Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

Organisation of work of St Petersburg University from 8 November 2021

From 8 November, new restrictions are to be introduced in St Petersburg to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova reminded of the rules that were to be in force in the city ​​from this day (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 1 November 2021).

In accordance with Decree № 795 of the Governor of St Petersburg dated 23 October 2021 and Decree № 820 of the Governor of St Petersburg dated 8 November 2021, dining and catering areas and leisure and entertainment events are set to be banned from being visited from 11pm to 6am daily. The number of those who participate in mass events that can be held without having to receive an approval has been reduced to 40 people (previously 75 people).

The range of events and institutions to visit with a QR code is increasing. From 15 November, having a QR code is obligatory to visit swimming pools, fitness centres, entertainment venues. From 1 December, a QR code is obligatory to visit dining and catering areas.

In case of a medical exemption from the vaccination against COVID-19 and there is a need to visit events which are allowed to be visited only with a QR code, a certificate of a medical exemption and a certificate of a negative result of the PCR test taken no earlier than three calendar days before the event is obligatory.

People over 60 years old who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 are advised not to leave their home or stay in unless urgently needed.

Employers are advised to ensure that employees over 60 years old and people with chronic conditions (if they do not have a medical exemption for vaccination against COVID-19) are transferred to a distance working mode within four weeks to get vaccinated. In addition, employers are advised to release employees from work with an obligation to pay a salary for two days upon receipt of the first and (or) second component of the vaccine on the day of vaccination and the next day after vaccination both in case of primary vaccination and in case of repeated vaccination.

Elena Chernova said that from 8 November 2021, the University is to follow the format of teaching and learning process in the degree programmes of higher education as determined by Orders No 10732/1 , No 10733/1 and No 10734/1 dated 4 November 2021. Information about the format of teaching and learning process in each area of study is published on the University website (The format of teaching and learning process at St Petersburg University).

The Dean of the Faculty of Law, Sergei Belov, asked a question submitted by students: if all students in the group are vaccinated or have had Covid-19, is it possible to conduct classes in classrooms on-campus? The Deputy Rector for Legal Affairs, Yuri Penov, said that this is not possible for the time being and he has consulted the supervisory authorities on this issue.

Alexey Rodionov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies, recalled: if someone in the group gets sick with Covid-19, the whole group is to have a two-week quarantine (including those vaccinated). He asked if it is possible not to quarantine the vaccinated lecturer who delivers classes in this group so that other groups he/she teaches would not be harmed? The Rector instructed Mr Penov to consult the supervisory authorities on the ways of how to cope with the situation.

The Rector also recalled that the orders which stipulate how the teaching and learning process should be organised at the University from 8 November have been prepared following the proposals submitted by directors of institutes and deans of faculties at the University. Based on the results of the discussion, the Rector instructed the directors and deans to submit proposals on the further format of work.

Vaccination against COVID-19

According to Order No 4430/1 ‘On informing students about the University’s COVID-19 and of vaccination against COVID-19’ dated 29 April 2021, the University students must inform the University about a full cycle of vaccination against COVID-19 in the Student’s Personal Account ( https://my.spbu.ru ), specifying the name of the vaccine. Information is accumulated in the ‘Students’ information system. The University staff is also required to report about their vaccination to the Human Resources Department.

The progress of COVID-19 vaccination among academic staff and students was discussed. It was noted that the rates of vaccination are especially low among students.

Information about vaccination of students by areas of study

No	Area of study	Information about the vaccinated	Total number of students	Percentage
1.	Physical Education (non-university level higher education)	17	1,217	1.4 %
2.	Medical College	3	64	4.7 %
3.	Arts	44	648	6.8 %
4.	Institute for Competition Development and Antimonopoly Regulation	1	13	7.7 %
5.	Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication	163	1,847	8.8 %
6.	Dental Medicine and Medical Technologies	54	579	9.3 %
7.	Management	134	1,337	10 %
8.	Law	205	1,895	10.8 %
9.	Economy	214	1,930	11.1 %
10.	Sociology	101	842	12 %
11.	International Relations	209	1,555	13.4 %
12.	Political Science	80	526	15.2 %
13.	Institute of Philosophy	119	749	15.9 %
14.	Control Processes	219	1,349	16.2 %
15.	Mathematics and Computer Science	83	509	16.3 %
16.	Institute of History	164	987	16.6 %
17.	Institute of Pedagogy	23	138	16.7 %
18.	Psychology	198	1,184	16.7 %
19.	Physical Training (bachelor’s degree)	8	45	17.8 %
20.	Philology	431	2,346	18.4 %
21.	Liberal Arts and Sciences	130	677	19.2 %
22.	Mathematics and Mechanics	273	1,417	19.3 %
23.	Institute of Earth Sciences	286	1,410	20.3 %
24.	Medicine	220	1,034	21.3 %
25.	Physics	174	745	23.4 %
26.	Institute of Chemistry	126	534	23.6 %
27.	Asian and African Studies	149	569	26.2 %
28.	Biology	255	909	28.1 %
29.	Institute for Cognitive Studies	8	22	36.4 %
Overall number		4091	27,429	14.9 %

Information on vaccination of members of institutes and faculties

No	Area of study	Information about the vaccinated	The total number of academic staff	The presence of antibodies	Medical exemption	Percentage of vaccinated and having antibodies
1.	Academic Gymnasium	42	75	2	6	66.7 %
2.	Faculty of Biology	195	281	23	1	77.6 %
3.	Military Training Centre	23	26	3	0	100 %
4.	Faculty of Asian and African Studies	103	142	ten	nine	79.6 %
5.	School of Journalism and Mass Communication	64	104	6	4	67.3 %
6.	Graduate School of Management	43	73	7	5	68.5 %
7.	Institute of Earth Sciences	119	217	2	10	55.8 %
8.	Institute of History	78	117	5	3	70.9 %
9.	Institute for Cognitive Studies	17	21	3	1	95.2 %
10.	Institute of Pedagogy	7	7	0	0	100 %
11.	Institute for Competition Development and Antimonopoly Regulation	3	9	4	0	77.8 %
12.	Institute of Philosophy	75	123	6	0	65.9 %
13.	Institute of Chemistry	176	206	15	5	92.7 %
14.	Department of Physical Training and Sports	29	44	10	2	88.6 %
15.	College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology	42	55	6	0	87.3 %
16.	Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty	205	277	28	0	84.1 %
17.	Medical College	16	21	3	0	90.5 %
18.	Faculty of Medicine	207	326	15	8	68.1 %
19.	Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Process	112	178	23	5	75.8 %
20.	Euler International Mathematical Institute	7	20	0	0	35 %
21.	Faculty of Foreign Languages	164	292	12	0	60.3 %
22.	Faculty of Arts	78	104	6	0	80.8 %
23.	Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science	59	114	2	0	53.5 %
24.	School of International Relations	81	103	9	5	87.4 %
25.	Faculty of Political Science	29	40	9	1	95 %
26.	Faculty of Psychology	94	131	18	6	85.5 %
27.	Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences	65	89	4	0	77.5 %
28.	Faculty of Sociology	49	94	3	2	55.3 %
29.	Faculty of Dental Medicine and Medical Technologies	36	90	2	0	42.2 %
30.	Faculty of Physics	266	447	5	0	60.6 %
31.	Faculty of Philology	270	416	13	17	68 %
32.	Faculty of Economics	114	157	5	3	75.8 %
33.	Faculty of Law	78	99	18	0	97 %
Overall number		2,946	4,498	277	93	73.7%

The heads of academic and research subdivisions need to take personal control over explaining the need for vaccination to staff and students and importance of submitting information about vaccination to the Student’s Personal Account by students and informing the relevant divisions of the Human Resources Department about vaccination by academic staff.

Current problems with organising the teaching and learning process

Over the past week, the Virtual Reception received 17 enquiries submitted by students and academic staff via email address of the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs (including seven enquiries relating to the organisation of teaching and learning process). Five enquiries were registered in the students’ enquiry catalogue.

As Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, said at the meeting, the enquiries were on various topics: uploading graduation projects in the University’s Repository; requirements for the remote examination procedure; registering the topics of graduation projects; taking the candidate’s exam; academic transfer to another academic programme; taking an online course at St Petersburg University in an accelerated format; restoring a retraining diploma; acknowledgement of extracurricular activities; transfer to another academic programme; access to classes; and registration of a foreign vaccine. All enquiries are followed by checkups and responses are sent in due course and manner.

Marina Lavrikova said that according to the information submitted by the heads of most academic and research subdivisions, classes are delivered according to the timetable.

Some heads did not hold meetings with representatives of student councils over the past week, yet most academic and research divisions have held such meetings.

As Marina Lavrikova said, during the meeting, the Dean of the Faculty of Sociology and members of the Student Council discussed current issues of organising the teaching and learning process. Students reported about sound problems during a class delivered in a distance mode; asked whether it is possible to change the timetable for second-year students; and clarified the format of practice for fourth-year students.

At the meeting, the Director of the Institute of Earth Sciences stressed the importance of ensuring that all measures are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and also recalled the need for vaccination against COVID-19. He noted that geographers, ecologists, and geologists got vaccinated. Being engaged in Earth sciences means to participate in expeditions and a certificate with a list of all necessary vaccinations is necessary.

Additionally, the issue of the participation of students in the activities of the teaching methodology committees for the enlarged group of research specialities in Earth Sciences was discussed. According to the decision of the Rector, the participation of students in the collegiate governing bodies of St Petersburg University was introduced at the University in 2011 (Student Council of St Petersburg University and the right to learn: past and present). Unlike most Russian universities, the University does not have restrictions on the representation of students in the teaching methodology committees, and all students who wanted to join the committee were included in the committee for the enlarged group of research specialities in Earth Sciences. Thus, there are six members of academic staff and five students in the committee. However, during the previous committee’s meeting on 29 October, only one student out of five took part in the voting. The Director of the Institute of Earth Sciences explained that if student representatives do not participate in the work of the committees and do not vote on issues on the agenda, it can impede the work of the committee. He emphasised that work in the committee is seen as a regular expert activity, which implies working with curricula and syllabi and methodological work. According to the chairperson of the Student Council of the Institute of Earth Sciences, the five students mentioned were included in the committee by mistake. Re-elections have been held and now three people have been elected. The chairperson of the Student Council assured that it would be explained to the members of the committee that the quorum breakdown is unacceptable.

Marina Lavrikova expressed her hope that in order to ensure the normal work of the teaching methodology committees, she will not have to impose restrictions on the representation of students in the committees.

The Director of the Institute of Philosophy discussed with representatives of the Student Council the quality of delivering classes in a distance format. The members of the Student Council said that the classes were held as usual without disruptions and technical failures.

The Director of the Institute of Chemistry discussed with the students the organisation of teaching and learning process and possibilities for volunteering. The Director of the Institute of Chemistry recalled the projects of the educational centre ’Sirius’ where students could be engaged for laboratory and practical work as volunteers. She also reported on the opportunity to help the Mendeleev Museum at the University to digitise and catalogue materials within practical classes in the course ’History of Chemistry’.

Student councils of several academic and research subdivisions were interested in gaining understanding about the reasons behind the disciplinary measures imposed on students who had committed administrative offenses on the night of 18 September to 19 September in the Petrodvortsovy District of St Petersburg. The offense and its consequences were repeatedly discussed at the Rector’s meetings (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 20 September 2021, dated 1 November 2021 ). The heads of the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Philology, the Institute of Earth Sciences, the Faculty of Sociology, the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology gave explanations to students on this issue at meetings with representatives of students. It is planned to have a conversation on this topic at the next meeting with the students at the School of International Relations.

The heads of the academic and research subdivisions were instructed to continue to inform Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, about all problems that arise in relation to organisation of the teaching and learning process until 7pm every day.

Taking into account the opinion of the University Student Council in decision-making in relation to imposing disciplinary measures and expulsion of students

At the Rector’s meeting held on 1 November, the issue of massive violation of the law by students was discussed, which led to bringing students to administrative responsibility (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 1 November 2021 ). Following the decision of law enforcement agency and with regard to the seriousness of offenses, six students were expelled, one was reprimanded.

In this regard, the Virtual Reception received enquiries submitted by students with requests to clarify the procedure for making decisions on the expulsion. Additionally, the students asked why the University administration did not agree with the opinion of the Student Council, which suggested choosing softer disciplinary measures. As Aleksandr Babich, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Admissions, said, the students also offered alternative solutions to the issue with different arguments: ’no need to expel, because nobody had been expelled before’, ’have mercy and do not expel’, ‘the administration violated procedural requirements, this order must therefore be cancelled.’

Aleksandr Babich explained that decisions on disciplinary sanctions in such cases are based on the decisions adopted by law enforcement agencies. These decisions are based on the results of investigations and established facts.

Aleksandr Babich stressed that the University has no right to question the conclusions about the circumstances of cases and decisions adopted by the competent authorities unless they are not contested and are not overturned by a higher authority or court of appeals. In the event that the persons who are brought to justice believe that administrative penalties were applied to them illegally, they have the right to appeal against the decisions of law enforcement agencies to bring them to justice in court. If the court overturned the decision of the law enforcement agencies of bringing persons to administrative responsibility, it could become the basis to review the application of disciplinary measures.

Aleksandr Babich also said that in accordance with the current legislation educational organisation is not required to obtain permission or approval of the Student Council to adopt a disciplinary measure. The legislation provides a possibility to take into account the opinion of the Student Council. However, during the decision-making process the administration cannot and should not be guided only by the opinion of students.

However, the University pays great attention to decisions of the University Student Council on issues related to the application of disciplinary measures to students. In each case, a request is sent to the University Student Council for an opinion on adopting a disciplinary measure. Although more often than not the waiting period for the opinion of the Student Council is more than a month, no single disciplinary sanction was applied without considering the opinion of the Student Council.

Aleksandr Babich cited statistics of accounting for the opinion of the University Student Council for the period from January 2019 to October 2021. During this time, 241 disciplinary sanctions were applied to the University students, and the Student Council expressed its position on each of them. The University disagree with the opinion of the Student Council only in 34 cases (14 %), when the Student Council objected to the chosen measure. In other cases, the University, at the suggestion of the Student Council, softened (in 13 cases) or, conversely, toughened (in seven cases) the disciplinary punishment. In other cases, the Student Council did not object to the chosen measure.

Thus, in the overwhelming majority of cases (86 %), mutual understanding was reached between the University and the University Student Council when adopting a disciplinary measure.

Reply from the University of Warsaw in relation to expulsion of Vladislav Dubrovskii from the University

On 6 October, student Vladislav Dubrovskii was expelled from St Petersburg University in accordance with the decision of the Ethics Commission. Before the relevant order was issued, it was decided not to send Vladislav Dubrovskii to an internship programme at the University of Warsaw, with a relevant order being issued on 20 September. Yet, as the documents (visa, confirmation from the receiving party) had been obtained by Mr Dubrovskii, he went to the Polish university on his own initiative.

Sergey Andryushin, Deputy Rector of St Petersburg University for International Affairs, said that information about the notice about cancellation of the academic mobility was timely sent to the staff of the International Relations Office of the University of Warsaw.

In addition, on 12 October, St Petersburg University sent a letter to Ms Anna Sadecka, Head of the International Relations Office at the University of Warsaw, informing her that Mr Dubrovskii had been expelled from St Petersburg University on the grounds of illegal actions, and sent the Minutes of the meeting of the Ethics Committee held on 15 October.

Ms Anna Sadecka confirmed receipt of the letter on 15 October, thanked for the information and said that she was in solidarity with the decision adopted by St Petersburg University. She also informed that the University of Warsaw ensured that all necessary measures were in place in relation to the issue.

Professor Chernigovskaya’s participation in the discussion ’Mindful brain: horizons of understanding and boundaries of neurotechnologies’ as part of the EXPO 2020

Professor Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies at St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education, took part in the discussion ’Mindful brain: horizons of understanding and boundaries of neurotechnologies’ as part of the business programme of the Russian pavilion at the international exhibition EXPO 2020 in Dubai (UAE).

Sergey Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research, said that during the event world-leading scholars, experts in neuroscience, and contemporary philosophers discussed the future of neuroscience and development of neurotechnologies. The session was moderated by the well-known journalist Vladimir Pozner. The discussion was also attended by: Professor Konstantin Anokhin, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Institute for Advanced Brain Studies at Lomonosov Moscow State University, Head of the Laboratory of Neurobiology in Memory at the Anokhin Research Institute of Normal Physiology; Professor Alexander Kaplan, Leading Research Fellow in the Institute of Cognitive Neurosciences / Centre for Bioelectric Interfaces; Professor Pavel Balaban, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Professor Vadim Vasiliev, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of History of Foreign Philosophy at the Faculty of Philosophy at Lomonosov Moscow State University; Raphael Yuste, Professor at Columbia University and Co-Director of the Kavli Institute of Brain Science; and Katrin Amunts, Professor in the Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute of Brain Research at the University of Düsseldorf, Director of the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine at the Forschungszentrum Jülich (Tatiana Chernigovskaya takes part in the discussion about the brain at EXPO 2020).

At the Rector’s meeting, Professor Chernigovskaya spoke about the high quality design of the Russian pavilion at the international exhibition EXPO 2020, especially in comparison with the pavilions of other countries. It is modern, interactive, full of scientific information about the brain as an object being examined by researchers. In this regard, the participants of the meeting proposed to inform the public about the achievements of the University scholars.

Participation of the team members of the Institute of Pedagogy and the University students in the 20th All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference ’Research that improves education’

Professors and students of the Institute of Pedagogy at St Petersburg University made presentations at the 20th All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference ’Research that improves education’.

Sergey Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research, noted that at the conference Arkady Margolis, a member of the Council of Association of Educational Researchers, in his welcoming speech thanked Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy at St Petersburg University and Chair of the Federal Educational and Methodological Association in Higher Education ’Education and Pedagogy’, for her contribution to enhancing the role of research in education and encouraging young researchers to pursue this agenda.

At the conference, Professor Kazakova presented her report ’From question to action: the Russian experience of transformative research’. In her research, she identified several significant questions for contemporary researchers: Why do many teachers believe that digitalisation will lead to the replacement of the educator by a digital analogue? How many teachers can consciously evaluate their personal potential? Why do most educators prefer to deliver information in class rather than let students search for it on their own? Today, researchers are trying to find answers to these and other questions.

The University postgraduate students and students also presented their reports at the conference. The students spoke about: the use of computational linguistics methods in the analysis of terminology in modern school textbooks; the impact of information and communications technology on the efficiency of education in Russia; current issues in the use of longreads in the teaching and learning process; and a comparative analysis of didactic principles in modelling modern virtual learning environments. One of the reports analysed what statements were posted on the walls of schools in Russia and China and what values ​​they conveyed (Elena Kazakova: ’The defining characteristic of the modern teacher is the ability and desire to learn together with their students’).

At the Rector’s meeting, Professor Kazakova said that a half out of the eight major studies in the field of pedagogy were carried out by scientists at St Petersburg University. These studies bridge together psychology and sociology.

According to the results of the discussion, the participants of the meeting were reminded of the need to inform in advance Vladimir Eremeev, Vice-Rector for Human Resources, and Daria Skorospelova, Head of the Public Relations Department, about participation in forums, conferences, and other research and educational events.

All-Russian competition of projects for schoolchildren ‘Skill Up’

The University has held the first All-Russian competition of Skill Up projects for schoolchildren across a range of subjects: information technology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and geography (Schoolchildren from 25 regions of Russia take part in the final stage of the Skill Up competition). The organisers of the competition were St Petersburg University and the country’s largest children technopark St Petersburg Quantorium.

Aleksandr Babich, Vice-Rector for Students Affairs and Admissions, reminded that the agreement on co-hosting the competition was signed at the end of August (St Petersburg St Petersburg University and the Quantorium technopark network launch a technological project competition for schoolchildren). We developed an idea of the meeting, format, and competition events at the end of the previous year after signing the agreement on cooperation with Quantorium (St Petersburg University and the largest in the country children park Quantorium sign an agreement on cooperation).

According to Aleksandr Babich, the contest was held in two rounds: a qualifying round and a final round. At the qualifying round, the jury evaluated the team presentations and their achievements in the professional field. Based on its results, 60 teams from 25 regions of Russia were selected out of over 120 received applications to reach the final round.

As part of the final round, the participants were offered to solve cases from partner companies. During eight working days, the teams had to develop a project concept that would help solve the case and prepare a model or prototype on the equipment provided by the organisers. The case companies were: North-Western Regional Centre of the Almaz-Antey — Obukhov State Plant; Russian Railways; Rostelecom; Diakont; Rosseti Lenenergo; the Russian State Scientific Centre for Robotics and Technical Cybernetics; ’Power Machines’; and B. E. Vedeneev All-Russia Research Institute of Hydraulic Engineering (VNIIG).

The jury of the competition consisted of scientists and lecturers from St Petersburg University, experts from the Quantorium, and representatives of partner organisations. They selected the winners in each of the six areas of the competition.

In Mathematics, the winner was the team ‘Pythagorean Army’ from Engineering and Technological School No 777 at St Petersburg. In Chemistry, the winner was the team ’Chemicactuses’ from the IT Lyceum at Kazan Federal University. In Biology, the winner was the team ’Biovir’ from the Quantorium in the Arkhangelsk Region. In Geography, the winner was the team ‘Future Opportunities’ from the Institute of the Development of Education of the Sakhalin Region. In the Information Technologies, the winner was the team from the Quantorium Sampo Children’s Technopark (the Republic of Karelia). In Physics, the winner was the team ‘Marble Eclipse’ from the Lyceum at Tomsk Polytechnic University.

Additionally, in each of the areas there were two prize-takers, including the team ‘Sirius’ from the D.K. Faddeev Academic Gymnasium at St Petersburg University in Mathematics. All winners of the contest received titles in some nominations: ‘The most unusual approach’; ‘The Most Technological Project’; and ’The Best Research Project’ to name just a few. Representatives of Rostelecom, Diakont and Rosseti Lenenergo awarded projects in the nomination ‘Employers’ Choice’ with special prizes.

Aleksandr Babich also recalled that, in the Year of Science and Technology, the University held several significant events for schoolchildren related to technological creativity and popularising scientific knowledge among young people: the competition of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation ’Perspective’; the St Petersburg University Olympiad on Technopreneurship; the All-Russian scientific and practical conference ’University Gymnasium’; and the St Petersburg University Olympiad on the history of engineering. In order to develop this area of work, St Petersburg University signed an agreement with the Kruzhok Association (Kruzhok movement) (St Petersburg University and the Kruzhok Movement (the National Technology Initiative) sign a cooperation agreement), whose President took part in the ceremony honouring the winners and prize-takers of the Skill Up contest.

Aleksandr Babich added that the University pays no less attention to the methodological support of teachers responsible for the preparation of talented children. St Petersburg University holds seminars, workshops and online marathons, runs international projects to support teachers in Russia and abroad, and also trains teachers for gifted students. The academic programme of the competition therefore also included round tables and seminars for team mentors: teachers and teaching staff of additional education.

Specifying the amount of payment for accommodation in halls of residence for the University students

At the Rector’s meeting, the procedure for admitting foreign citizens to the University and providing them with housing was discussed. The Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova recalled that foreign citizens enter the University not only within the framework of a general competition with the citizens of the Russian Federation, but also within the framework of a special competitive selection: this selection is partially carried out by the University independently; and partially carried out by the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), and diplomatic and consular institutions of the Russian Federation abroad according to the established quota.

In 2021, St Petersburg University received 1,000 foreign citizens under the quota: 800 — as part of an independent selection and 200 — through the selection of Rossotrudnichestvo. In relation to these foreign citizens, enrolment orders (in accordance with the Federal Law) are issued only on the basis of the ‘referral for studying’ document issued by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The enrolment order is issued, as a rule, within a period of no more than two working days from the date of receipt of the ‘referral for studying’ document issued by the Ministry. However, the University received the ‘referral for studying’ document, according to annual practice, in mid-December, which can cause difficulties for foreign students (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 6 September 2021).

Elena Chernova reported that by 31 August, 880 ‘referral for studying’ documents (88 %) were received to register 1,000 students. Moreover, foreign citizens often come to St Petersburg before the start of their studies. The University was previously forced to settle international students who arrived in the city ​​and did not yet have their ‘referral for studying’ document from the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, to temporary guest places, since formally they were in the status of applicants. For the same reason, international students had to pay for such places at the rates for the guests, not for the enrolled students.

Elena Chernova said that it was decided to provide accommodation to such students immediately to permanent places without waiting for admission. The order of tariffs was therefore amended to entitle this category of students with the same rights (Order № 10652/1 dated 1 November 2021).

Registration of documents for foreign citizens arriving at St Petersburg University for research and teaching activities

St Petersburg University is one of the leading international centres of education and research in the world. Every year, the University invites international experts, including for:

• participation in international scientific, educational, and cultural events
• collaborative research
• teaching activities

Such cooperation is a significant component of the life of the University. It is therefore essential to make this process clear and unambiguously understandable for all its participants.

Dmitry Gryaznov, Deputy Rector for Security, said that (in accordance with the current legislation), foreign citizens can enter the Russian Federation in the visa and in the visa-free regime. The process of preparing documents for foreign citizens who enter our country on a visa basis is more complicated and requires additional time and financial costs. To organise the entry of foreign citizens on a visa basis, it is necessary to issue an official invitation to enter the Russian Federation. Moreover, for foreign citizens arriving at the University as highly qualified specialists it is also necessary to obtain a work permit in Russia.

In order to improve the work on preparing the documents for the invitation to the University of foreign nationals for a fee-paid employment or fee-free employment (if necessary, the issuance of visas to enter the Russian Federation), Dmitry Gryaznov, Deputy Rector for Security at St Petersburg University, issued Order № 10490/1 dated 28 October 2021 ‘Regulation on registration of documents for foreign citizens arriving at St Petersburg University for research and teaching activities’ ( On the approval of the Regulations for the registration of documents for foreign citizens arriving at St Petersburg University for research and teaching activities).

Prior to the publication of this Order, the University had separate by-laws governing various aspects of the process of inviting foreign citizens to the University. Separate documents stipulated: definitions of officials, responsible persons, and contact persons who must be indicated when justifying the invitation of foreign citizens to the University; deadlines for submitting a set of documents for issuing invitations to the Ministry of Internal Affairs; and terms for issuing invitations on the basis of intergovernmental agreements written on the official letterheads of the University. The rest of the stages of issuing invitations to researchers, teachers and highly qualified specialists, as well as work permits, were purely conceptual in nature and were not approved by any local act of the University.

The approved regulations cover all stages of the process and set a clear algorithm for the interaction of employees of the University divisions:

They specify the terms for considering the feasibility of admitting foreign teachers, researchers, highly qualified specialists, participants in various scientific, educational, cultural events held by St Petersburg University:

• the deadlines for the execution of orders by those responsible for accompanying foreign specialists are indicated
• deadlines are set for issuing and receiving invitations for foreign citizens, as well as work permits for foreign highly qualified specialists
• the procedure for registration and the list of documents for foreign citizens invited to the University are determined:
  • for labour (paid) research or teaching activities in the status of highly qualified specialists
  • for labour (paid) research or teaching activities who do not have the status of a highly qualified specialist
  • for humanitarian (gratuitous) scientific or humanitarian teaching

• Forms of justification of the expediency of admitting a foreign citizen arriving at St Petersburg University for employment or for humanitarian purposes are published

The regulation is designed to streamline the interaction between employees of all divisions of the University. This will allow more efficient preparation of documents for foreign scientists and teachers.

All meeting participants were instructed to submit their comments/suggestions on the text of the Order.

Changes in human resources

The Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev informed the meeting participants about the personnel changes made at the University.

The University has introduced the position of the Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and Partnerships. Anastasiia Iarmosh was appointed as the Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and Partnerships. She had previously served as the Deputy Vice-Rector for Research at the University.

Anastasiia Iarmosh graduated from St Petersburg University in 2009, Candidate of Art Studies. After receiving a master’s degree, she worked as deputy head of the planning and financial department in 2010-2017, also serving as a lecturer in the Department of History of Western European Art. She was Head of the Centre for Arts and Science at ITMO University. In 2019, she returned to the University as the Deputy Vice-Rector for Research.

Also, changes have been made to the distribution of powers of employees subordinate to the Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova. The Deputy Vice Rector Konstantin Kuzmin heads the car service and two of his deputies Dmitrii Smirnov and Iaroslav Nadkin who are responsible for the operation of the services and offices: safety and life; development of the material and technical base; storage facilities; and technical support of academic programmes.

The Chief Engineer — Deputy Vice-Rector Roman Seigarov heads: Andrei Ovchinnikov, Deputy Chief Engineer for the Petrodvortsovy educational complex; Deputy Chief Engineer for the Vasileostrovsky educational complex (the position is vacant); and Dmitrii Mikhailov, Deputy Chief Engineer who is in charge of the Department of Maintenance and Operation of Halls of Residence, the Department of Material Assets Management, and the Settlement Department.