Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting
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. Winter interim assessment is over. Students are on holiday.
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 Philosophy; the Faculty of Foreign Languages; the Faculty of Arts; the Faculty of Physics; the Faculty of Philology; the Faculty of Economics; and the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology.
Organisation of teaching the Chinese language
Cooperation with China is a strategic partnership for St Petersburg University and is integral to all levels of interaction. The agreement signed in 2015 between St Petersburg University and the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China has played a special role in strengthening the partnership. At present, over 2,500 Chinese citizens are studying at the University. The number of academic programmes with a Chinese component has more than doubled in the last five years, now exceeding 90. These include: "Laws (with Advanced Study of the Chinese Language and the Law of the PRC)"; "Organisation of Tourist Activities (with Advanced Study of the Chinese Language)"; and "Economics (with Advanced Study of the Economy of China and the Chinese Language)" to name just a few. These programmes are highly popular among Russian students, as young people see promising prospects and ample employment opportunities in partnerships with China.
According to Mariya Solovyeva, Deputy Senior Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and Partnership and Head of the Educational Programmes Department, St Petersburg University is expanding this offer to include academic programmes with a scientific orientation. Based on the results of the discussion with the heads of academic and research teams, the curricula of the bachelor’s degree "Biology (with additional qualification 'Biology teacher')" and "Chemistry (with additional qualifications 'Translator of scientific and technical literature' / 'Chemistry teacher')", which will be followed by students entering St Petersburg University in 2025, include a single full-time elective course in the Chinese language (semesters 1–7, 21 credits).
International activities
The following event was recently held at St Petersburg University.
Online lecture at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain
On 30 January, St Petersburg University and its Representative Office in the Kingdom of Spain held the online lecture "The place of Peter the Great’s reforms in Russian history". The lecture was delivered by Kirill Nazarenko, Head of the Department of Source Studies of Russian History at St Petersburg University.
Cultural events during February
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 February.
Exhibition "Nevskaia pershpektiva" by Ilia Ovsiannikov
On 1 February, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University opened the exhibition "Nevskaia pershpektiva" by Ilia Ovsiannikov. The artist creates a modern image of ‘classical’ St Petersburg. The artist’s young gaze sees hackneyed, seemingly ‘postcard’ plots in a completely new, fresh and bright way.
Opening of the exhibition "Architectural palimpsest: St Petersburg University"
At 2pm on 7 February, the exhibition "Architectural palimpsest: St Petersburg University" will open in the exhibition hall of the Twelve Collegia building. It celebrates the anniversary of St Petersburg University. The exhibition focuses on the University’s architectural appearance, the variety of artistic styles (Classicism, Historicism, and St Petersburg Art Nouveau), the history of the buildings and their owners, and the changing eras and perspectives on the city’s development.
Opening of the exhibition "Outstanding University staff — Nobel laureates"
On 7 February, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University will open the exhibition "Outstanding University staff — Nobel laureates: Ivan Pavlov, Ilya Mechnikov, Nikolay Semyenov, Lev Landau, Alexander Prokhorov, Wassily Leontief, Leonid Kantorovich, Joseph Brodsky, and Alexey Ekimov". The exhibition celebrates the anniversary of St Petersburg University. It will feature pre-revolutionary books and magazines from the collection of the M Gorky Scientific Library.
Presentation of the catalogue "University artists of the 20th and 21st centuries"
At 5pm on 7 February, the Dom Universitetskoi Knigi (University Book House) at St Petersburg University will present the catalogue "University artists of the 20th and 21st centuries". There will be meeting with curators of contemporary art who are friends and partners of St Petersburg University. The illustrated catalogue presents an exhibition dedicated to the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University, held by the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art at St Petersburg University.
Lecture "Meteorite research — from ancient times to the present"
At 5pm on 10 February, the Petrography Museum at St Petersburg University will host the seminar "Petrographic environment" and the popular science lecture "Meteorite research — from ancient times to the present" by Pavel Plechov, Director of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Screening of the film "The expert in reptiles"
At 4pm on 11 February, the reading room at the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University will present the film "The expert in reptiles", dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Ilya Darevsky, a Soviet and Russian biologist, a herpetologist, and Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
Virtual exhibition "Famous University staff. Garshin and his tales"
On 12 February, the virtual exhibition "Famous University staff. Garshin and his tales" will open. It celebrates the 170th anniversary of the Russian writer Vsevolod Garshin (1855-1888).
Opening of the exhibition "The library and its collections. Modern gifts"
On 14 February, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University will open the exhibition "The library and its collections. Modern gifts", dedicated to the International Book Giving Day. It will display recent gifts or donations, which continue to be one of the main and constant sources of new acquisitions to the library’s collection.
Lecture "Nabokov’s mass novel Laughter in the Dark (Camera obscura)" by Andrei Petrov
At 6pm on 14 February, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University will host the lecture ‘Nabokov’s mass novel Laughter in the Dark (Camera obscura)’ by Andrei Petrov.
Meeting with the artist Ilia Ovsiannikov
At 6pm on 15 February, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University will host a creative meeting with the artist Ilia Ovsiannikov, dedicated to the exhibition "Nevskaia pershpektiva".
Lecture "Minerals of the atacamite group from the bottom of the Atlantic"
At 5pm on 18 February, there will be an open lecture entitled "Minerals of the atacamite group from the bottom of the Atlantic" by the leading geologist of the Ocean Search and‑Survey Party of the Polar Marine Geological Exploration Expedition Irina Dobretsova.
Exhibitions for Defender of the Fatherland Day
On 20 February, M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University will open the book and illustration exhibition "The soldier, hero, scientist. On the 145th anniversary of Dmitry Karbyshev (1880—1945)" and the book and illustration exhibition "The Hero Cities. Brest Fortress". They are dedicated to Defender of the Fatherland Day and the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
Lecture "Pre-revolutionary perfumery in Russia"
At 12 noon on 22 February, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University will host the lecture "Pre-revolutionary perfumery in Russia" by the perfumer Elena Dargel. You can evaluate individual notes, individual ingredients included in the legendary fragrances, and learn about modern versions of these perfumes.
Online exhibition "A gemmological collection"
On 26 February, the online exhibition "A gemmological collection" will open.
Opening of the exhibition "Anna Popova. Drawings from the album"
On 27 February, the Dmitri Mendeleev Museum and Archives at St Petersburg University will open the exhibition "Anna Popova. Drawings from an album: for her 165th anniversary", dedicated to the works of the famous scientist’s wife.
Lecture "The image of the Renaissance in 'Fiorenza' by Thomas Mann"
At 6pm on 28 February, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University will host the lecture "The image of the Renaissance in 'Fiorenza' by Thomas Mann" by Doctor of Philology Aleksei Volskii.
Online exhibition "Stepan Kutorga (1805-1861). Homo Universalis — a zoologist, palaeontologist, geologist, anatomist, and geographer"
On 28 February, the online exhibition "Stepan Kutorga (1805-1861). Homo Universalis — a zoologist, palaeontologist, geologist, anatomist, and geographer. On his 220th anniversary" will open.
Opening of a classroom named after Lyudmila Verbitskaya in the Boarding School for Girls of the Russian Ministry of Defence
To mark the Russian Students’ Day, the Russian language classroom named after Lyudmila Verbitskaya, an outstanding philologist and specialist in Russian studies, Rector (1994–2008) and President (2008–2019) of St Petersburg University, was opened at the Boarding School for Girls of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. The ceremony brought together Elena Chernova, Acting Rector of St Petersburg University, Academic Secretary of St Petersburg University, Deputy Chairperson of the Academic Council of St Petersburg University; and Tatiana Leshukova, Senior Research Associate of the State Museum of the History of St Petersburg, niece of Lyudmila Verbitskaya to name just a few.
The event was attended by Anna Tsivileva, State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation; Olga Vasilieva, President of the Russian Academy of Education; Tatiana Nesterenko, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Boarding School for Girls of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation; and Svetlana Orlova, Member of the Board of Trustees, auditor of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation.
During the grand opening ceremony, Elena Chernova said that ‘the main Russianist of the planet’, as Lyudmila Verbitskaya was often called, dedicated her life to supporting and promoting the Russian language. Lyudmila Verbitskaya laid the foundations for the development of language policy in this area in the international arena.
"Lyudmila Verbitskaya’s contribution to the popularisation of the Russian language and culture in the world cannot be overestimated. She understood their role and place in the formation and strengthening of Russian statehood and the education of patriotism,’ said Elena Chernova. ‘For centuries, the language has served as a spiritual foundation to ensure that people remain united in the most difficult historical periods. A single language that all people speak correctly and beautifully, which the whole world admires, is what can unite us all. This is very important for the preservation and promotion of traditional values, which remain our moral and spiritual support. This is what Lyudmila Verbitskaya strove for."
The memory of Lyudmila Verbitskaya is preserved at St Petersburg University. The name of the Member of the Russian Academy of Education was given to the Department of General Linguistics at St Petersburg University, which she headed for more than 30 years. On the eve of the 15th Congress of the International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature, a sculptural bust of Lyudmila Verbitskaya was unveiled at St Petersburg University, and her portraits can be seen on the grand staircase of the Twelve Collegia building and in Auditorium No 70 (2013), where the University traditionally held Rector’s meetings.