperson of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China, Comrade Hui Hong Yan. The University was represented by the following: Valeriia Malomuzh, Deputy Vice-Rector for International Affairs; Veronika Koytova, Head of the International Academic Cooperation Department; Alisa Stepanova, Deputy Head of the International Academic Cooperation Department; and Tatiana Ryazantseva, Acting Head of the International Research Support Department. During the meeting, the prospects for interaction between the two universities in terms of the implementation of exchange programmes were discussed, and a cooperation agreement was signed.
Visit of the delegation of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Education to St Petersburg University
The delegation of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Education has visited St Petersburg University. The delegation was headed by Zhang Lantao, Deputy Secretary of the Committee for Educational Activity of the Committee of the Communist Party of China of Sichuan Province. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen academic cooperation, including the organisation of joint research projects, academic programmes, and exchange of students and academic staff.
Valeriia Malomuzh addressed the guests with a welcoming speech. She said that the signing of the direct agreement on strategic cooperation with Sichuan Province last year was a significant step in the development of the educational, scientific and technical potential of the University and the Chinese province.
Representatives of the Sichuan delegation expressed interest in developing international communication between universities, intensifying professorial and teaching exchanges, and opening language testing centres.
Open lecture by the Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan
On 24 October, on the eve of the Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan, St Petersburg University held an open lecture by Dmitry Mikhno, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in St Petersburg. During the lecture, the Consul General spoke about diplomatic relations between Russia and the Republic of Kazakhstan and shed light on the prospects for the development of cooperation between the two countries.
Visit of the delegation from Nanjing University to St Petersburg University
On 25 October, a meeting took place between Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the delegation of Nanjing University (the People’s Republic of China), headed by the Chairperson of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China, Comrade Tan Tieniu. During the meeting, prospects for interaction in educational and research were discussed. The Rector of St Petersburg University made several proposals, including teaching Chinese to Russian schoolchildren, new programmes with a Russian component in China and a Chinese component in Russia, and joint online courses.
Events at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain
On 26 October and 2 November, the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain hosted online lectures on Austrian literature, and contemporary Scottish and Irish prose. The lectures were delivered by Nina Shcherbak, Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology and Cultural Linguistics at St Petersburg University. On 31 October, there was an online lecture on Benois dachas by Evgeniia Petrashen, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design.
The 2nd meeting of the Youth Discussion Club
On 27 October, the 2nd meeting of the Youth Discussion Club devoted to the youth cultures of the two countries was held as part of the Korea-Russia Dialogue Forum.
Delegation from the Eurasia 21 Society (the Republic of Korea) visits St Petersburg University
On 30-31 October, St Petersburg University was visited by a delegation of the Eurasia 21 Society (the Republic of Korea) headed by President Kim Seon-dong. A joint seminar on cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea in the present context was held. The participants discussed a number of issues, including: "International order and its impact on Russia-Korea relations"; "Russia-Korea economic cooperation"; and "Overcoming sanctions in the energy sector" to name just a few.
Delegation from Renmin University of China visits St Petersburg University
On 2 November, representatives of St Petersburg University met with a delegation from Renmin University of China (the People’s Republic of China) headed by Vice-President Comrade Zheng Xinye. From the side of St Petersburg University, the negotiations were attended by: Mikhail Koryshev, Dean of the Faculty of Philology; Liudmila Popova, Associate Professor in the Department of World Economy; Nikolai Samoilov, Head of the Department of Theory of Social Development of Asian and African Countries; Olga Trofimenko, Acting Head of the Department of World Economy; Kira Shchukina, Associate Professor in the Department of Russian as a Foreign Language; and Anastasiia Ianushkevich, Acting Head of the Centre for Non-Degree Programmes in the Field of Russian as a Foreign Language.
The parties discussed the prospects of interaction between St Petersburg University and Renmin University of China, the possibility of developing joint master’s programmes, internships for students and teachers, and testing in Russian at the partner university. Also, the representatives of Renmin University of China were invited to participate in the events dedicated to the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University.
Seminar of the working group on "Economics, Trade and Resources" of the Korea-Russia Forum
On 3 November, a seminar of the working group on ‘Economics, Trade and Resources’ of the Korea-Russia Forum on Russia-Korea cooperation in the Arctic was held in the format of an online conference. The event consisted of two sessions: the first one focused on the development of the Northern Sea Route, while the second session discussed the development of rare-earth metal and mineral deposits in the Arctic region and the extraction of resources, including oil and gas. Welcoming speeches were delivered by the heads of the working group from the Russian and Korean sides: Sergey Frank, Advisor to the Chairman of the Management Board of PAO Novatek; and Chae Wook, Professor of Yonsei University.
The first stage of the 4th St Petersburg University International Online Olympiad in Russian as a Foreign Language is over
Since 2018, St Petersburg University has been organising intellectual contests for foreigners studying Russian as a non-native or foreign language. Since then, more than 35,000 citizens from 175 countries (including island territories) have participated in the St Petersburg University Olympiads in Russian as a Foreign Language.
The 4th St Petersburg University Olympiad in Russian as a Foreign Language will be held in autumn 2023. The registration of participants and the first round of the Olympiad took place from 16 October to 1 November. The Olympiad brought together 8,771 participants from 144 countries. This number exceeded the expected number of participants by 9% and also exceeded last year’s figures by more than 40%. The greatest interest in the Olympiad was shown by the citizens of: the Republic of Uzbekistan (more than 2,200 applications for participation were received from them); the Republic of Kazakhstan (more than 850 participants); the People’s Republic of China (more than 800 participants); Mongolia (more than 700 participants); the Kyrgyz Republic (more than 300 participants); the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Islamic Republic of Iran (more than 200 participants each). It is worth mentioning the great interest in the Olympiad of the residents of European countries, including unfriendly ones. Thus, despite all the circumstances, the share of participants from the Hellenic Republic, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Türkiye and the Czech Republic remains stably high. The geographical spread of participants from the African continent is remarkable. In 2022, 309 citizens from 32 countries took part, while in 2023 citizens from 41 African countries, including the Republic of Madagascar, will take part in the Olympiad. Moreover, 675 citizens from African countries have applied to take part in the contest.
The Olympiad is organised in a distance format. In each of the two rounds, two sets of tasks have to be completed within a limited time. The second (final) round of the 4th St Petersburg University International Online Olympiad in Russian as a Foreign Language will be held from 6 to 19 November 2023.
Agreement on testing in Russian as a foreign language between St Petersburg University and the association "Russian Without Borders"
St Petersburg University and the association "Russian Without Borders" (the Kingdom of Spain) have signed an agreement to conduct testing in Russian as a foreign language. The text of the agreement can be found on the St Petersburg University portal in the list of Partner Universities in the International Cooperation section.
Agreement on testing in Russian as a foreign language between St Petersburg University and the school "Oxinus"
St Petersburg University and the school "Oxinus" (the Hellenic Republic) have signed an agreement to conduct testing in Russian as a foreign language. The text of the agreement can be found on the St Petersburg University portal in the list of Partner Universities in the International Cooperation section.
Cultural events at St Petersburg University during November
Elena Lebedkina, Head of the Main Department for Exhibitions, Museum, Library and Publishing Activities at St Petersburg University, presented a digest of cultural events during November at the University.
Exhibition ‘The image of a person as Nabokov’s "transparent things"’
On 1 November, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University opened the exhibition ‘The image of a person as Nabokov’s "transparent things"’. It is an experiment from the experience and creative method described by Nabokov in his book "Transparent things". The exhibition inspires you to look at how self-perception is developed. It contains iconic images created by artists of different eras, countries, beliefs, and philosophical concepts.
Illustrative exhibition "The strength of Russia is in the unity of peoples"
On 3 November, on the eve of the National Unity Day, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University opened the illustrative exhibition "The strength of Russia is in the unity of peoples". The exhibition offers an excursion into the historical past of our country and introduces the history of the holiday.
Exhibition "The best chemist among composers and the best composer among chemists"
On 10 November, the exhibition "The best chemist among composers and the best composer among chemists. To the 190th anniversary of Alexander Borodin" opens in the branch department in the field of ‘Chemistry’ at the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University. Alexander Borodin was one of the founders of the Russian Chemical Society (1868) at St Petersburg Imperial University.
Exhibition "Artem Tkach: the path of the digital artist"
On 15 November, the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art opens the exhibition "Artem Tkach: the path of the digital artist". It is part of the Youth Forum "Culture Code 2023". The artist explores the inner beauty of a person and interaction of a person and technology with nature.
Round table "Libraries and cultural heritage. 240 years of the book collection of St Petersburg University"
From 3pm to 4.30pm on 15 November, the round table "Libraries and cultural heritage. 240 years of the book collection of St Petersburg University" is to be held in the reading room at the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University. The event is part of the Youth Forum "Culture Code 2023". The round table introduces the results of the restoration of early printed publications by the restoration sector and the work of students in the field "Restoration of rare books" in the Department of Restoration at St Petersburg University.
Book and illustrative exhibition dedicated to the 180th anniversary of Kliment Timiryazev
On 16 November, a book and illustrative exhibition dedicated to the 180th anniversary of Kliment Timiryazev opens at the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University. The event is as part the Day of Higher School Teachers.
Open lecture "Oxbridge literature, contemporary Shakespeare productions"
On 17 November, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University holds an open lecture by Nina Shcherbak, Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology and Cultural Linguistics at St Petersburg University. The lecture is "Oxbridge literature, contemporary Shakespearean productions". It is set to examine the works of authors who have defined the English-language academic tradition.
Open lecture "2,000 versts in Zabaykalsky Krai"
On 17 November, the Mineralogical Museum at St Petersburg University holds the open lecture "2,000 versts across Zabaykalsky Krai".
Online exhibition "Viacheslav Tishchenko, the first director of the office of Dmitri Mendeleev and his first biographer"
On 20 November, the St Petersburg University History Museum and the Dmitri Mendeleev Museum and Archives at St Petersburg University hold the online exhibition "Viacheslav Tishchenko, the first director of the office of Dmitri Mendeleev and his first biographer". The lecture focuses on Viacheslav Tishchenko, Professor of St Petersburg Imperial University.
Online catalogue "Bobbins"
On 21 November, the St Petersburg University History Museum publishes the online catalogue "Bobbins", which will present images of the objects found during the restoration and adaptation of the cultural heritage site of federal significance "Menshikov Palace (First Cadet Corps)" to the needs of St Petersburg University.
Opening of the book and illustrative exhibition "In memory of Lyudmila Verbitskaya"
On 24 November, the book and illustrative exhibition "In memory of Lyudmila Verbitskaya" opens at the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University. It is dedicated to Lyudmila Verbitskaya, an outstanding researcher, Dean of the Faculty of Philology, President of the University, honorary citizen of St Petersburg, and President of the Russian Academy of Education.
Meet-the-artist session with Professor Georgii Biske
On 24 November, the St Petersburg University Publishing House holds a meet-the-artist session with Georgii Biske, Professor in the Department of Sedimentary Geology at St Petersburg University. The Publishing House also presents his book "How I became a geologist and what happened next".
Online exhibition "History of palaeontology at St Petersburg University"
On 30 November, the online exhibition "History of palaeontology at St Petersburg University" opens. It focuses on the history of the development of palaeontology at St Petersburg University (Leningrad State University) from mid-1945 to the 1960s.
Prize-winner of the contest "Enlightenment through books" — album of the St Petersburg University Publishing House
The illustrated album "New Martyr Yuri Novitsky: In Service to the Law and to the Truth", published by the St Petersburg University Publishing House in 2022, won the contest ‘Enlightenment through the books’ held by the publishing council of the Russian Orthodox Church. The contest is held with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus. In 2023, 142 publications from different regions of Russia, Estonia, and Poland were submitted to the contest. The illustrated album "New Martyr Yuri Novitsky: In Service to the Law and to the Truth" received the stamp of the publishing council of the Russian Orthodox Church and will be published on the website "Pravchtenie". The album contains a foreword by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus and a foreword by Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University.
The Award for Fidelity to Science won by the University’s academics
Moscow has hosted the awarding ceremony of winners and awardees of the 9th All-Russian Award for Fidelity to Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The project of St Petersburg University "Unknown Mendeleev. The Life of a Naval Officer" won in the nomination "The best popular science student project". Irina Timofeeva, Professor of St Petersburg University, took third place in the nomination "Science is fashionable". The University’s Press Service became a finalist of the award.
The All-Russian Award for Fidelity to Science was established by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation in 2015. It is awarded annually for outstanding achievements in popularising science and the achievements of Russian scholars. In 2023, the award is held as part of the Decade of Science and Technology announced by the President of Russia. More than 1,200 applications were submitted for participation in 14 nominations from 78 regions of Russia.
The best popular science student project of the year was the exhibition-archive "Unknown Mendeleev. The life of a naval officer" prepared by students of St Petersburg University Daria Kozlova, Timur Sirazetdinov, Anna Sokolova and Anna Chernysheva under the supervision of Anna Zyrianova, Associate Professor of St Petersburg University. The project is dedicated to the life of Vladimir Mendeleev, the eldest son of the famous chemist who worked at the University.
The exhibition was opened on the cruiser "Aurora" in honour of the celebration of the Day of the Russian Navy. When preparing the project, students in the master’s programme "Graphic Design" used documents from the Dmitri Mendeleev Museum and Archives of St Petersburg University and materials from photo albums kept in the Central Naval Museum. The exhibition is based on extracts from the memoirs of Dmitri Mendeleev’s daughter Olga, true stories told in the first person: Vladimir’s letters to his father, written while serving on the cruiser "Memory of Azov".
Irina Timofeeva, Professor of St Petersburg University, winner of the Russian President’s Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists, took third place in the nomination "Science is fashionable", presenting her popular science project on environmentally friendly chemical analysis. The project included popular science lectures and workshops, from which schoolchildren and students will get an idea of the peculiarities of chemical analysis and learn what stereotypes about the toxicity and danger of analytical chemistry are based on.
The Press Service of St Petersburg University was also a finalist in the nomination "Scientific Press Service of the Year". Employees of the University’s Press Service are engaged in popularisation of scientific research and developments of the University scholars in various fields, including today’s most topical ones such as: artificial intelligence, neurobiology, palaeontology, and mineralogy. Over the last year, more than 90 scientific releases about the research conducted at St Petersburg University were published. The total readership of these publications was more than 470 million people.
Participation of St Petersburg University in the international contest "Culture online"
Voting has been completed to select the winners of the Culture Online Award of the Russian Cultural Foundation. A total of 300 applications were submitted to the contest, and the list of finalists included 35 projects in seven categories.
One of the five candidates for the award in the category "Best collaboration" is an exhibition project for children ‘Ancient inhabitants of the deep sea’. The project was prepared by the University staff and students with the support of the Museum of the World Ocean in Kaliningrad. The project was developed by Iliana Makhovikova, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design at St Petersburg University; Iuliia Laputenko, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design at St Petersburg University; Vadim Glinskiy, Head of the Department of Natural Science Collections at St Petersburg University; and Mariia Shestopalova, a master’s student at St Petersburg University. She developed a graphic and multimedia concept for the exhibition as part of her graduation project.
Established in 2020, the Culture Online Award is one of Russia’s most prestigious awards in the field of digital art. During these four years, the organising committee received more than 1,000 applications from 53 regions of the Russian Federation and 25 countries, including Austria, Singapore, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Great Britain, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and Switzerland to name just a few.
St Petersburg University takes part in Russia Expo
On National Unity Day, the Russia Expo opened in Moscow, where the country’s most important achievements in various sectors of the economy were presented. St Petersburg University introduced visitors to the best developments in the field of science and education.
In pavilion No 57 "Russia — my history" at the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh), the interactive exhibition "A decade of science and technology" opened. It was prepared with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. Participants included leading Russian universities, research institutes, and technology companies.
The stand of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation presents exhibits of the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University. The University’s doctors present individual tools for revision endoprosthesis surgery based on the patient’s anthropometric data on a 3D printer. They also present a VR trainer for training surgeons and conduct workshops on the use of virtual reality technologies in training medical students.
The University holds a number of events at the St Petersburg stand. On 23 December, on the Region Day, forum visitors can visit career guidance events from students at St Petersburg University’s clinics, take a quiz on knowledge of the history of the oldest university in Russia, and take part in a multimedia quest prepared by the Dmitri Mendeleev Museum and Archives at St Petersburg University. Guests can also try on a graduation robe and have their photo as a graduate of St Petersburg University. St Petersburg University is the only university invited to participate in the Region Day.
You can take part in workshops, lectures, and tests. You can also watch a presentation from St Petersburg University during the thematic week "Scientific and educational St Petersburg". To mark the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University in February 2024, consultations on how to apply to degree and non-degree programmes and retraining programmes are organised at the city’s stand. Experts will tell you about the University’s online courses. There is special focus placed on the presentation of exhibits from the Institute of Chemistry at St Petersburg University, united by the theme "Inorganic nanomaterials for sustainable development". The Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University holds the virtual quest ‘How medicines are developed’ in the Minecraft environment. It is set to mark the University’s anniversary.
Increasing the efficiency of using public property in the field of education and science: best practices of St Petersburg University
On 1 November, a joint meeting of the association of federal universities, national research universities, Lomonosov Moscow State University, St Petersburg University, and the Council of Rectors of Universities of the Northwestern Federal District took place in Moscow. The meeting discussed the issues relating to how to increase the efficiency of the use of public property by educational and scientific organisations and how to organise educational work in universities of the Russian Federation to name just a few.
At the meeting, Elena Chernova, Senior Vice-Rector of St Petersburg University, made the report "Increasing the efficiency of using public property in the field of education and science: best practices of St Petersburg University". The report was prepared by the following authors: Iuliia Linskaia, Nikolay Kropachev, and Elena Chernova. She reviewed modern tools for consolidating resources and identified the types of public property of universities that have a potential for collective use. Among them are the following:
- real estate objects: sports facilities; premises for conducting practices; halls of residence; and cultural and leisure centres to name just a few, owned by a university with the right of operational management
- information and library collections
- museum objects
- objects of scientific and research infrastructure developed at the expense of budgetary funds
- online courses developed using budget funds; and
- software products that can be used in the interests of the entire system of education and science and have been developed at the expense of budgetary or extra-budgetary funds of a university
Having analysed the organisational and legal problems of resource consolidation, Elena Chernova provided numerous examples how St Petersburg University offered an opportunity to use its resources to external users under the transparent rules. Among the resources are the following: the Scientific Library’s collections; museum objects; Research Park’s equipment and infrastructure; halls of residence; educational and scientific bases; online courses; and the software "CryptoVeche").
Following the results of the discussion at the meeting, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Valery Falkov gave instructions to organise working groups together with representatives of the Association of Leading Universities, including a working group to study the issue of the effective use of public property in the field of education and science.
At the Rector’s meeting, Elena Chernova recalled the "feudal fragmentation" of the University, which flourished at the University in the last century and continued until the end of the 2000s. Elena Chernova focused on the work of vice-rectors in areas that contributed to the unification of the University, which had broken up into several hundred separate, non-interacting, and sometimes even opposing each other, independent parts. She also reminded once again that today, in order to increase efficiency, all University’s resources are shared and available to all University staff, students, and alumni. There is a recent example: some students in journalism are currently studying in the classrooms at the building at 3 Volkhovsky Pereulok, while renovations are underway on the sixth floor of the building on 26, 1st Line of Vasilyevsky Island.
Organisation of the teaching and learning process
Over the past week, 33 enquiries were addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. The majority of enquiries relate to preparation of various documents. 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 are held in due order according to the timetable. As of 3 November, the information was not sent by: Anna Germer, Director of the Medical College; Sergei Ivanov, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science; and Kirill Chistyakov, Director of the Institute of Earth Sciences.
Over the past week, meetings were held with student activists: group heads, and representatives of student councils and student scientific societies to name just a few. They discussed issues with organising the teaching and learning process. The meetings were held at: the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication; the Institute of Philosophy; the Faculty of Foreign Languages; the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes; the Faculty of Sociology; the Faculty of Physics; and the Faculty of Philology.
The Clinic of Applied Political Science at St Petersburg University
In 2023, the St Petersburg University Clinic of Applied Political Science was opened by the decision of the Rector in response to a proposal of members of the Presidium of the Student Council of the Faculty of Political Science. Now, the students enrolled in the Political Science programmes at St Petersburg University like other students (would-be lawyers, psychologists, journalists, sociologists, and economists) have the opportunity to take part in research projects, acquire practical skills they will need in future career settings, and gain experience of professional interaction with real-life clients. The Head of the Clinic is Galina Lukianova, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Institutions and Applied Political Science at St Petersburg University.
The idea of establishing a clinic of political science at St Petersburg University was born in 2017. By then, a few clinic-based internship programmes had already been implemented at the University. The opinion was expressed that the University’s clinic-based practical training programmes should be studied, and the question of establishing a clinic for political science students was discussed. This issue has always been especially relevant to senior students who need more practical training and opportunities to gain a hands-on experience in their future professional activities. The decisive impetus for the opening of the Clinic came at a meeting of the Presidium of the Student Council of the Faculty of Political Science at St Petersburg University with Rector Nikolay Kropachev in autumn 2022. At the meeting, a proposal was made to establish a Clinic of Applied Political Science and the Rector supported the initiative. In the spring of 2023, the opening of the Clinic was announced.
Student internship programmes are among the most important components of the University education. It is an opportunity to gain practical experience and, no less importantly, build students’ own social and professional network, especially valuable for future political scientists. In applied political science, practice is vital. It does not suffice that students have read the textbook and learned the material, they need to be well-versed with it. They will have to be able to apply different methods of analysis and non-standard approaches in real-life cases and find most effective solutions. Hence, the Clinic is a relevant and important project that makes the political science programmes at St Petersburg University even more attractive for students and university entrants.
The main goal of the Clinic is to train young specialists on the modern methods of empirical and applied political research for their further professional activities in federal and local government bodies; civil society institutions; and educational and research organisations. Practical training at the Clinic contributes to gaining experience of professional interaction with real-life clients and practical activities in different topical areas of political analysis. It helps to improve students’ teamwork skills and develop key skills and competences for public defence and social media marketing. The tasks set for students at the Clinic are aimed at developing a professional skills set that will help them to become more sought-after specialists on the labour market, thus improving their career prospects.
Order of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to study the issue of reducing the duration of study at universities for college graduates
The President of Russia instructed the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation to work on the issue of reducing the duration of study at universities for college graduates if they continue their studies in the same area of study. The list of instructions of the President of Russia represent the results of the extended meeting of the Presidium of the State Council held on 21 September 2023 and is published on the Kremlin website.
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation is instructed, until 25 December 2023, to work on the issue of establishing a shortened period of study for academic programmes of higher education for graduates of professional educational organisations, if they are gaining a degree in the same area of study.
Until 25 December 2023, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education is instructed to study the issue of the possibility of applying the principles of dual training in the implementation of academic programmes of higher education after the second year of study. Dual training is a type of training in which a student receives theoretical knowledge at an educational institution, while the practical part of the training takes place at a company.
Procedure for assigning academic titles
On 1 September 2024, an updated regulation on awarding the academic titles of associate professor and professor will come into force in Russia. The executive order was signed by the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin.
The first innovation concerns the reduction of the period for reviewing documents that are necessary for awarding the academic titles. The period is to be reduced from 125 to 100 days. This became possible thanks to the results of an experiment to optimise and automate permitting processes, launched in 2021.
In April 2022, at the Rector’s meeting, Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies, and Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy, raised an issue relating to the need to take into account the fact of developing online courses when deciding on awarding the titles of associate professor and professor. The Rector supported this proposal and in August 2022 sent a relevant request to the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation to include online courses in the list of publications that are taken into account when awarding the academic titles of professor and associate professor. The University’s proposals were taken into account, and in the updated resolution on awarding the academic titles of associate professor and professor, applicants for the titles of associate professor and professor are now allowed to submit online courses that they have developed as written textbooks or teaching aids. These online courses must be published on the university website and used in the teaching and learning process.
As before, an applicant for the academic title of associate professor must submit at least 20 educational publications or scientific works written by himself/herself or co-authored. For an applicant for the title of professor, this number is 50. Those who apply for the title of professor must have an academic degree of Doctor of Science.
Improving the scientific certification system
In order to improve the scientific certification system, Executive Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No 1786 "On amendments to certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation" dated 26 October 2023 was published.
According to Yury Penov, Vice-Rector for Legal Affairs at St Petersburg University, the main innovation is that now a dissertation for the academic degree of Candidate of Science, prepared during the period of the full-time doctoral programme and submitted for defence during the period of the programme or within one year after its completion, can be presented in the form of a research report. In this case, the number of publications presenting the main results of the dissertation must be at least 10.
St Petersburg University’s own academic degrees — successful experience of St Petersburg University
The St Petersburg University Publishing House published the book "Academic degrees of St Petersburg University: history, modernity, prospects". Based on the documents and materials on the St Petersburg University website, the publication focuses on the experience of St Petersburg University in introducing its own academic degrees of Doctor of Science and Candidate of Science. It sheds light on the organisation of and procedure for conducting a defence for awarding scientific degrees of Doctor of Science and Candidate of Science of St Petersburg University according to the rules developed and approved by the University.
St Petersburg University managed to achieve the restoration of academic freedom in relation to organising and conducting dissertation defence procedures after this tradition was forgotten for a hundred years. This practice had been implemented at the University from the 1830s until 1918. The rules independently established by St Petersburg University for the awarding of the scientific degrees stipulate the requirements for dissertations and scientific qualifications of members of dissertation councils, which must be no lower than similar requirements established by the Government of the Russian Federation within the framework of the currently operating state system of scientific certification.
At the request of the Rector, Professor Konstantin Khudoley agreed to become the executive editor of the book. Ten years ago, he asked the Rector to find a legal opportunity, within the framework of the then Charter of St Petersburg University, to revive the tradition of defending dissertations at the University according to the University’s own rules to award the University’s own academic degrees. The Rector found such a legal possibility in the Charter and asked Konstantin Khudoley to prepare a draft regulation on the procedure for conducting such dissertation defences. Hundreds of the University staff, students, alumni, and colleagues from other universities in Russia and foreign universities took part in the discussion of the draft regulations.
St Petersburg University began to organise such defence procedures before the corresponding changes were introduced in the legislation of the Russian Federation. Initially, the results of such defences were recognised at St Petersburg University (by Order of the Rector, these degrees were equated to degrees received in the Higher Assessment Committee; persons who defended dissertations in the dissertation councils of St Petersburg University received appropriate allowances and were granted the corresponding rights) and at universities and scientific organisations abroad. Yet the results were not recognised across Russia. Only a few years later, changes were made to the legislation of the Russian Federation, and academic degrees of St Petersburg University began to be recognised in universities and scientific organisations across Russia.
An important feature of awarding the scientific degrees of Doctor of Science and Candidate of Science at St Petersburg University is the maximum openness of the procedure at all its stages. The results of such openness were a more responsible attitude of the members of dissertation councils and an applicant and a sharp reduction in the number of conflict situations. After the introduction of the new rules, the number of defence procedures decreased sharply. The University foresaw this situation and could only rejoice at such a reduction. Soon, despite the high requirements for defences, the number of defence procedures for the academic degrees of Doctor of Science and Candidate of Science of St Petersburg University began to increase annually, including among international scholars and researchers.
The book provides information about the specifics and advantages of the rules of St Petersburg University. It also provides the time frame for defending a dissertation at St Petersburg University in comparison with the time period for defending a dissertation in the dissertation councils of the Higher Assessment Committee under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
The publication is illustrated with cases of specific defence procedures and interviews with those who defended the dissertations. Quantitative and qualitative indicators of about 600 defence procedures at St Petersburg University according to the new rules in 2017 to 2022 are given. The data are presented by fields of science and by year. The publication is intended for rectors of higher educational institutions, heads of dissertation councils, applicants for the degree of Candidate of Science and Doctor of Science, and everyone interested in the successful experience of St Petersburg University.
Support for participants in the special military operation
The University continues to support the University students and staff who are taking part in the special military operation and have gone to the operation zone. As reported at the Rector’s meeting held on 16 October 2022, an employee of the Security Department of St Petersburg University was called up for military service on 14 October 2022 and is doing military service in the Avdeyevka direction of the Donetsk People’s Republic. After one year, he was granted a short-term leave, after which he will continue his military service in the zone of the special military operation.
Many St Petersburg University employees have responded to the request of Dmitry Gryaznov, Vice-Rector for Security, to help their colleague purchase equipment and special gear. For example, 10 employees of the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University have taken part in the fund-raising, including: Sergei Efremov, Deputy Director for Research; radiologist Tamila Goncharova; anaesthesiologist and critical care physician Maksim Monastyrnyi; obstetrician-gynaecologist Aleksandr Basos; and nurse Anna Baskakova. Thanks to the funds raised, both special tactical equipment (the total list exceeds 30 items) and first aid items were purchased.
Additionally, since December 2022, a volunteer movement in the name of the Holy Cross Community of Sisters of Mercy has been operating on the basis of the clinic. It unites more than 260 people: heads of departments, doctors, nurses and other proactive employees of the clinic.The main goal of the volunteer movement is to provide all-round support to military medics who provide rescue emergency care and necessary assistance to the injured on the front line at the risk of their own lives.
According to Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, currently assistance is also required by the military units of the Western Military District, whose personnel are partly on the front lines of defending our Motherland, i.e. in the zone of the special military operation. The command and personnel of the military units of the Western Military District always support the University and try to ensure that the military training camps of St Petersburg University students are held at a high professional level.
Joint work makes it possible to train highly calibre experts in the relevant military occupational specialties who, upon completion of the military training programme, are capable of independently solving the tasks assigned to them in the field of ensuring the defence and security of the state. Even during the pandemic of the coronavirus disease, colleagues from the Western Military District did not refuse to hold military training camps, which enabled St Petersburg University students to fully meet the requirements of military training programmes.
Аleksandr Babich asked to support the military units of the Western Military District. Those students and staff who are ready to help the military units should send the relevant information from the St Petersburg University corporate email to the corporate email of Aleksandr Maslikov, Head of the Military Training Centre, at the following address: a.maslikov@spbu.ru. Аleksandr Maslikov, in turn, will provide the University students and staff with the details for money transfer.
St Petersburg University students donating their blood to support participants in the special military operation
Donors’ blood and blood components are in great demand in our turbulent times. In order to donate blood in favour of those who seek care from transfusiologists, 30 students of St Petersburg University have visited the Blood and Tissue Centre named after Professor V.N. Shamov of the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy. The determination to perform a noble deed united the University’s students from different fields of study: chemistry, physics, biology, ecology, sociology, conflict resolution studies, philosophy, and others.
Experts from the Blood and Tissue Centre of the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy held a preliminary medical examination of the University’s students. This is a regular mandatory pre-donation procedure as there are contraindications for blood transfusion. They are: various diseases, ill health, weight less than 50 kg, insufficient body mass index, new tattoos and piercings, and worsening of allergies to name just a few. Each donor-to-be has to undergo an express test before blood transfusion. Doctors study a drop of blood and then make a decision whether the blood owner is ready to donate their blood this day or the transfusion needs to be postponed.