Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

International activities 

The festival "Korean Spring in St Petersburg" 

For the second year in a row, St Petersburg University has hosted the Korean Spring Festival, which brings together experts in Korean culture and all lovers of Korea, its traditions and art. This year, lectures, workshops and traditional games were held at various locations around the University, including the Assembly Hall and the Atrium at 6 Birzhevaya Line, and the Botanical Garden. 

In his speech, Byun Chul Hwan, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in St Petersburg, stressed the importance of holding the festival at the University. "The connection between Russia and Korea began at St Petersburg University in 1897 when its academics were the first in Europe to deliver lectures on the Korean language. From that day until today, our ties have only grown stronger," he noted. 

The cultural programme of the event included three musical performances by the Hanuri creative team: Buk Chum — a traditional Korean dance performed to the rhythms of the buk drums; Youngnam Karak — a music piece in the Korean genre of Samul nori; and Nanta — a number based on the show of the Korean cooking team Nanta, in which the participants cut food and create intricate energetic rhythms by banging their knives against the boards ("Spring is coming — make way for spring!": St Petersburg University hosts the festival "Korean Spring in St Petersburg"). 

Online lecture at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain

 St Petersburg University and its Representative Office in the Kingdom of Spain held the following events: 

• On 28 May, there was an online lecture dedicated to Mikhail Lomonosov. The lecture was delivered by Olga Armenkova, Assistant Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages for Students in Mathematics and Information Technology
• On 30 May, there was the online lecture "Nabokov and Cinema". The lecture was delivered by Alina Pimenova, Lecturer in the Centre for Non-Degree Programmes at St Petersburg University

Delegation from the Tianjin University of Technology and Education visits St Petersburg University 

On 30 May, the representatives of St Petersburg University met with a delegation from the Tianjin University of Technology and Education (the People’s Republic of China). The delegation was headed by Comrade Lyu Jingquan, Vice-President of the Tianjin University of Technology and Education, Director of the Expert Committee of the Luban Workshop of the Department of Education of Tianjin. During the meeting, the parties discussed: the prospects of interaction between the Tianjin University of Technology and Education and St Petersburg University; the possibility of signing a cooperation agreement; and the establishment of a joint flagship centre of the Luban Workshop project. 

Cooperation agreement between St Petersburg University and Russian-Tajik Slavonic University 

A cooperation agreement has been signed between St Petersburg University and Russian-Tajik Slavonic University (the Republic of Tajikistan). 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 University of Tehran 

An agreement on testing in Russian as a foreign language has been signed between St Petersburg University and the University of Tehran (the Islamic Republic of Tehran). 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.

Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation "On Approving the Fundamentals of State Policy in Historical Education" 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the Executive Order "On Approving the Fundamentals of State Policy in Historical Education". 

The goals of this policy are to develop a Russia-wide civic identity; to strengthen the community of the Russian world on the basis of traditional spiritual, moral, cultural and historical values; and to fight against destructive ideological attitudes. 

The decree calls Russia a state-civilisation that has united the Russian and other peoples in the Eurasian space. At the same time, the country is faced with attempts by the West to falsify history, deny and downplay its contribution to the development of world civilisation, and distort ideas about the state. 

To counter these challenges, the President set the following tasks: 

• to popularise the achievements of Russian science and culture 
• to ensure patriotic education 
• to preserve the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland and outstanding personalities in national history 
• to expand and improve educational work with Russians living abroad 
• to provide access to reliable and evidence-based historical knowledge and objective information about the place and role of Russia in the world history 
• to increase the prestige of professions related to historical education

When implementing the state policy in this area, it is necessary to develop a unified platform with access to materials on the history of Russia and a set of history textbooks, including the history of the native regions. 

According to Anastasia Yarmosh, Senior Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and Partnership at St Petersburg University, a working group was formed at the University to develop an action plan for the implementation of the Fundamentals of State Policy in Historical Education. It includes members of the academic staff at St Petersburg University, as suggested by the directors and deans. This executive order covers all areas of the University’s activities: educational, scientific, expert, museum, and educational to name just a few.

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 various documents, and transfer and reinstatement 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. Interim assessment and final assessment are held in due order according to the timetable. Issues that arise are being resolved in due order. 

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 Institute of History; the Institute of Philosophy; the Faculty of Biology; the Faculty of Foreign Languages; the School of International Relations; the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes; the Faculty of Physics; the Faculty of Philology; and the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology; and the Medical College. 

Awarding NIkolay Kropachev with the Order for Merit to the Fatherland, 2nd class 

The Executive Order of Russian President Vladimir Putin has been published on awarding Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, with the Order for Merit to the Fatherland, 2nd class. 

The text of the Executive Order states that Nikolay Kropachev was awarded for great merits in scientific and pedagogical activities, in the training of high-calibre specialists and for conscientious work over many years. 

The meeting participants congratulated the Rector on his well-deserved award. 

St Petersburg University staff are laureates of the awards from the Government of St Petersburg 

A solemn ceremony of awarding the laureates of the annual prize of the Government of St Petersburg for outstanding scientific results in the field of science and technology and higher and secondary vocational education took place in Smolny. In 2024, 95 applications were submitted to the contest, including 36 for awards for young scientists. The award traditionally marks the City Day. This year, its laureates were 11 scholars from St Petersburg University. 

The awards were presented by Alexander Beglov, Governor of St Petersburg. During the ceremony, he highlighted the importance of the development of science to solve key problems facing the state today. He also said that the last year was rich in significant events: the opening of the St Petersburg branch of the Academy of Sciences; the opening of the three advanced engineering schools; and the opening of the leading research centre in the field of artificial intelligence at St Petersburg University. 

The Euler Prize of the Government of St Petersburg was received by Kirill Antonets, Leading Research Associate in the Department of Cytology and Histology at St Petersburg University. The scientist was awarded for a series of works devoted to the study of genomes and pangenomes of economically important bacteria. 

The Euler Prize was awarded to Andrei Shishov, Professor in the Department of Analytical Chemistry at St Petersburg University, for the development of a set of new highly effective methods of "green" analytical chemistry based on the formation and use of safe and biodegradable solvents and sorption materials. 

Daria Eremina, Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Psychology and Psychophysiology at St Petersburg University, became a laureate of the Ekaterina Dashkova Award for her work on studying the brain activity of patients undergoing high-tech open-heart surgery, i.e. coronary bypass surgery and heart transplantation. She developed a new fundamental scientific concept of cognitive functioning in patients with cardiovascular disease. 

Oleg Siidra, Professor in the Department of Crystallography at St Petersburg University, received the Karpinsky Prize for scientific contribution to mineralogy and crystal chemistry of heavy and transition metals. 

Georgii Tsyrlin, Leading Research Associate in the Laboratory of New Semiconductor Materials for Quantum Informatics and Telecommunications at St Petersburg University, won the Popov Prize for his work on semiconductor nanostructures for silicon microelectronics. 

Aleksandr Fradkov, Professor in the Department of Theoretical Cybernetics at St Petersburg University, received the Leonov Prize in the category "Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence". 

Genrietta Soboleva, Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics, Accounting and Audit at St Petersburg University, and Natalia Generalova, Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics, Accounting and Audit at St Petersburg University, became laureates of the Government of St Petersburg Prize for prominent achievements in the field of higher education and secondary vocational education in the category "Educational work with students, development of their professional skills". 

The academics in the Department of Phonetics and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages at St Petersburg University were awarded prizes from the Government of St Petersburg in the field of education. Pavel Skrelin, Head of the Department of Phonetics and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages at St Petersburg University; Uliana Kochetkova, Associate Professors in the Department of Phonetics and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages at the University; and Vera Evdokimova, Associate Professor in the Department of Phonetics and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages at the University, received an award for the development and implementation of the master’s programme "Artificial Intelligence in Speech Technologies" (St Petersburg University scholars are laureates of the St Petersburg Government Prize). 

Personnel issues 

At the meeting of the Academic Council of St Petersburg University on 31 May, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, focused on the planned personnel changes at the University. In particular, Aleksandr Gnetov, Scientific Secretary of St Petersburg University, is appointed adviser to the Vice-Rector for Legal Affairs at St Petersburg University. In connection with reaching the age limit for holding the position of Vice-Rector for Human Resources, Vladimir Eremeev is appointed adviser in the Rector’s Office. Laura Useinova, Acting Vice-Rector for Human Resources at St Petersburg University, will be appointed Vice-Rector for Human Resources after completing the necessary documents. Elena Chernova, Senior Vice-Rector, is appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Academic Council of St Petersburg University, giving her a fairly wide range of powers and responsibilities. 

The rocket launch dedicated to the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University 

The rocket’s fuselage was decorated with a livery dedicated to the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University A Soyuz rocket carrying the Progress MS-27 cargo spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. 

This launch is a tribute to all St Petersburg University alumni and a special gift to the graduates of the anniversary year. Scientists from St Petersburg University have made a significant contribution to the outer space exploration and continue their work today. Largely due to their perseverance and talent, they make discoveries that shape our history. The spacecraft launch is a historical event for the University and will become a symbol of the urge for new great achievements and discoveries for graduates and a source of pride for the University staff and students. 

Scientists from St Petersburg University were the first in the world to conduct research on bacterial biofilms in space. They study the impact of space flights on the body of cosmonauts; model the processes relating to space explosions; and conduct many other investigations (A rocket bearing the symbols of the University launched into outer space University’s logo to mark the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University). 

Earlier, as part of the celebration of the anniversary of St Petersburg University, the International Astronomical Union named a small planet in the asteroid belt of the Solar System in honour of the University, i.e. Spbuni. The University flag was delivered aboard the International Space Station and signed by the cosmonauts. In honour of the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University, the University staff and students received congratulations from the International Space Station. 

Participation of St Petersburg University in the City Day 

On 27 May, as part of the city plan of events in honour of the City Day celebration, St Petersburg University acted as a separate platform and prepared a festive programme for children and adults, which included guided tours, lectures, workshops, and a concert of creative teams. The event took place with the support of the Committee for Science and Higher Education, the Committee for Culture of St Petersburg, and Russian Post. 

The geoquest "The University island" helped residents of St Petersburg and guests of the city learn little-known facts about the country’s oldest university and discover popular tourist spots from a new perspective. Participants were asked to follow a route from the Palace Square along the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, the building of the Academy of Sciences, monuments to Mikhail Lomonosov and Sergei Uvarov to the University courtyard. The quest was developed to mark the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University with the support of the team of the Museum and Architectural Clinic at St Petersburg University, and students from eight St Petersburg universities and colleges took part in the contest to create art objects for this quest. After completing the geoquest, the guests walked through the courtyards of the University with a tour from the team of the St Petersburg University History Museum and the team of the Clinic of Communication Projects. During the walk, they learned about the history of one of the longest university corridors in the world and visited the Modern Sculpture Park, where they were able to sit on the "Council Bench" between an angel and a demon, make a wish at the "Fountain of Love" and stroke "Tonya the Hippo" for good luck. 

The festive programme for the City Day included interactive and educational events prepared by the University. The lecture hall opened its doors to the city residents and guests, where the reports were made by the leading scholars from St Petersburg University, i.e. lecturers of the Russian Society "Znanie" and popularisers of science. Irina Timofeeva, Professor of St Petersburg University, winner of the Russian President’s Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists for 2022 and the award of the Scientific Council for Analytical Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke about the opening of a pocket laboratory. Ekaterina Zorina, Head of the Linguistic Clinic at St Petersburg University, Associate Professor in the Department of Russian at St Petersburg University, introduced tools of applied rhetoric. 

Andrei Ivanov, Professor in the Department of Contemporary History of Russia at St Petersburg University, a finalist of the national Crystal Compass Award, conducted a workshop where he explained how to learn to notice and photograph the birds of St Petersburg. Rodion Reznik, Senior Research Associate at St Petersburg University, presented new semiconductor nanostructures and spoke about the possibility of using them to create new generation devices. Pavel Skutschas, Professor in the Department of Vertebrate Zoology at St Petersburg University, spoke about dinosaurs of the Great Siberian Refugium. Evgeniia Petrashen, Associate Professor in the Department of Design at St Petersburg University, spoke about the Modern Sculpture Park in the University Landscape. Evgenii Filonov, Associate Professor in the Department of the History of Russian Literature at St Petersburg University, made a report on the topic "Alexander Pushkin and his readers in the movement of eras". Also, there was a presentation of the projects of the Social Clinic and the Sociological Clinic of Applied Research at the University. 

As part of the celebration, there was a lecture series for school-age children. There was a report entitled "Maritime St Petersburg" by Kirill Nazarenko, a permanent lecturer of the Russian Society "Znanie", Professor in the Department of Source Studies of Russian History at St Petersburg University. Lidiia Soprun, Associate Professor in the Department of Healthcare Organisation and Medical Law at St Petersburg University, told the audience about Long Covid. The children had career guidance lessons on the professions of an environmental lawyer and a specialist in the field of artificial intelligence and data science. 

Throughout the day, interactive events took place at St Petersburg University. The team of the St Petersburg University Media Centre invited everyone to try themselves as a TV presenter and read texts about St Petersburg and the University using a prompter camera. In the zone of scientific achievements, it was possible to get acquainted with the developments of the team of the Institute of Chemistry at St Petersburg University. The University specialists presented samples of inorganic materials that would find practical application in the fields of medicine, cosmetology, and ecology. Visitors could also take part in the business game "Diplomatic scandal", solve a drawing test from the team of the Social Clinic at St Petersburg University and learn how to go from creating a start-up idea to establishing a small innovative enterprise. Aleksandr Averianov, a winner of the contest "SPbU Start-up 2021", General Director of the small innovative enterprise "Terroir Concept" at St Petersburg University, presented his project, based on a geographical information software package to assess the suitability of land plots for planting grapes (St Petersburg University takes part in the celebration of the City Day for the first time). 

Cultural events at St Petersburg 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. 

Opening of the virtual exhibition "Our oceans — our future" 

On 3 June, on the eve of the World Oceans Day, the Geology Department of the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University opens the virtual exhibition "Our oceans — our future". 

Exhibition "History of the Botanical Garden at St Petersburg University" 

On 3 June, to mark the opening of the Botanical Garden at St Petersburg University, the University opens the virtual exhibition "History of the Botanical Garden at St Petersburg University". 

To the anniversary of Alexander Pushkin 

On the occasion of the 225th anniversary of Alexander Pushkin, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University holds the following events: 

• opening of the book and illustration exhibition "Pushkin’s St Petersburg", also dedicated to the Day of St Petersburg 
• on 3 June, opening of the exhibition "Pyotr Pletnyov, a friend and contemporary of Alexander Pushkin" 
• on 5 June, opening of the exhibition "Pushkin studies at St Petersburg University" 
• on 5 June, opening of the exhibition "Alexander Pushkin is a bit of a physicist?!" 
• on 6 June, opening of the virtual exhibition "Geography of the works of Alexander Pushkin" 
• on 6 June, opening of an exhibition and display of lifetime editions of Alexander Pushkin from the fund of rare books and manuscripts at St Petersburg University 

Excursion "St Petersburg through the eyes of Vladimir Nabokov: around Bolshaya Morskaya Street" 

From 5 to 8 June, for guests of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, the cultural festival of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum "St Petersburg Seasons" features an excursion "St Petersburg through the eyes of Vladimir Nabokov: around Bolshaya Morskaya Street". 

Round table "Alexander Pushkin and his contemporaries" 

At 6 pm on 7 June, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University will hold the round table "Alexander Pushkin and his contemporaries". 

Opening of the exhibition "My fatherland — Russia" 

On 10 June, the M Gorky Scientific Library will open the exhibition "My fatherland — Russia", dedicated to the Russia Day. 

Lecture 'Vladimir Nabokov as a commentator on "Eugene Onegin" (interests and judgements)' 

At 6 pm on 14 June, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University will hold the lecture 'Vladimir Nabokov as a commentator on "Eugene Onegin" (interests and judgements)' by Fedor Dviniatin, Associate Professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies in Languages and Literature at St Petersburg University. 

Excursion for schoolchildren "If there is sun, there will be butterflies" 

At 12 noon on 18 June, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University will hold the excursion for schoolchildren "If there is sun, there will be butterflies". 

Online exhibition of glass photographic plates "People and landscapes" 

On 25 June, there will be the opening of the online exhibition of glass photographic plates by Vladimir Diakonov (1898–1942) "People and landscapes". 

Exhibition "To the 100th anniversary of Vladimir Soloukhin" 

On 26 June, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University will open the exhibition "To the 100th anniversary of Vladimir Soloukhin".