Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting
International activities
The following events were recently held at St Petersburg University.
Malaysian Minister of Higher Education visits St Petersburg University
Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Higher Education in Malaysia, has visited St Petersburg University to discuss the possibilities of scientific and educational international cooperation. The meeting brought together representatives of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; the Ministry of Digital; the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; the Ministry of Education; and the Embassy of Malaysia in the Russian Federation.
The parties discussed the development of cooperation with Malaysian universities, the establishment of academic exchanges, joint scientific research, and the possibility of opening a representative office of St Petersburg University and a centre for Russian as a foreign language in Malaysia.
Events at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain
On 7 October, St Petersburg University and its Representative Office in the Kingdom of Spain held an online lecture on British Victorian women artists. The lecture was delivered by Nina Scherbak, Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology and Cultural Linguistics at St Petersburg University. On 8 October, Kamilla Nigmatullina, Head of the Department of Digital Media Communications at St Petersburg University, delivered the online lecture "Digital technologies and modern media audiences".
Cooperation agreement between St Petersburg University and SIBUR
On 8 October, St Petersburg University and SIBUR, a Russia’s leading polymer and rubber manufacturer, signed a cooperation agreement in the field of academic and research activities. The signing ceremony took place as part of the 22nd Mendeleev Congress at the Sirius Educational Centre. The agreement was signed by Marina Medvedeva, Member of the Management Board and Managing Director of SIBUR, and Anastasia Yarmosh, Senior Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and Partnership at St Petersburg University.
Within the framework of the partnership, it is planned to develop joint academic programmes in the field of chemistry and petrochemistry, conduct research activities in priority areas of development of the petrochemical industry, and conduct joint educational and cultural events aimed at raising awareness of the general public about the role of chemistry and petrochemistry in the modern world.
"St Petersburg University has the richest traditions in the field of chemical education and science. The great Dmitri Mendeleev worked at the University, whose contribution to science goes far beyond the creation of the Periodic Table. Professor Mendeleev became not only the founder of Russia’s petrochemistry, but also had a huge influence on the development of metallurgy, agriculture, metrology and many other industries. His legacy, carefully preserved in the Dmitri Mendeleev Museum and Archives at the University, continues to inspire new generations of scientists in various fields of science and industry. Partnership with SIBUR opens up new opportunities for students and researchers to continue Mendeleev’s work, implementing the boldest ideas at the intersection of various scientific disciplines," said Anastasia Yarmosh.
"SIBUR strives to support the development of education and science in our country. Cooperation with St Petersburg University, one of the leading universities in Russia, will enable us to combine efforts to train highly qualified specialists, conduct advanced research in the field of chemistry and petrochemistry, and reveal the importance of the chemical industry for everyday life, technological progress and sustainable development of society, making complex scientific concepts accessible and understandable to people of different ages and professions. We continue to implement what Dmitri Mendeleev predicted and for which he created the basis more than 150 years ago," said Marina Medvedeva.
St Petersburg University cooperates in the development of new academic programmes with the largest Russia’s and world’s companies and government agencies. Among them are the following: Gazprom Neft, Sber, Yandex, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia to name just a few.
The 3rd International St Petersburg Historical Forum. Cooperation agreement between St Petersburg University and the National Centre for Historical Memory under the President of the Russian Federation
From 7 to 13 October, the 3rd International St Petersburg History Forum was held at St Petersburg University. It brought together over 1,200 professional historians. Over the course of a week, they discussed a wide range of topics related to the study and teaching of history, and delivered popular science lectures open to all.
Participants and guests of the forum were welcomed by Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University. In his address, Nikolay Kropachev noted that this year’s event coincided with several significant anniversaries, including the 90th anniversary of the reestablishment of history education in Russia, marked by the founding of faculties of history at both Leningrad State University and Moscow State University. A degree in history attained from Russia’s top universities equips students with skills to excel in nearly any profession, since future historians are taught to find, systematise, and analyse vast amounts of information. The Rector of St Petersburg University emphasised that today’s historians face a crucial challenge: not merely to analyse the past and present, but also to safeguard history from revisionism. Achieving this requires interdisciplinary collaboration with experts from other scientific fields.
Interest in the St Petersburg International Historical Forum has been steadily growing. According to Professor Abdulla Daudov, Director of the Institute of History at St Petersburg University, the forum attracted more than 680 scholars and 200 attendees in 2019. By 2022, those numbers had risen to over 930 historians presenting to an audience of about 600. This year, the forum received over 1,240 applications from prospective participants. This year, the forum gathered scholars from over 50 regions across Russia, representing all federal universities, Russia’s leading museums and archives, and professional associations specialising in historical knowledge. Despite the heated geopolitical situation, experts from 27 countries—including China; India; Japan; Iran; South Korea; the USA; France; Great Britain; Argentina; Mexico; Colombia; and Canada—participated in panel sessions and roundtable discussions.
Alexander Chubarian, Academic Director of the Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, President of the State Academic University for the Humanities, Co-Chair of the Russian Historical Society, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, highlighted the forum’s comprehensive nature, noting that it encompassed all modern trends in historical study. The forum programme seamlessly integrates world and national histories, spanning antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern history, with a particular focus on the role of individuals in shaping historical events.
Aleksey Sirenov, Director of the St Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, highlighted the historic significance of the St Petersburg Historical Forum’s opening venue. The Assembly Hall of St Petersburg University was the site of the renowned 1860 public debate between Nikolai Kostomarov and Mikhail Pogodin on the beginning of Russian statehood, which was a pivotal moment in the development of historical science in Russia.
The programme of the 3rd St Petersburg International Historical Forum included over 70 panel sessions, roundtables, research presentations, and other events. The forum also featured a roundtable titled "Historical Memory: Research and Practice", which presented the project 'Without Statute of Limitations'," supported by the National Centre for Historical Memory under the President of the Russian Federation.
The forum was co-organised by the State Hermitage Museum, Lomonosov Moscow State University and the St Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Panel sessions were held at more than a dozen institutions, including: the State Museum of the History of St Petersburg; the Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library; the Russian National Library; and some new venues: St Petersburg Theological Academy; the Russian Christian Academy for the Humanities; the Russian Geographical Society; and the Russian Museum of Military Medicine.
As part of the 3rd International St Petersburg Historical Forum, the University hosted the signing of a cooperation agreementbetween St Petersburg University and the autonomous non-profit organisation "National Centre for Historical Memory under the President of the Russian Federation." The document was signed by Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of the University, and Elena Malysheva, Head of the National Centre. The agreement provides for the implementation of joint socially significant projects and initiatives in the preservation and protection of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, culture, and historical memory.
The parties will cooperate in collecting, identifying, supporting, and disseminating the best methods and formats of civic consciousness. The partners also agreed to carry out joint educational, cultural, and leisure activities, as well as projects aimed at promoting a positive image of Russia and the achievements of its culture and science.
Organisation of the teaching and learning process
Over the past week, 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 Mathematics and Computer Science; the School of International Relations; the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes; the Faculty of Physics; the Faculty of Philology; the Faculty of Law; and the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology.
Olympiad "I am a professional"
The 8th season of the All-Russian student Olympiad "I am a professional" started at the end of September. It is a large-scale project of the presidential platform "Russia is a Land of Opportunity." This academic year, the Olympiad covers 71 subject areas, including new areas "Project Management" and "Digital Product Management and Innovation", which meet the needs of students and take into account modern trends in the labour market.
St Petersburg University is one of the leaders in the number of areas among 33 universities that organise the contest. In the new season, St Petersburg University will hold the Olympiad in key areas: "Geography", "History and Culture of Russia", "Law", and "Linguistics and Literary Studies".
The Olympiad "I am a professional" is supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The main goal of the Olympiad is to create a large-scale platform for career development of students, covering all areas of study: from technical to humanitarian and medical.
The main theme of the 8th season is "Work and study in Russia". Olympiad tasks are developed by experts from leading Russian universities together with representatives of more than 600 industrial partners of the Olympiad. As part of the 2024/2025 academic year, the organisers have planned a series of educational and career events for participants aimed at developing professional skills and abilities, and deepening and expanding knowledge in various disciplines.
Registration of students for participation in the contest will last until 12 November on the official website of the project. The qualifying stage of the Olympiad will be held remotely from 15 November to 1 December. The final stage of the contest will take place from February to April 2025. The results of the 8th season will be summed up in May 2025. Up-to-date information about the Olympiad is available in the corresponding section on the St Petersburg University website.
Bachelor’s, master’s and specialist’s students and students receiving basic and specialised higher education can take part in the Olympiad. During the selection round this year, a new system of working with diplomas from previous seasons will be applied. Points will be counted automatically when summing up the results of the selection round. Participants will only need to select the necessary areas during registration and mark the item with the crediting of diplomas.
Olympiad diploma winners (prize-takers, winners, and bronze, silver and gold medallists) can claim advantages when applying to leading universities in the country to master’s, doctoral and clinical residency programmes and get the opportunity to have an internship in a large specialised company. Medallists are also provided with cash prizes from 100,000 to 300,000 roubles.
The competition "300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences and St Petersburg University. History in people"
Applications are still being accepted for participation in the contest "300 years of the Russian Academy of Sciences and St Petersburg University. History in people". Participants are undergraduate and postgraduate students at universities, colleges, and scientific organisations of St Petersburg.
The entries are submitted in two stages: correspondence — a work as part of the application; face-to-face — a presentation of the project in the style of "Populariser of science". In the first stage, contestants must prepare a study dedicated to one of the figures of Russian science and their scientific legacy. The work must clearly and competently formulate the purpose and objectives of the work, the object, subject and methods of scientific research, conclusions, scientific novelty of the research.
The deadline for applications is 29 October 2024 (inclusive). The final of the contest will be held on 26 to 27 November as part of the St Petersburg Congress "Professional Education, Science, and Innovation in the 21st Century" at the EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Allocation of budgetary appropriations to St Petersburg University to provide financial support for the implementation of a pilot project aimed at increasing the level of remuneration of academic staff who teach subjects and disciplines (modules) of a fundamental nature
By Executive Order No 2706-r of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 28 September 2024, in order to financially support the implementation of a pilot project aimed at increasing the level of remuneration of academic staff who teach subjects and disciplines (modules) of a fundamental nature, additional budgetary allocations were provided to universities in 2024. St Petersburg University was allocated 27,306.8 thousand roubles.
Sergey Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research at St Petersburg University, said that the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation had identified several natural science areas to be supported within the framework of the pilot project of the programme for improving the quality of teaching fundamental disciplines. At St Petersburg University, this project includes 155 academic disciplines taught by 355 educators. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has also developed indicators for assessing the effectiveness of government support measures for teachers of fundamental disciplines (increasing the number of scientific publications, using lecture demonstrations, and student participation in Olympiads to name just a few), according to which educators will be regularly assessed by special committees. It is assumed that in future, the amounts of budgetary allocations will be increased. If the pilot project is successful, the scope of supported disciplines will be expanded.
University rankings
A number of information sources have reported the release of the next edition of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. On the website of the Times Higher Education, Russian universities included in these rankings are "second-class" universities compared to others. As in the 2024 edition, St Petersburg University is not included in this ranking. Since the second half of 2022, St Petersburg University has not cooperated with the THE and QS ranking agencies, including not sending information annually requested by these agencies to compile rankings, and does not use the information they disseminate to make management decisions.
In Moscow International University Ranking "The Three University Missions" in 2024, St Petersburg University was included in the list of the best higher education institutions, second only to Lomonosov Moscow State University. St Petersburg University was also included in the top 50 best world universities. The ranked list includes 2,000 universities from 112 countries, of which 152 participants are universities in Russia. Lomonosov Moscow State University and St Petersburg University consistently hold their positions in the top of the Russian segment, leading among other higher education institutions in the country.