Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

The participants of the meeting observed a moment of silence in memory of the University Professor Emeritus Evgeny Veremey.

Current issues related to organisation of the teaching and learning process

Last week, the Virtual Reception received 45 enquiries from students and teachers addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities and Teaching Methods. Nine enquiries were sent to the e-mail of the Vice-Rector. The most urgent issues were addressed in detail. They will be published in the full report of the Rector’s Meeting.

Preparation for the state accreditation of degree programmes

The preparation for the state accreditation procedure for degree programmes of higher education and vocational training at St Petersburg University is in progress. Order № 1395/1 dated 26 February 2021 has been issued. It specifies the tasks for the collection of documents and data to the address of the heads of services and academic subdivisions of the University in order to submit the application and go through the state accreditation procedure.

International accreditation of the Faculty of Law at St Petersburg University and bachelor’s programme on ‘Law’

Based on the results of the external evaluation of the Faculty of Law by the FIBAA agency, it has been resolved to grant accreditation to the Faculty of Law at St Petersburg University for the maximal period of six years. The AKKORK International Accreditation Council has taken a decision to grant accreditation to the bachelor's programme on ‘Law’ for the term of four years.

Applying for increased scholarship though the student’s personal account

In the spring semester of 2020/21, the submission of applications for the increased state academic scholarship was organised for the first time with the use of the University information system through a specifically developed feature in the student’s personal account. The application was open from 15 February to 1 March.

When will the open competition for personal scholarships from the Government of St Petersburg take place?

Current regional legislation limits the number of potential candidates for personal scholarships by quotas determined by the committee on science and university education in the Government of St Petersburg. They are based on the general number of students at the educational establishment. The Student Council of the University has proposed holding an open competition for personal scholarships without allocating quotas to specific educational establishments. The proposal has been forwarded to the committee on science and university education in the Government of St Petersburg. This is not the first attempt of the University management and University public organisations to request a transition from quota-based competition to open and fair competition. We hope that the reasoning of the University Student Councils will be heard.

Separate restrictions are prolonged till 28 March

St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov has introduced amendments to Resolution of the Government of St Petersburg No 121 ’On Measures to Counteract the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in St Petersburg’ dated 13 March 2020. Separate restrictions previously valid till 10 March 2021 have been prolonged till 28 March 2021 by the Regulation.

Preparing for the 300th anniversary of the University’s foundation

The University continues to prepare for the celebration of its anniversary. The programme of events has been established and books dedicated to the history of the first university in Russia are being prepared. The Directors and Deans are assigned with the task to provide for publications about the achievements of the University scientists in the relevant academic fields within the timeframe from 2021 to 2023.

The position of St Petersburg University in the Webometrics International Rating

St Petersburg University improves its position in the international Webometrics Ranking by 58 places. The meeting analysed the positions of the University according to various ranking parameters in comparison to the positions of other Russian and foreign universities.

A meeting in ‘Innopolis’

Within the framework of a work trip to Kazan, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting with the rectors of Russian universities on the territory of Innopolis University on 6 March. The meeting was devoted to developing, in the sphere of university education, the preparation of highly-qualified staff for priority industries of the digital economy. Rector Nikolay Kropachev took part in the meeting. University representatives participated in the work of round tables.

Professor Tatiana Chernigovskaya is the top woman in the sphere of education

The union of ‘Professionals in the sphere of educational innovations’ conducted a survey among the teachers of Russian schools, universities and colleges to find the women regarded as the most influential in the sphere of education. The majority of respondents voted for Professor Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies at St Petersburg University (St Petersburg University Professor Tatiana Chernigovskaya recognised as the top woman in the field of Russian education).

Further development of ‘Liberal Arts and Sciences’ degree programme at the University

The Virtual Reception receives enquiries from students, potential employers and third persons about the possibility of further development of the ‘Liberal Arts and Sciences’ degree programme at the University after the reorganisation (On the continuation of education at St Petersburg University (Liberal Arts and Sciences); How will the rights of students of the ‘Liberal Arts and Sciences’ degree programme be ensured?; On receiving the diploma of St Petersburg University (Liberal Arts and Sciences), etc.).

During the discussion of the University reorganisation (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 1 March 2021), the participants of the Rector’s meeting created a working group made up of University academic staff with the goal to collect enquiries from teachers, employees, students and their parents and applicants. The working group includes: Ivan Uralov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts; Svetlana Rubtsova, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages; Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy; and Department Heads at the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Andrei Astvatsaturov, Elena Khodorkovskaia, Valerii Timofeev. According to one of the division heads, the working group features teachers and scientists who are well known among the university students and have high level of credibility. At the meeting the colleagues voted and assigned Professor Ivan Uralov as the group leader. The group members assured their colleagues that they would take every effort to give clear answers to all questions. The group members decided to forward the information on the group creation to the corporate e-mails of all students of the relevant academic programmes, teachers and employees, who assist in implementing these programmes and profiles. It was also resolved to hold a meeting with the Student Council of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences with the goal to collect questions.

The participants of the meeting also took the decision to inform officially all students of the relevant academic programmes that the students have the right to take the decision to continue their education at the University on the current programme or transition to the new university and study there on the relevant programme. This official information will be forwarded to the students with the signature of Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities and Teaching Methods, and Danila Raskov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

It is worth noting that as of the end of the day on 11 March 2021, 34 enquiries on the topic of reorganisation had already been received.