Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

Instructions of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin following the meeting of the Presidential Council for Science and Education 

On the Russian Science Day, Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Presidential Council for Science and Education. It discussed the updated version of the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, issues of financial support for Russian science, and the development of the Russian Science Foundation. At the President’s suggestion, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke about the interaction of the University with schools. He also proposed introducing a Unified State Examination in mathematics for all school graduates of the 11th grade. The Rector proposed to significantly expand the list of higher education programmes at universities, admission to which should be based, among other things, on the results of the Unified State Examination in mathematics. According to the Rector, the quality of training of not only engineers and natural science specialists, but also the quality of training of specialists in the field of social sciences depends on the quality of mathematical education. 

On 25 March, Vladimir Putin approved a list of instructions following the meeting of the Presidential Council for Science and Education on 8 February 2024. Among them are the following: 

"1. The Government of the Russian Federation: 

a) taking into account previously given instructions, to develop, in agreement with the Praesidium of the Presidential Council for Science and Education, and approve a comprehensive action plan to improve the quality of teaching mathematics and natural science subjects in the general education system, including improving the quality of training of teachers in these subjects, and eliminating the shortage of such teachers in state and municipal educational organisations (the deadline is 1 June 2024); 

/.../ 

d) to consider an issue relating to expanding the list of areas of study and specialities of higher education, where an entrance test in mathematics is mandatory (to be reported by 1 September 2024)". 

Professor Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy, and relevant directors and deans were instructed to study the issue and present proposals for improving the quality of teaching mathematics and natural science subjects in the general education system, including improving the quality of training of teachers in these subjects. Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, and deans and directors of all institutes and faculties were instructed to develop proposals to expand the list of areas of study and specialities of higher education, where an entrance test in mathematics is mandatory.

International activities 

The following events were recently held at St Petersburg University. 

Events at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain 

On 18 March, St Petersburg University and its Representative Office in the Kingdom of Spain held an online lecture on the life and work of Andrei Tarkovky. The lecture was delivered by Liubov Bugaeva, Professor in the Department of the History of Russian Literature at St Petersburg University. On 25 March, there was the online lecture "St Petersburg bridges: history, symbols, legends". It was delivered by Anastasiia Babaeva, Assistant Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages in International Relations at St Petersburg University. On 26 March, the Green Lounge of the Russian House in Barcelona Cultural Foundation, on the basis of which the Representative Office of St Petersburg University was opened, hosted two in-person lectures devoted to screen adaptations of Russian classics, and to the lives and works of Fyodor Dostoevsky and Vladimir Nabokov. The lectures were delivered by Nina Shcherbak, Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology and Cultural Linguistics of St Petersburg University. 

Lecture at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Uzbekistan 

On 18 March, the Representative Office of St Petersburg University in the Republic of Uzbekistan hosted an online lecture focused on biosafety of genetically modified organisms. The lecture was delivered by Tatiana Matveeva, Professor in the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St Petersburg University. 

Cooperation agreement signed between St Petersburg University and Gadjah Mada University (the Republic of Indonesia) 

On 19 March, a meeting took place between the representatives of St Petersburg University and the representatives of Gadjah Mada University (the Republic of Indonesia). They discussed the prospects of cooperation between the two universities in the framework of student and research exchange programmes, and the implementation of the project "Representative Office of St Petersburg University" at Gadjah Mada University. The meeting resulted in the signing of a cooperation agreement. 

Presentation of the book "History of the Mexican people" 

On 21 March, Eduardo Villegas Mejias, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Mexican States to the Russian Federation, made a presentation of the book "History of the Mexican People". The foreword to the book was written by the current head of state, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. 

Meeting with the representatives of BRICS universities 

On 22 March, as part of the visit of a delegation of BRICS universities to the 7th International Conference "Business Management in the Digital Economy", representatives of St Petersburg University met with representatives of universities from the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of India, the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of South Africa. The parties discussed promising areas of cooperation, including the implementation of joint research projects, the development of double-degree programmes, and the conclusion of cooperation agreements. A cooperation agreement was signed between St Petersburg University and the Durban University of Technology (South Africa). 

Bouréma Kansaye, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Mali, visits St Petersburg University 

Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University and Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Bouréma Kansaye, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Mali, have signed a cooperation agreement. The document provides for the development and implementation of joint academic programmes and research projects, exchange of students and professors, and the promotion of the language and culture of Mali. 

Welcoming the guests, the Rector of St Petersburg University stressed the need to increase the number of experts who speak the national language of the Republic on the African continent. In order to accomplish this task, he proposed the development of joint online courses and academic programmes with interested institutions in the partner country. This will help students and academics from Russia and Mali to expand their language skills, improve intercultural communication, and train high-calibre experts focused on the national interests and needs of the Republic. 

In turn, the foreign colleagues expressed their readiness to support the initiative to develop the teaching and learning process aimed at both in-depth study of the Bamana (Bambara) language and popularisation of the Russian language (St Petersburg University and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Mali agree on cooperation). 

Meeting with a delegation from the city of Hefei, Anhui Province (the People’s Republic of China) 

On 26 March, representatives of St Petersburg University met with a delegation from the city of Hefei, Anhui Province (the People’s Republic of China). During the negotiations, the parties discussed: the prospects of interaction between academic and research organisations of the city of Hefei and St Petersburg University; the cooperation of scientific centres of Anhui Province with the University; and the possibility of signing a cooperation agreement between the People’s Government of Anhui Province and St Petersburg University. 

Lecture at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Thailand 

On 27 March, the Representative Office of St Petersburg University in the Kingdom of Thailand hosted an online lecture on the protection of consumer rights. The lecture was delivered by Iuliia Kovalevskaia, Assistant Professor in the Department of Commercial Law at St Petersburg University. 

Research conferences in Thailand 

On 28 to 29 March, St Petersburg University co-organised research conferences at Walailak University (the Kingdom of Thailand), which is the base of the Representative Office of St Petersburg University in the Kingdom of Thailand. The conferences were held as part of the celebration of the 32nd anniversary of the partner university. The events were attended, among others, by: the staff of the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies and the Institute of Medicine at St Petersburg University; and medical students. 

The 2nd Forum of University Rectors of Kazakhstan and Russia "Current Trends in Higher Education and Science" 

On 28-29 March, the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the 2nd Forum of University Rectors of Kazakhstan and Russia "Current Trends in Higher Education and Science". The forum was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The event brought together Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan; and Konstantin Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St Petersburg University, gave the presentation "Digital skills, partnership and network education projects as new ways of developing cooperation". 

As part of the Network University of the Commonwealth of Independent States, St Petersburg University signed an agreement with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University on joint training of master’s students in Journalism (the area of study "Digital Media Communications"); and cooperation agreements with Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University, Eurasian Technological University, and Alikhan Bokeikhan University. 

Activities of the Korea-Russia Dialogue Forum 

On 29 March, the 3rd meeting of the Youth Discussion Club "Foundations, values and expectations of the older generation. Perceptions of the youth" was held via videoconference. On the Russian side, the meeting was attended by students from: St Petersburg University; Far Eastern Federal University; Moscow State Linguistic University; Pacific National University; and Ural Federal University. On the Korean side, students from Korea University, Chung-Ang University, Sungkyunkwan University and the University of North Korean Studies took part in the meeting. 

Cooperation agreement between St Petersburg University and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Mali 

St Petersburg University and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Mali have signed a cooperation agreement. 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. 

Memorandum of Cooperation with Yangon University of Foreign Languages (the Republic of the Union of Myanmar) 

A Memorandum of Cooperation has been signed between St Petersburg University and Yangon University of Foreign Languages (the Republic of the Union of Myanmar). 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.

Organisation of the teaching and learning process 

Over the period from 25 March to 29 March, 31 enquiries were addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. The majority of enquiries relate to preparation of various documents, and transfer to St Petersburg University. 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. 

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 Medicine; the Institute of Philosophy; the Faculty of Foreign Languages; the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty; the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes; the Faculty of Sociology; the Faculty of Physics; the Faculty of Philology; the Faculty of Economics; and the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology. Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, announced an additional meeting of the Central Transfer and Reinstatement Committee in the spring semester of the 2023/2024 academic year. Documents are accepted from 25 March to 12 April. The meeting of the Central Transfer and Reinstatement Committee is scheduled for 22 April (The University opens an unscheduled additional reception of documents from applicants for transfer and reinstatement to St Petersburg University). 

Amendments to Order No 7971/1 "On taking into account the results of extracurricular activities of St Petersburg University students" dated 12 August 2021 

In order to increase the activity of students in research, experimental design, and practical professional activities, the University is improving the legal regulation of taking into account the results of various types of extracurricular activities of St Petersburg University students. 

From 2021, these results can be regarded as the results of educational activities, be transferred as learning outcomes (of a term project, disciplines, modules, and practices) when mastering academic programmes at St Petersburg University. 

On 26 March, further additions were made to Order No 7971/1 ‘On taking into account the results of extracurricular activities of St Petersburg University students’ dated 12 August 2021. Now, the results of extracurricular activities of St Petersburg University students, which can be taken into account as learning outcomes, are understood as the results of project, volunteer and other socially significant activities of the student, organised by St Petersburg University, including within the framework of student design bureaus opened at St Petersburg University, and participation in all-Russian and international Olympiads, contests, and tournaments (Order No 3512/1 dated 26 March 2024). 

Proposal of Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky to include social studies and history in one Basic State Examination and one Unified State Examination 

The Basic State Examination and the Unified State Examination in history and social studies can be combined into one. This opinion was expressed by Vladimir Medinsky, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Russian Military Historical Society, at a meeting with teachers of history and social studies and teachers of social and political sciences. The meeting was held on 14 March at Kazan Federal University. 

In February, it was reported that the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation had developed a draft order, which proposed to exclude social studies from the curriculum for grades 6 to 8, leaving one lesson per week in grade 9. Additionally, one hour in social studies per week is suggested for grade 10. The programme for grade 11 is planned to remain unchanged, i.e. two lessons per week. 

For reference: in November 2022, the round table "Teaching social studies in general education institutions" was held at St Petersburg University. It was said there that it is almost impossible for a schoolchild to fully master the school curriculum in social studies. It is also impossible to prepare a school teacher who would be equally qualified in the fields of philosophy, political science, economics, history, and law. Universities do not train such broad specialists. Six months later, at the beginning of April 2023, a plenary meeting of the 13th St Petersburg International Educational Forum was held at St Petersburg University. The forum was attended by Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky and Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov. At the plenary session, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasised that St Petersburg University experts are concerned about the fact that unjustifiably little attention is paid to the teaching of social studies and the level of training of schoolchildren in this subject is very low. Two weeks later, the All-Russian Congress of Teachers in Social Studies took place in Moscow. On the eve of the congress, an article by Nikolay Kropachev was published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta. In the article, he said: "In accordance with the programme, a modern social studies teacher must be an expert in law, economics, philosophy, sociology, political science, and psychology, that is to be a completely unique specialist. So unique that it is worth wondering — how are these unique people prepared? In general, is it possible to train such specialists?!" 

Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy at St Petersburg University, said that the Ministry had not yet made a decision. Yet it is already clear that social studies in schools is now taught "on a residual basis". Meanwhile, to apply for academic programmes at St Petersburg University in socio-humanitarian areas of study, applicants need to have a deep knowledge of social science. The University should therefore develop measures to ensure that this subject is studied at a high level in schools (at least in some). 

The meeting participants supported this proposal. They also talked about ways to solve the issue, for example, about non-degree programmes for teaching social studies for school teachers, which are implemented at St Petersburg University, and about programmes for high school students to prepare for the Unified State Examination (including in social studies). It was proposed to formulate a mandatory minimum of knowledge that a schoolchild must master within the subject of social studies. This year, the Unified State Examination in social studies will follow the same rules, but there is hope that next year the rules will be changed, and we must be prepared for this.

Work of student curators 

Since 2014, St Petersburg University has had an institute of curators of first-year students. The curators are chosen from academic staff for each academic year (see, among other things, the Minutes of the Rector’s meetings: Tutors and educational work; Curators for first-year students). Curators help new students successfully adapt to the conditions of study and stay at the University, and join the University community. Curators are appointed from among candidates proposed by the heads of the academic and research subdivisions, taking into account the opinions of student councils and employees responsible for academic and extracurricular activities at the University. 

According to Vladimir Savinov, Vice-Rector for Educational Activity at St Petersburg University, from the 2022/2023 academic year, curators from the members of the academic staff are appointed for students of all courses of study. In each academic and research subdivision, a deputy director of the institute / dean of the faculty for youth policy has also been appointed. 

At the beginning of September, according to the tradition, there were meetings of first-year students with curators and administrative staff of the University. Students became acquainted with the structure of St Petersburg University and learned about the basic rules of the University life. 

Curators regularly hold meetings with students, help them to choose areas of scientific interest, organise extracurricular activities, and participate in the work of student councils, and scholarship committees to name just a few. When communicating with students, curators invite students to study documents and, if necessary, use effective feedback mechanisms, i.e. to contact the University officials through the service "Virtual Reception" and attend receptions of citizens. From the 2023/2024 academic year, the work of curators will focus on individual work with students who do not show high academic results. 

Vladimir Savinov asked the heads of the academic and research subdivisions to invite curators to meetings with student activists: group leaders, representatives of student councils, student scientific societies, and also to hold organisational meetings with curators to discuss current issues. 

Measures applied to students when violations are detected 

At St Petersburg University, various disciplinary measures are applied to students, including expulsion, for various reasons. There are no restrictions on the expulsion of a student at his/her own request. In the case when a student is nominated for expulsion due to law enforcement authorities bringing him/her to administrative responsibility, a draft order is sent to the Student Council at St Petersburg University in order to take into account its opinion. While (within seven academic days) the Student Council makes a decision, the student has time to submit an appropriate application and expel at his/her own request. By doing so, he/she escapes punishment. 

Despite the impossibility of bringing an expelled student to disciplinary liability, the Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions at St Petersburg University issues an order that describes the circumstances of the expulsion and the impossibility of bringing to disciplinary liability. In this case, the expelled student’s personal file will contain information that there were grounds for bringing the student to disciplinary liability, but he/she expelled of his/her own free will. 

A draft order of the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University has been prepared to amend Order No 2402/1 ‘On approval of the sample (form) of a certificate of study or the period of study, technical requirements for it, and the Instructions on the procedure for issuing certificates of study or about the period of study, filling out and storing their forms’ dated 28 June 2013. This will ensure that the certificate of study contains information that when the expulsion order was issued there were grounds for bringing the student to disciplinary liability.

Results of the competitive selection process for grants for major research projects in priority areas of scientific and technological development in 2024-2026 

In November 2023, the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education announced the start of the competitive selection process for grants for major research projects in priority areas of scientific and technological development in 2024-2026. Russian scientific organisations and educational organisations of higher education could take part in the contest. A total of 303 applications were submitted to the contest. Grants are awarded for a period of three years with the possibility of extension of up to two years. 

According to Elena Lebedeva, Acting Vice-Rector for Research at St Petersburg University, on 28 March the results of the contest were summed up and the application "Polymers for Sustainable Development" submitted by St Petersburg University was supported. The principal investigator is Vadim Kukushkin, Professor of the Institute of Chemistry at St Petersburg University, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The project involves 18 doctors of science (including two Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, two Corresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences) and 29 candidates of science. The project period is from 2024 to 2026. Funding for the project is 100 million roubles annually. 

The project is interdisciplinary in nature. Based on the research results, it is planned to create a scientific basis for technologies that will allow the use of polymer science to achieve the goals of the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, i.e. the formation of a knowledge-intensive and innovative direction "Polymers for sustainable development". 

In total, 50 applications were supported based on the selection results. Apart from St Petersburg University, applications from two more organisations in St Petersburg were supported: the Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University. Among the winners are also: Lomonosov Moscow State University; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology; National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute); and Tomsk State University.

Bringing the legislation of the Russian Federation into conformity with the value ideological provisions of Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation No 400 "On the national security strategy of the Russian Federation" dated 2 July 2021 and Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation No 809 "On approving fundamentals of state policy for preservation and strengthening of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values" dated 9 November 2022 

St Petersburg University is working to implement the protocol decisions of the Council for Coordination with Religious Organisations under the President of the Russian Federation and its working bodies. The University is also working to implement instructions of Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko No DCh-P44-6537 dated 17 May 2023 and No DCh-P44-8705 dated 17 July 2023 related to the implementation of Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation No 400 "On the national security strategy of the Russian Federation" dated 2 July 2021 and Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation No 809 "On approving the fundamentals of state policy for the preservation and strengthening of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values" dated 9 November 2022. 

According to Sergei Belov, Dean of the Faculty of Law at St Petersburg University, in order to carry out expert and analytical activities aimed at developing proposals for bringing the legislation of the Russian Federation into compliance with the provisions of the above-mentioned regulatory legal acts, a consortium of organisations has been formed to train lawyers and conduct scientific research on legal issues. The head of the consortium is Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The consortium participants have approved its plan-schedule and have started to implement it. Branches of Russian legislation are distributed among the consortium participants, within the framework of which regulatory legal acts are studied for their compliance with Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation No 400 "On the national security strategy of the Russian Federation" dated 2 July 2021 and Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation No 809 ‘On approving the fundamentals of state policy for the preservation and strengthening of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values’ dated 9 November 2022. 

Today, the consortium includes 14 educational and scientific organisations of various departmental subordination: the Government of the Russian Federation; the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation; the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation; and the Federal Penitentiary Service to name just a few. At the end of last year, the tasks of each university, areas of responsibility and deadlines were determined. Representatives of the World Russian People’s Council, the Patriarchal Commission for Family and Protection of Motherhood and Childhood, the Legal Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Scientific and Educational Theological Association (NOTA), which brings together 84 educational organisations, were also invited to the work of the consortium. 

During the first quarter of 2024, 78 regulatory legal acts of various levels were reviewed, and 202 proposals were received from consortium members to make amendments (supplements) to regulatory legal acts. 

Activities of the Alumni Office at St Petersburg University 

The following events were recently held at St Petersburg University. 

The mentoring programme at St Petersburg University 

Mentoring is a programme to support motivated students and young graduates in the process of building a career. Under the guidance of a mentor, the participants will create an individual career plan and will be able to learn new skills. The project’s mentors are University graduates and experts from major Russian companies. 

On 16 March, the opening of the spring stream of the general track of the Mentoring Programme at St Petersburg University took place. To take part in the programme, students filled out a questionnaire where they reflected their professional experience, motivation and career needs and identified mentors to work as part of the programme. There were 80 applications submitted. Based on the selection results, 44 students will take part in the programme, 34 "mentor- mentee" pairs and five "mentor- mentee — mentee" triads will be formed. Defence of career plans and closing of the programme will take place on 25 May. 

St Petersburg University student receives a scholarship from Selectel 

St Petersburg University student Aleksandr Lekomtsev was among 40 talented students from St Petersburg and Moscow who received a scholarship from Selectel. Apart from financial support, the scholarship includes technical lectures and workshops, excursions to data centres, career workshops, and vacancies for interns and junior specialists to name just a few. 

Publication by the Government of St Petersburg of Resolution No 193 dated 28 March 2024 "On amendments to resolution of the Government of St Petersburg No 121 dated 13 March 2020" 

Anti-Covid measures in St Petersburg, which were previously introduced until 31 March, have been extended until 31 December 2024 (Resolution No 193). 

Cultural events at St Petersburg University during April 

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 April. 

Author’s tour of the exhibition "Telephone. 20 years of peace. 1918-1938" 

On 3 April, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University as part of the project "Street of Progress: Bolshaya Morskaya at the turn of the 18th-20th centuries" project, will hold an author’s tour of the exhibition "Telephone. 20 years of peace. 1918-1938". The exhibition, prepared with the participation of the State Literary Museum "20th century", tells about the development of industry in St Petersburg. 

Author’s tour of the exhibition ‘Chrysalis’ of the sculptor Antonina Fatkhullina

 On 4 April, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University opens the exhibition ‘Chrysalis’ by the modern St Petersburg sculptor Antonina Fatkhullina Сhrysalis. 

Opening of the exhibition project "Artists — the University Graduates" 

On 5 April, the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library (3 Senate Square) opens the joint exhibition project "Artists — the University Graduates" to mark the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University. The exhibition is based on archival documents, letters, book publications from the 18th to the 20th centuries, illustrations and photographs. A special place in the exhibition will be given to the ceremonial uniform of a university student from the early 20th century. 

The open lecture "The motive of the loss of demiurgic control in Nabokov’s prose"

 On 5 April, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University offers the open lecture "The motive of the loss of demiurgic control in Nabokov’s prose". The lecture will be delivered by Aleksandr Bolshev, Professor in the Department of the History of Russian Literature at St Petersburg University. 

Opening of the exhibition "Pyotr Pletnyov, a friend and contemporary of Alexander Pushkin" 

On 8 April, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University opens the exhibition "Pyotr Pletnyov, a friend and contemporary of Alexander Pushkin". The exhibition is set to mark the 225th anniversary of Alexander Pushkin. It is dedicated to the creative and friendly union of two famous people. 

Opening of the exhibition "The Vendian period" 

On 9 April, the Palaeontology Museum at St Petersburg University opens the exhibition "The Vendian period" to mark the 110th anniversary of Boris Sokolov, Member of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union. It presents large-scale models of the Vendobionta (ancient multicellular organisms) cast in brass. The exhibition will become a permanent part at the Palaeontology Museum. 

Opening of the exhibition "Russia of Nikolai Gogol" 

On 11 April, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University opens the exhibition "Russia of Nikolai Gogol". To the 215th anniversary of Nikolai Gogol. 

The open lecture "Fyodor Dostoevsky: structural universals and hypertext space"

 On 12 April, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University offers the open lecture "Fyodor Dostoevsky: structural universals and hypertext space". The lecture will be delivered by Vladimir Vasilev, Associate Professor of Siberian Federal University. 

The online exhibition "The Collegia of Emperor Alexander II of Russia for students at St Petersburg University" 

On 13 April, the National Philanthropy Day, the online exhibition "The Collegia of Emperor Alexander II of Russia for students at St Petersburg University" opens. The exhibition is dedicated to the first student hall of residence in Russia. 

Opening of the exhibition "Public political figures. Vladimir Nabokov (1869 — 1922)"

On 15 April, the Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg (6 Saint Isaac’s Square) opens the exhibition "Public political figures. Vladimir Nabokov (1869 — 1922)" from the series "Famous Alumni". It is set to mark the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University.

The online exhibition "Quartzes in the collection of the Mineralogical Museum. Part 1"

On 18 April, the online exhibition "Quartzes in the collection of the Mineralogical Museum. Part 1". 

Opening of the exhibition "Fashion in the language of Nabokov" 

On 19 April, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University opens the exhibition "Fashion in the language of Nabokov". It is set to mark his 125th anniversary. 

The online exhibition '"The Slave of Hymen’: women in the life of Dmitri Mendeleev' 

On 20 April, the online exhibition "The Slave of Hymen": women in the life of Dmitri Mendeleev’ opens. 

The online exhibition "Vladimir Nabokov. To the 125th anniversary of Valdimir Nabokov"

On 22 April, the online exhibition ‘Vladimir Nabokov. To the 125th anniversary of Valdimir Nabokov’ opens. It will feature books and his works that tell the visitors about the creative path of the writer in different periods of his life. 

The excursion-seminar "Planet under a microscope (microworld of the Earth’s rocks)" 

On 22 April, the Petrography Museum, as part of the Earth Day, offers the excursion-seminar "Planet under a microscope (microworld of the Earth’s rocks)". Booking is required: ex@spbu.ru. 

Opening of the exhibition "The art of living at home" 

On 25 April, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University and the Northwestern branch of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts host a grand opening of the exhibition "The art of living at home". 

The open lecture "Fyodor Dostoevsky: structural universals and hypertext space" by Andrei Astvatsaturov 

On 25 April, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University offers the open lecture ‘Fyodor Dostoevsky: structural universals and the space of hypertext’ with a fascinating reading of Vladimir Nabokov’s "The Aurelian" by Andrei Astvatsaturov, Director of the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University. 

Opening of the exhibition "Reverend Sergius of Radonezh. To the 710th anniversary of Sergius of Radonezh" 

On 25 April, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University opens the exhibition "Reverend Sergius of Radonezh". To the 710th anniversary of Sergius of Radonezh’. It is dedicated to one of the most revered Russian saints, St Sergius of Radonezh. 

The online exhibition "The spiritual world of St Petersburg alma mater" 

On 26 April, to mark the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University, the online exhibition ‘The spiritual world of St Petersburg alma-mater’ opens. It is dedicated to the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the Twelve Collegia building. 

Installation of a commemorative plaque in honour of Lyudmila Verbitskaya at St Petersburg University 

In 2024, a memorial plaque with the text will appear on the front façade of the building at 7-9-11 Universitetskaya Embankment with the text: "Lyudmila Verbitskaya, an outstanding philologist, Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Rector and President of St Petersburg University, Honorary Citizen of St Petersburg, worked in this building from 1959 to 2019". 

Alexander Beglov, Governor of St Petersburg, Member of the Board of Trustees of St Petersburg University, signed a Resolution on the installation of the memorial plaque in honour of Lyudmila Verbitskaya, an outstanding scholar, Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Rector (1994-2008), and President of St Petersburg University (2008-2019). 

Lyudmila Verbitskaya passed away in 2019. The initiative to install the memorial plaque was proposed by St Petersburg University. Design, manufacturing, installation, and subsequent repairs and restoration of the plaque will be carried out at the expense of St Petersburg University. 

Professor Lyudmila Verbitskaya was the author of more than 300 scholarly, educational, methodological works in the field of Russian and general linguistics, phonetics, phonology, and methods of teaching the Russian language. Issues of standard speech, stylistics, lexis and semantics of the modern Russian language were of significant importance in her scholarly papers and reports in the media. In St Petersburg, Lyudmila Verbitskaya was the initiator of the popular educational project "Let’s talk like St Petersburgers", aimed at promoting the standard speech and observing the norms of the modern Russian language. For nine years, posters with examples of the correct use of commonly used words and expressions were placed in metro trains and at public transport stops. 

All professional activities of Lyudmila Verbitskaya were connected with St Petersburg University, to which she devoted 60 years of her life. Starting her career as a department secretary at the Department of Phonetics at the Faculty of Philology, she went on to become a doctoral student, junior research associate, assistant lecturer, and associate professor. In 2010, she was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Philology at St Petersburg University, and in 2011 she received the title of Honorary Professor. 

Today, a lot of work is being done at St Petersburg University to ensure that people remember the outstanding scholar, Dean of the Faculty of Philology, President of the Russian Academy of Education Lyudmila Verbitskaya. 

Thus, the Department of General Linguistics now has the name of Lyudmila Verbitskaya, and the annual international philological conference is also named in her honour. A separate contribution of the University students and staff to preserving the memory of the outstanding scholar was the publication of a book of memoirs about Lyudmila Verbitskaya in 2020. Recently, a sculptural bust of Lyudmila Verbitskaya was unveiled at the University, which has become a symbol of recognition of her contribution to the development of philology and the education of younger generations.