Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

Extended meeting of the State Council and the Presidential Council for Science and Education of the Russian Federation

Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, talked about the extended meeting of the State Council and the Presidential Council for Science and Education of the Russian Federation. The meeting was attended by the heads of regions, political parties, representatives of the research community, members of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Security Council. The results of the Year of Science and Technology and further development of the Russian scientific potential in Russia were discussed. Minutes of the meeting are published on the official information resource of the President of the Russian Federation.

Organising anti-epidemic activity at St Petersburg University

During the previous Rector’s meetings (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 13 December 2021; Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 20 December 2021), it was reported that students residing in Hall of Residence № 8 (15/1 Khalturina Street, Peterhof) contracted COVID-19. The University took relevant measures to prevent the spread of the disease in accordance with the recommendations of the Central Office of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) in St Petersburg.

Elena Chernova, Senior Vice-Rector, said that 80 students of St Petersburg University were directed to the observation facility at the Baltiets recreation centre following the Rospotrebnadzor recommendations. In the observation facility, the students have meals three times a day, live in the premises disinfected on a daily basis, undergo medical examination twice a day with thermometry and COVID-19 testing. If needed, the standby crew provides medical support. In the case of detecting COVID-19, the infected people will be isolated in separate rooms.

The students currently residing in the observation facility have been informed that they have a possibility to take tests and examinations remotely or transfer the assessment to other dates according to their personal timetable. The students have to send relevant notifications to organise this process.

The students have also been informed that in order to solve the issues of the interim assessment, they should turn to the heads of academic offices. In case of need to purchase personal items and essential supplies, the students should turn to the Deputy Heads of the Department for Youth Affairs in their relevant fields of studies.

The actions of Rospotrebnadzor are typical in this situation. The actions of employees at the Rector’s Office at St Petersburg University are the same as the actions of rector’s offices at other universities in Russia. During the pandemic, unfortunately, similar mass infection with COVID-19 have already happened many times in different universities in Russia. In those days, when the students of St Petersburg University were infected, the students of Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University were in the same situation. However, the students of Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University and their friends did not spread the information in social networks and mass media, saying that they were ‘forced to leave’, ‘relocated in large numbers’ and ‘prevented from taking their interim assessment’. Instead of helping their group mates and international students, some students of St Petersburg University (not even those who contracted COVID-19) kept spreading false information in social networks without turning to the University staff for clarifications. The messages said: ‘students of St Petersburg University are taken from the halls of residence in large numbers’, ‘students are prevented from taking their interim assessment’ and similar announcements. These messages went viral in social networks and mass media, which caused significant damage to the University image. The publications in social networks were viewed over 4.7 million times, while the number of messages in mass media exceeded 240 with the total audience exceeding two million users. To compare, the number of news items on the infection of students at Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University is ten times less than that of the students at St Petersburg University.

The heads of institutes and deans of faculties need to explain to the student councils that the students should turn to the University employees first for information, support the students in need, and think about the consequences of spreading false information in social networks and mass media.

Elena Chernova added that the students of St Petersburg University are discharged from the Baltiets recreation centre on the following dates: 29 students — on 25 December 2021 (already left the recreation centre and returned to their halls of residence), 36 students — on 27 December 2021, 15 students — on 28 December 2021. On the day of discharge, the students shall be taken from the observation facility to Hall of Residence № 8 in Peterhof by the University transport.

Dmitrii Mikhailov, Head of the Department of Maintenance and Operation of Halls of Residence, Vice-Deputy of Deputy Senior Vice Rector for Material Assets Management, said that, on 24 December, the University received an enquiry from the Committee for Science and Higher Education of St Petersburg. The Committee resent an enquiry from a student’s mother who turned to the federal authorities stating that her pregnant daughter was living with a COVID-19 patient in one room and the allegedly indifferent attitude of ‘the administration of the hall of residence at St Petersburg University’ (see Enquiry). At the same time, the claimant failed to state her daughter’s name, the number of the hall of residence and the area of study. Dmitrii Mikhailov contacted the claimant over the phone to learn the details. During the conversation, it was found out that the claimant’s daughter studied at a different university that she called ‘St Petersburg University’ in her enquiry (Be aware of whom you complain about!).

At the meeting, it was also noted that the students of St Petersburg University infected with COVID-19 can receive free psychological support at the St Petersburg University Psychological Clinic similar to all other University students and staff. Directors of institutes and deans of faculties should regularly remind their colleagues and students of this opportunity.

Vaccination against COVID-19

The meeting participants once again discussed the vaccination against COVID-19 among the University staff and students. Over the past week, the number of vaccinated students who recovered from COVID-19 within the last six months or provided medical exemption has slightly increased, showing a growth of 1.32 % (from 35.41 % to 36.73 %). The number of vaccinated academic staff has increased by 0.3%. The general percentage of vaccinated academic staff at the University is 93.2 %.

The information on the students’ vaccination across the areas of study is summarised in the table below:

Area of study	Students with vaccination, past disease certificates, medical exemption certificates (as of 10 December 2021)	Students with vaccination, past disease certificates, medical exemption certificates (as of 17 December 2021)	Students with vaccination, past disease certificates, medical exemption certificates (as of 24 December 2021)
Institute for Competition Development and Antimonopoly Regulation	91.67 %	91.67 %	91.67 %
Asian and African Studies	64.29 %	65.98 %	66.46 %
Institute of Chemistry	57.78 %	60.68 %	62.69 %
Physical Training (bachelor’s programme)	57.14 %	61.9 %	61.9 %
Biology	49.93 %	50.79 %	52.24 %
Medicine	48.63 %	49.89 %	51.15 %
Physics	43.97 %	48.58 %	50.88 %
Mathematics and Computer Science	45.24 %	46.53 %	47.42 %
Institute for Cognitive Studies	47.06 %	47.06 %	47.06 %
Philology	39.1 %	42.6 %	44.97 %
Institute of Pedagogy	42.86 %	42.45 %	44.34 %
Institute of Earth Sciences	40.86 %	42.14 %	42.99 %
Liberal Arts and Sciences	36.64 %	38.41 %	40.7 %
Mathematics and Mechanics	36.64 %	38.18 %	39.09 %
Psychology	35.35 %	37.59 %	38.87 %
Institute of History	35.02 %	36.72 %	38.64 %
Institute of Philosophy	35.76 %	37.09 %	38.54 %
Medical College	35.71 %	36.36 %	38.18 %
Control Processes	34.15 %	36.32 %	37.49 %
International Relations	32.76 %	34.34 %	35.43 %
Dental Medicine and Medical Technologies	30.6 %	32.59 %	34.39 %
Management	28.55 %	29.63 %	31.13 %
Sociology	27.02 %	29.08 %	29.94 %
Political Science	25.55 %	27.02 %	29.07 %
Law	25.4 %	26.62 %	27.42 %
Economics	20.75 %	22.98 %	24.22 %
Arts	18.73 %	20.2 %	20.59 %
Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication	16.53 %	17.93 %	19.18 %
Physical Education (non-university level higher education, excluding out-of-age students)	16.12 %	17.08 %	17.95 %
Total	33.58 %	35.41 %	36.73 %
Growth	2.68 %	1.83 %	1.32 %

The information on vaccination among the academic staff at the institutes and faculties is presented in the table.

Subdivision	Total number of staff (full and part-time)	Vaccinated	Antibodies	Medical exemption	Percentage as of 17 December 2021	Percentage as of 24 December 2021
Academic Gymnasium	82	58	7	7	87.8 %	87.8 %
Faculty of Biology	342	302	22	7	96.8 %	96.8 %
Military Training Centre	34	29	3	2	100 %	100 %
Faculty of Asian and African Studies	151	125	12	10	97.4 %	97.4 %
Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication	113	90	13	10	100 %	100 %
Graduate School of Management	83	67	6	5	92.8 %	94 %
Institute of Earth Sciences	249	230	13	4	99.2 %	99.2 %
Institute of History	147	125	8	5	93.9 %	93.9 %
Institute for Cognitive Studies	20	18	1	1	100 %	100 %
Institute of Pedagogy	7	7	0	0	100 %	100 %
Institute for Competition Development and Antimonopoly Regulation	9	6	3	0	100 %	100 %
Institute of Philosophy	143	121	12	9	99.3 %	99.3 %
Institute of Chemistry	221	195	17	9	100 %	100 %
Department of Physical Training and Sports	53	41	5	7	100 %	100 %
College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology	78	59	8	7	93.6 %	94.9 %
Mathematics and Mechanics	286	226	21	2	87.1 %	87.1 %
Medical College	24	20	2	1	95.8 %	95.8 %
Faculty of Medicine	324	249	21	7	85.2 %	85.5 %
Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes	185	152	18	9	96.8 %	96.8 %
Faculty of Foreign Languages	299	207	29	19	84.6 %	85.3 %
Faculty of Arts	103	88	6	5	95.1 %	96.1 %
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science	180	139	6	2	81.7 %	81.7 %
School of International Relations	119	87	9	16	94.1 %	94.1 %
Faculty of Political Science	44	34	5	0	86.4 %	88.6 %
Faculty of Psychology	136	114	13	7	98.5 %	98.5 %
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences	88	68	4	0	81.8 %	81.8 %
Faculty of Sociology	94	71	6	5	87.2 %	87.2 %
Faculty of Dental Medicine and Medical Technologies	90	54	17	2	81.1 %	81.1 %
Faculty of Physics	484	437	40	7	99.4 %	100 %
Faculty of Philology	453	342	46	24	90.9 %	90.9 %
Faculty of Economics	161	130	14	8	93.8 %	94.4 %
Faculty of Law	151	116	19	6	91.4 %	93.4 %
Total	4953	4007	406	203	92.9 %	93.2 %

In the coming term, in-person classes will be allowed only in those groups where the percentage of vaccinated teachers exceeds 80% and the percentage of vaccinated students exceeds 40%. Only 13 groups have reached these indicators so far.

The heads of academic and research subdivisions need to take personal control over explaining the need for vaccination to staff and students.

Viktor Titov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics, shared his experience in promoting the efficiency of vaccination among the staff and students of the faculty (Vaccination against COVID-19).

Upon the request of Viktor Titov, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Director at the Botkin Memorial Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases Olga Sokolova made a presentation titled ‘Vaccination against the novel coronavirus disease from the viewpoint of a medical practitioner specialised in infectious diseases’ (St Petersburg University expert in infectious diseases speaks about whether it is necessary to have an antibody test to get revaccinated). The presentation was demonstrated at the meetings of the Academic Council and Student Council at the Faculty of Economics, generating interest among the participants.

Viktor Titov suggested that the presentation should be circulated in the staff teams and among the students of other academic and research subdivisions with an insufficient number of vaccinated people.

Current issues with organising the teaching and learning process

Last week, the Virtual Reception received 26 enquiries addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. 20 enquiries were registered in the student enquiry register.

According to Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, the enquiries covered various topics, including the following: the re-issues of documents confirming graduation from St Petersburg University; the possibility of transfer to a government-funded place; the possibility of transfer to a different academic programme; receiving a diploma; tuition during the academic leave; using the Examus online invigilation system (the answers to these questions have been previously published: Why does St Petersburg University use an online invigilation system?; Will the online invigilation system be improved?; The efficiency of using the online invigilation system; On resitting an examination with the use of the online invigilation system; The use of the online invigilation system during tests and examinations; On invigilation during the interim assessments; How many students are expelled due to the online invigilation?; Are the online invigilation rules the same at all universities ?; On a failed examination or test with the use of the online invigilation system; On the use of the online invigilation system during examinations); and the acknowledgement of extracurricular activity as internships. Students from several areas of studies enquired about the format of the interim assessment.

The Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities had a preliminary discussion with the heads of academic and research subdivisions on the format of interim assessment. Marina Lavrikova reminded that tests and examinations shall be conducted in the same format as the practical classes during the semester following the procedure established due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide for a uniform approach to the learning and assessment process (Orders: Order № 7991/1 dated 13 August 2021 ‘On the format of academic classes in the 2021/22 academic year’, Order № 10732/1 dated 4 November 2021 ‘On the validity of Order № 7991/1 dated 13 August 2021 "On the format of academic classes in the 2021/22 academic year"’, Order № 10733/1 dated 4 November 2021 ‘On the amendments to Order № 10732/1 dated 4 November 2021 "On the validity of Order № 7991/1 dated 13 August 2021 "On the format of academic classes in the 2021/22 academic year""’, Order No 10734/1 dated 4 November 2021 ‘On introducing clarification to Order No 10732/1 dated 4 November 2021 «On the validity of Order № 7991/1 dated 13 August 2021 «On the format of academic classes in the 2021/22 academic year» starting 8 November 2021’). Thus, the format of the interim assessment in each subdivision may differ, being either remote or classroom-based, depending on the learning format established in this subdivision. This approach was supported by the directors of institutes and the deans of faculties. The format of the assessment is published in the Electronic Timetable.

Marina Lavrikova clarified that if practical classes in a given discipline were delivered in a classroom format, the examination should be held in a classroom format as well. If classes were delivered for several groups of students at the same time with the use of information and communication technologies, the test or examination should be conducted in a remote format.

At the same time, Marina Lavrikova noted that following the Recommendations by Rospotrebnadzor, the assessment should be conducted in a remote format if the teacher is not able to conduct the examination or test in the classroom due to age or health condition. Other reasons may also lead to a remote format of assessment. For example, in case of quarantine in the academic group due to contact with the people infected with COVID-19, the test or examination will be conducted with the use of information and communication technology. If the majority of students in a group are international citizens who were not able to arrive in St Petersburg due to the current restrictions, the test or examination will also be conducted with the use of information and communication technology.

All students isolated during the interim assessment period can send requests to the head of the academic office to organise the assessment with the use of information and communication technologies or transfer the assessment date following a personal timetable. The procedure has been previously explained to the students.

Those students who happen to be sick on the day of the examination or test should send a medical certificate to the head of the academic office following the Academic Regulations (article 4.3.4.). The assessment will be transferred to a different date based on this medical certificate. The certificate should be sent no later than three workdays after the issue date.

According to Marina Lavrikova, the heads of the majority of academic and research subdivisions reported that the classes and tests were conducted according to the timetable.

The meetings with the representatives of the student councils were not held by some directors, while many subdivisions held such meetings.

The issues related to the format of the winter interim assessment were discussed at the meetings with the Student Council representatives and the heads of the Faculty of Physics and the Faculty of Biology (Minutes of the meeting of the Acting Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Physics with the Student Council representatives dated 22 December 2021; Minutes of the meeting of the Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Biology with the Student Council representatives dated 22 December 2021).

The Acting Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Physics announced the proposal of the Student Council to conduct the interim assessment in a remote format. It was clarified that the established format can be changed only due to objective reasons (for example, quarantine in the group, health condition of the teacher that does not allow for a classroom format) that will result in making individual decisions (Minutes of the meeting of the Acting Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Physics with the Student Council representatives dated 22 December 2021).

The issues of conducting the assessment with the use of the online invigilation system and taking tests in online courses at the University premises were discussed at the meetings with the heads of the Institute of Chemistry, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Psychology, the Student Council representatives and the Faculty of Foreign Languages with the first-year and second-year students of all master’s programmes. The heads of academic and research subdivisions emphasised that the students should study the assessment instructions carefully and follow the established rules. All answers and clarifications on conducting the interim assessment with the use of the electronic control system are regularly published on the St Petersburg University portal.

The Director of the Institute of Chemistry clarified the procedure of holding tests in online courses with the use of the electronic control system in the territory of St Petersburg University. She noted that the honesty of students and observation of the rules are of primary importance independently on the location of the interim assessment with the use of the online invigilation system (Minutes of the meeting of the Director of the Institute of Chemistry with the Student Council representatives dated 17 December 2021).

The issues of using the online invigilation system were also discussed at the meeting of the Dean of the Faculty of Psychology and the Student Council representatives. Vladimir Starostenko, Director of the Centre of E-Learning Development, took part in the meeting and clarified the issues related to the use of the online invigilation system during tests (Minutes of the meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Psychology dated 20 December 2021).

The possibility of introducing verification of the video record in the Examus invigilation system was discussed at the meeting between the Dean of the Faculty of Law and the Student Council representatives. The Dean and the head of the academic office clarified that the students whose test in online courses was refused should have been informed about the reasons for a negative status in the invigilation system. According to the students, one of the online course tests has mistakes. This information will be sent to Vladimir Starostenko, Director of the Centre of E-Learning Development (Minutes of the meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Law dated 17 December 2021).

During the meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Sociology, second-year students of the Sociological Research in Digital Society programme requested to change the timetable of the course on the Methodology and Technique of Conducting Sociological Research. The changes were caused by the participation of the students in the Russian Census in October and November of 2021 (Minutes of the meeting of the Head of the Institute of Chemistry with the Student Council representatives dated 22 December 2021). The information was sent to the academic office. In-person classes were scheduled in this discipline.

At the meeting with the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, the Student Council representatives raised the issue of organising an examination in ophthalmology for the fourth-year students in the Medical Care programme scheduled on 28 January 2022 at City Multifield Hospital № 2 that currently provides medical support to COVID-19 patients. The Acting Dean clarified that in case the examination could not be held in this location due to epidemiological safety regulation, the decision on changing the location will be made in due time (Minutes of the meeting of the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine with the Student Council representatives dated 21 December 2021).

Current issues with organising the teaching and learning process were also discussed at the meetings with the Student Council representatives and the heads of the Institute of History, the Institute of Earth Sciences, the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty and the Faculty of Philology.

At the last Rector’s meeting on 20 December, the mechanism of controlling the teaching and learning process applied at the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication was discussed (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 20 December 2021). The heads and deans were again asked to share their opinion on the expediency of using this mechanism or make other proposals. № one among the heads of academic and research subdivisions supported the idea. In his turn, Anatoly Puyu, Director of the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said that this practice had been used at the outset of the online format. However, today, upon discussing it with the Institute staff, this control mechanism has been cancelled.

Activity of the Council of the Academic Programme in ‘Jurisprudence (with an In-Depth Study of the Japanese Language and Legal System)’

Academic programme councils at St Petersburg University are external bodies of expert assessment that include leading professionals, art and science figures, representatives of: federal authorities (the State Duma, the Federal Anti-monopoly Service, the Government of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, the Committee for Nature Management, the Committee for External Relations, the Committee on Labour and Employment); business (Gazprom, Gazprom-Neft, Yandex, VTB Bank, Sberbank); and industry (Biocad). The public officials include: the Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus in St Petersburg; the Consul General of Sweden in St Petersburg; the Consul General of the Netherlands in St Petersburg; and the Consul General of Norway in St Petersburg.

Currently, 190 councils operate at St Petersburg University (six of them have the functions of teaching methodology committees) in 300 academic programmes. The total number of academic programme councils is over 1,900 people, including 150 foreign experts. At the same time, 94% of council members are external experts, 6% are representatives of professional communities who work part-time at St Petersburg University.

Elvira Zeletdinova, Vice-Rector for Academic Activities and Teaching Methods, mentioned the activity of the Council of the Academic Programme in ‘Jurisprudence (with an In-Depth Study of the Japanese Language and Legal System)’ as an example of successful participation of an academic programme council in the providing for the high quality of education. Established in 2019, this Council includes the leading Russian and Japanese lawyers. Aleksandra Usacheva, Advisor to the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors at Gazprombank (the Council of the Academic Programme in ‘Jurisprudence (with an In-Depth Study of the Japanese Language and Legal System)’), is the Head of the Academic Programme Council.

The Council of the Academic Programme in ‘Jurisprudence (with an In-Depth Study of the Japanese Language and Legal System)’ focuses on traditional questions such as: the academic programme content; platforms and format of practical training; topics of graduation projects; members of the state examination committees; and the results of the state final assessment. It also focuses on the issues of cooperation with Japanese professors and practising lawyers within the framework of the academic programme (Minutes of the meetings of the Council of the Academic Programme in ‘Jurisprudence (with an In-Depth Study of the Japanese Language and Legal System)’).

The Council has a working group headed by Professor Sato, who contributes to the participation of Japanese universities in the teaching and learning process. Every term, five to ten Japanese teachers and practising lawyers are invited. With the support of the Academic Programme Council, St Petersburg University has concluded an internship agreement with the Japanese consulting agency MTC Japan in St Petersburg.

A large-scale online event was held with the support of ‘JETRO St Petersburg’ (Mr Yuta Ichinose and Ms Ayuna) to form professional competencies for the students of all courses. It was attended by: company Yarumen (Mr Kazumasa Umemoto); Mockingbird Law Office (Mr Takehiko Kawame); Yusen Logistics (Svetlana Isaeva, HR Director); ‘MTC Japan St Petersburg’ consulting agency (Mr Kijima Kazuhiko and Ms Anastasiia Pakhareva); and Cominix (Mr Mizukoshi Atsushi).

The members of the Academic Programme Council take an active part in organising guest lectures and workshops. In the autumn term, Mr Miura, Legal Consultant at Asia Pacific International and a member of the Academic Programme Council, conducted a workshop for third-year students on consulting customers in establishing a business entity with the use of business and legal vocabulary in Japanese.

The councils of academic programmes meet at least twice a year to develop a number of proposals. Their competent opinion on the requirements to applicants and graduates of a specific academic programme, academic content of the programme, structure of practical training, recommendations from the organisation on internships for students, recommendations on the topics of graduation projects and research, the proposed forms of interaction with potential employers and the contacts of such employers provide for the high quality of the academic programme and its focus on the most recent achievements in science and practical training.

Improving the admission process for international students at St Petersburg University

Foreign nationals, stateless persons and compatriots living abroad can be admitted to St Petersburg University to the places determined by the quota specified in Order № 2150 of the Russian Federation dated 18 December 2020 and to places on the fee-paying basis following the results of the entrance examination in the form of a competition of documents (portfolio).

Aleksandr Babich, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Admissions, said that the programme of the entrance examination is aimed at assessing the achievement of applicants in various areas, including the academic and research spheres, achievements in intellectual competitions as well as (starting with the admission to the 2021/22 academic year) the achievements during the assessments, intellectual competitions and contests organised by the national educational systems in foreign countries.

Taking into account the experience of the admission campaign in 2021 and the analysis of the documents submitted by the applicants as part of the admission campaign for the 2021/22 academic year, the programmes of entrance examinations for the 2022/23 academic year for foreign nationals seeking admission for the 2022/23 academic year were adjusted in accordance with the proposals from directors of institutes, deans of faculties and chairpersons of the teaching methodology committees. It was performed to further improve the competitive selection process aimed at attracting foreign nationals that are motivated and prepared to master academic programmes at St Petersburg University.

In particular, the following amendments were introduced to the programmes of entrance examinations:

• The list of documents confirming language proficiency has been expanded. Currently, it includes the certificates confirming studies in the relevant language not only within the programme of secondary education (when applying for bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes) and higher education (when applying for master’s programmes), but also programmes of basic general education and non-university level higher education.
• Additional points are granted to the applicants with the status of the winner in the second stage of the Republican Olympiad (the Republic of Belarus) in the priority discipline of general education, the winners of the selection stage in the international contest ’Literary destinies of Belarus and Russia: from dialogue to understanding’, the winners or prize winners of the selection stage in the St Petersburg Olympiad for School Students in the priority discipline in the 2021/22 academic year.
• Points are also granted for studying in the online school at St Petersburg University confirmed by a certificate of successful completion of the interim assessment.
• Participation in volunteer activity confirmed by a diploma, a volunteer record book or a letter of appreciation also provide for additional points.
• To develop network cooperation between educational organisations and attract foreign nationals, including those who previously studied full time in a different educational institution, additional points are granted for bachelor’s, master’s or specialist’s degrees received upon completion of an academic programme implemented in a network format.
• The acknowledgement of achievements in the research area has been improved. Additional points are granted not only for the publications indexed in the Scopus, Web of Science, the Chinese Science Citation Database and Russian Science Citation Index, but also for publications in the journals of the Higher Attestation Commission.

The work on improving the admission assessments in the form of the competition of portfolios will continue to attract the most gifted and prepared international applicants to study at the University.

The directors of institutes and deans of faculties need to provide proposals on improving the programme of admission assessment in the form of the competition of portfolios to the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Admissions.

Preparation of the materials for the Russian Academy of Sciences

According to Article 7, Federal Law of the Russian Federation dated 27 September 2013 № 253-FZ ‘On the Russian Academy of Sciences...’, the Russian Academy of Sciences presents an annual report on the implementation of national research and technical policy in the country and on the most important achievements of Russian scientists to the President of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Russian Federation. St Petersburg University provides the information on the most prominent achievements of the year to the Russian Academy of Sciences based on the proposals from the chairpersons of the relevant scientific committees.

According to Sergey Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research, up to five most prominent results in every area of research in 2021 could be provided. At the same time, the most important result had to be attributed to a specific area of research: mathematics; physics; chemistry and materials science; biology; energy engineering, machine engineering, mechanics and control processes; nanotechnology and information technology; medical sciences; physiology and fundamental medicine; Earth sciences; agricultural sciences; social sciences; history and philology; global problems and international relations; and construction, architecture, and urban planning.

Following the replies to the relevant enquiries with the representatives of scientific committees and taking into account additional phone calls, the following information on the most prominent achievements of St Petersburg University was received. For example, Dmitrii Baryshnikov, Chairperson of the Scientific Committee on International Relations, provided materials on ‘Establishing the fundamental role of universities and academic university culture as «soft power» tools during the global opposition of the two systems during the Cold War’ in the area of ‘global problems and international relations’ (published as a monograph: Tsvetkova N. The Cold War in Universities. US and Soviet Cultural Diplomacy 1945-1990. — Leiden|Boston: Brill, 2021. — 264 P.). Irina Novikova, Dean of the School of International Relations, additionally provided the information on ‘social sciences’ on the publication of two volumes in Farsi published by the Institute for East Strategic Studies (Iran). The book is about the basic trends in social, economic and political spheres in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the time period from April 2020 to March 2021. Vladislav Gurzhiy, a representative of the Scientific Committee in the area of Earth sciences, obtained data in the area of ‘Earth sciences’ on the publication in the Nature journal Late Quaternary dynamics of Arctic biota from ancient environmental genomics (Scientist at St Petersburg University helped to find the reason of mammoth extinction in Siberia). Elena Riekhakaynen, Chairperson of the Committee in the area of languages and literature, provided information in the area of ‘history and philology’ on publishing the ‘Dictionary of Russian COVID-related anti-proverbs’.

The Vice-Rector said that the following chairpersons of scientific committees failed to provide materials in response to the request: Mikhail Erman in the area of medicine and general healthcare; Petr Zograf in the area of mathematics and computer science; Anatolii Bochkarev in the area of applied mathematics; Andrei Panibratov in the area of management; Iurii Asochakov in the area of social sciences; Olga Strizhitskaya in the area of psychology; Olga Kruglikova in the area of mass media and communication; Sergei Belozerov in the area of economics and business; and Grigorii Tulchinskii in the area of interdisciplinary research in natural sciences and the humanities. The materials were forwarded to the Russian Academy of Sciences without listing any achievements in the above-mentioned areas.

Sergey Mikushev emphasised that including materials on scientific achievements of the University staff in the report to the President of the Russian Federation is a significant reflection of the University activity.

During the discussion, Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies, said that she learned about this information only on the day of the meeting. Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy, added that she had been looking for this information letter in the mail together with the representative of the scientific committee and failed to find it. The Rector requested that the Vice-Rector for Research should send the information requests to the chairpersons of scientific committees to the addresses of directors and deans. The following mails with similar requests should be forwarded not only to the representatives of scientific committees, but also to the directors and deans.

Opening a representative office of St Petersburg University in Germany

Today, representative offices of St Petersburg University operate in the Republic of Korea, China, Spain, Greece, Italy and Turkey. Expanding the network of representative offices of St Petersburg University abroad is one of the key instruments of developing international cooperation. Due to the activity of representative offices, more international citizens learn about the possibilities of Russian education, while students at St Petersburg University expand the range of possibilities for academic exchange and study abroad.

On 22 December, a grand opening of the representative office of St Petersburg University in Germany took place. Due to the epidemiological conditions, the ceremony was held online. The project is implemented on the basis of the Freie Universität Berlin — one of the most significant strategic partners of St Petersburg University.

The first agreement on collaboration between the universities was signed in 1968. In 2012, the universities entered into the agreement on strategic cooperation confirming a special status of relations between the partners.

According to Deputy Rector for International Affairs Sergey Andryushin, welcoming addresses during the ceremony were given by: Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University; Günter Ziegler, President of the Freie Universität Berlin; and Sergei Nechaev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Federal Republic of Germany. The ceremony of ribbon-cutting and unveiling the sign plate took place in front of the entrance to the new representative office of St Petersburg University located in an old mansion called the International House in Berlin.

The ceremony was completed with an open lecture titled ‘Brain and Mind’ delivered by Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies at St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education. St Petersburg University Professor Chernigovskaya spoke about the issues of brain and mind — one of the most complicated problems in cognitive science (see the recording of the ceremony at: St Petersburg University opens a representative office in Germany).

During the Rector’s meeting, Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies, thanked Vladimir Starostenko, Director of the Centre of E-Learning Development, and his team that promptly adjusted an unsuccessful recording of her video lecture. Directors and deans highly appreciated the work of Vladimir Starostenko and his colleagues on the development of online courses at St Petersburg University. In many respects, due to the well-organised work of the Centre of E-Learning Development, St Petersburg University takes first place on the OpenEdu Platform in the number of courses and viewers as well as takes the leading position among the top five on the Coursera platform (Online courses at St Petersburg University gain popularity during the pandemic; Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 11 October 2021; Online courses at St Petersburg University take the lead in the rankings of international learning platforms; The input of St Petersburg University into the online education in Russia during the pandemic; St Petersburg and the global online learning platform Coursera: prospects of cooperation; Online courses at St Petersburg University attract students from all over Russia). The meeting participants recalled that Vladimir Starostenko regularly met with students explaining the work of the online invigilation system during examinations and tests. At the same time, social networks feature offensive comments on the work of Vladimir Starostenko and his colleagues. The Rector requested that directors and deans explain the role of the Director of the Centre of E-Learning Development and his team in organising and implementing online courses at the meetings with the student council representatives. Deans and directors need to explain the consequences of false and offensive remarks in the public space of social networks to students.

Awarding the employees of St Petersburg University with the prizes of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

Following the decision of the Russia—Belarus committee on joint awards of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the results of the competition held in 2021, the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences issues Order № 208 dated 21 December 2021 on awarding the employees of St Petersburg University and their colleagues from Belarus with the prizes of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus in the field of technical sciences for the cycle of papers ‘High energy control methods of the structural and functional characteristics of shape memory alloys for the development of advanced technologies in engineering and medicine’. Among the awarded researchers from St Petersburg University are: Sergey Belyaev, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics; Alexander Razov, Doctor of Engineering; and Natalia Resnina, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics. Among awarded colleagues from Belarus are: Mikhail Kulak, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics; Vasilii Rubanik, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus; and Vasilii Rubanik Jr, Doctor of Engineering, the Institute of Technical Acoustics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

The meeting participants congratulated the colleagues on the well-deserved award.

Usage of corporate e-mail by the employees of St Petersburg University

Corporate e-mail is a powerful tool of communication. Weekly, all employees are forwarded brief and full information on the Rector’s meetings, the most important messages relevant to all staff members and other useful information.

According to Vladimir Eremeev, Vice-Rector for Human Resources, the Human Resources Department circulated a survey among the University staff on the use of corporate e-mail. 1,303 employees took part in the survey, which showed that three thirds of the respondents actively use their corporate e-mail, checking it on a daily basis. One third of the respondents checks their e-mail less regularly: several times a week or a month.

A quarter of the respondents (25%) has their corporate mail forwarded to their personal e-mail stating it as their contact address. In this regard, Vladimir Eremeev reminded the colleagues that they should communicate their personal e-mail if they redirect their corporate mail to the personal e-mail. It will help to establish an additional communication channel, which is extremely important in order to avoid information loss. He also reminded of the duty to check the corporate mail or the personal mail stated in the employment agreements on a daily basis.

Over 80% of respondents gave a positive assessment of the frequency of mailing. The mails with the minutes of the Rector’s meetings, announcements of events at St Petersburg University and the information on advanced training possibilities were mentioned as the most interesting and useful.

The meeting participants discussed the importance of corporate e-mail in establishing efficient communication between the University staff and students. They emphasised the fact that the information forwarded to corporate e-mail is official and similar to the materials published on the St Petersburg University portal. The loss of such information can have a negative impact on the University employee. For example, he or she will fail to learn about, plan ahead or take part in an important meeting.

During the meeting, it was found out that some employees still had to activate their corporate e-mail and had difficulties in understanding how to work with it. The colleagues were reminded about the possibility of redirecting corporate mail to a different e-mail and receiving corporate letters in a habitual way.

The staff of the Human Resources Department plan to conduct a more detailed and wide-range survey to analyse the situation and develop recommendations on improving the use of corporate e-mail by the University employees. The data on the assessment of the mail web interface were transferred to the University Information Technology Service for further analysis and improvement.

Financial support for students

In 2021, the amount of state academic scholarship and state social scholarship was increased twice: since 1 February 2021 and since 1 September 2021. Since 1 February 2021, the state academic scholarship for full-time bachelor’s, master’s and specialist’s students who study in government-funded places was increased by 249 roubles reaching 2,000 per month. The state social scholarship for these students was increased by 374 roubles reaching 3,000 roubles per month.

Since 1 September 2021, the amount of the state academic scholarship and the state social scholarship has increased one more time. The amount of state academic scholarship for full-time bachelor’s, master’s and specialist’s students who study in government-funded places reached 2,080 roubles per month. The amount of state social scholarship for the same group of students was 3,120 roubles per month.

Elena Chernova, Senior Vice-Rector, noted that in 2021, the amount of the increased state academic scholarship (on average the amount varies from 6,500 to 10,200 roubles per month) and the increased state social scholarship for first-year and second-year students (30,000 roubles per month) remained unchanged despite an increase in the number of recipients. These types of scholarships are paid in addition to the general state academic and social scholarship.

In 2021, the tradition of previous years to stimulate students for successful presentations at student competitions, Olympiads and other intellectual, sport and art contests was continued. Following Order № 10731/1 dated 3 November 2021 ‘On establishing a personal scholarship for students of degree programmes at universities’, a special scholarship was established. This scholarship is granted to the students that won or received prized at various competitions and contests of regional, country and international level. This year, the competitive selection was performed in accordance with Order № 10776/1 dated 8 November 2021 ‘On organising competitive selection for a personal scholarship for students of degree programmes at universities in 2021’. 244 applications were received and 144 students were assigned a scholarship following the results of competitive selection. The amount of scholarship varies from 4,000 to 18,000 roubles depending on the level of the competition and the results (winning, receiving a prize) similar to the number of incentives paid in the previous years. The scholarship is paid once and in a total amount from the funds of the scholarship year similar to the previous years (the stipend is exempt from personal income tax).

At the same time, according to the Provisions on providing financial support to students at St Petersburg University established by Order № 7321/1 dated 23 July 2018, the students are provided with the following financial support: every month, subsidised students receive partial compensation for the lunches purchased at the University diner (100 roubles per day); every June and November, scholarship committees hold meetings where the applications of students for financial support are considered.

Elena Chernova emphasised that scholarships and financial support are paid from one source — subsidies for scholarship funds. Consequently, an increase in the state academic scholarship and state social scholarship, large amounts of the increased state academic and state social scholarships are provided from the scholarship fund. This decreases the number of funds for financial support payments.

At the same time, all decisions on increasing the state academic and social scholarships and on keeping the amounts of the increased state academic and state social scholarships were taken in view of the opinion of the Student Council and Trade Union Organisation for students and postgraduate students at St Petersburg University.

When considering these questions at the meetings of the Student Council at St Petersburg University, the results of the polls were as follows: 1) increasing the amounts of the state academic scholarship and state social scholarship: starting 1 February 2021 — 22 out of 22 people voted ‘for’; starting 1 September 2021 — 14 out of 14 people voted ‘for’; 2) increasing the amount of the state academic scholarship: 17 of 19 people voted ‘for’, one person voted ‘against’ and one person abstained; 3) increasing the social stipend: in the first half of 2021 — 15 out of 15 people voted ‘for’; in the second half of 2021 — 11 out of 14 people voted ‘for’, three people abstained.

If following the results of the calendar year the scholarship fund of the University has cost savings, they will be paid to students in the form of financial support. In this case, the meetings of scholarship committees are held in December.

In June 2021, the same amount of funding was allocated to the welfare support payments to students as in June of 2020. At the same time, due to fewer applications for welfare support from students in comparison to June of 2020, the average number of payments (except the payments in cases specified in paragraphs 1.5.1.—1.5.3. the Provisions on providing welfare support for students at St Petersburg University established by Order № 7321/1 dated 23 July 2018) was about 7,600 roubles, which was almost 600 roubles more than in June 2020.

In November 2021, St Petersburg University established a foundation for welfare support payments to students. Although the foundation exceeds a standard size of a student welfare support foundation, it is less than an analogous foundation of November 2020 due to increased amounts of scholarships in 2021. At the same time, the average amount of welfare support to students in November 2021 was 15,000 roubles.

In December 2021, the remains of the scholarship funds at the end of the year were added to the welfare support payments to students. The average amount of welfare support to students in December 2021 was 4,120 roubles.

According to paragraph 3.15. of the Provisions, specific amounts of welfare support are determined by the scholarship committee with the Student Council representatives depending on the number of funds available for welfare support payments and the number of applications submitted by students.

Thus, the foundation for the welfare support of students in 2021 has not changed in comparison to 2020. However, taking into account the opinion of the Student Council and the Students’ Trade Union at St Petersburg University, it was partially redistributed to increase the state academic scholarship and the state social scholarship as well as to keep unchanged the amounts of increased scholarships.

Elena Chernova also noted that the students have a possibility to take part in competitions to receive various personal scholarships. Despite the fact that some undergraduate and postgraduate students express dissatisfaction with the amount of welfare support, general and event increased state academic scholarship, the majority of undergraduate and postgraduate students who are eligible to take part in the competitions for personal scholarships do not even try to do it. Thus, taking into account the year of study and academic performance, 3,390 University students could take part in the competition to get a personal scholarship from the Government of the Russian Federation in the 2021/22 academic year. In reality, only 54 students submitted relevant applications. At the same time, 608 people from these 3,390 students requested welfare support in the spring term of 2021, of which 569 people received it. The average amount of welfare support is 8,600 roubles.

The detailed information on personal scholarships is available here.

Following the results of the discussion, the Rector requested that the information on the students in each area who could take part in the competition for personal scholarships and on the number of students who took part in those competitions should be forwarded to directors and deans. Directors and deans need to discuss these issues with the student council representatives. If students have suggestions on making the process of taking decisions on financial stimulation more transparent, they should make relevant proposals.

Actions of student Maksim Drozhzhin

At the Rector’s meeting of 25 October, the participants discussed the enquiry of student Maksim Drozhzhin to the Ethics Committee (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 25 October 2021). Gennady Bogomazov, Chairperson of the Ethics Committee, Professor Emeritus of St Petersburg University said that the Committee started to consider the student’s enquiry on 8 October. The master’s programme student wanted to attend the classes of a folk music group at St Petersburg University. At first, the head of the folk music group Ekaterina Golovkina accepted him, but later she sent a text message to the students saying that he should not be a part of the group. She made this conclusion based on the page of Maksim Drozhzhin in a social network. In this regard, Maksim Drozhzhin turned to the Ethics Committee with a request to assess the actions of the teacher. Simultaneously, the message by Ekaterina Golovkina to Maksim Drozhzhin was published on social networks. After this publication on the Internet, Ekaterina Golovkina reported receiving threats and rebukes.

Different opinions on the actions of Maksim Drozhzhin and the head of the music group Ekaterina Golovkina were voiced at the meeting of the Ethics Committee on 8 October. However, mass media and social networks mostly say that the student was denounced. Gennady Bogomazov reported that the Committee had not taken any decision yet (Who distributes false information about the meeting of the Ethics Committee on the enquiry from student Maksim Drozhzhin?). Due to the investigation performed by law enforcement authorities, the Committee suspended their consideration of the issue until the end of the investigation. Since the investigation is still underway, the Ethics Committee has not taken its decision yet.

Currently, mass media has published information that Maksim Drozhzhin left the Russian Federation and is located in one of the European countries. At the meeting, it was noted that Maksim Drozhzhin did not inform the University about leaving the Russian Federation, ask for an academic leave or a personal academic schedule or give the reasons of missing tests and examinations.

At the same time, the learning group of Maksim Drozhzhin started the interim assessment on 13 December. It is important to remember that missing the test or examination without a reasonable excuse leads to academic failure. Missing the resitting of the test or examination and the resitting with the assessment board leads to the expulsion of the student from the University. Currently, it has been recorded that Maksim Drozhzhin has missed four tests. No documents confirming a reasonable excuse were received by the Academic Office.

Implementation of the project ‘St Petersburg University in the words of the University staff and students’

In 2019, Semen Altov, a famous Russian satirist writer, film director and play-writer, made a proposal to the Rector to publish a collection of aphorisms or sayings by the University staff and students. Upon some preliminary work, it was found out that preparing a publication with brief, bright, aphoristic sayings of the University staff and students with confirmed written sources of information is not possible. There are very few of such sayings, while others are known from the words of other people, which makes it hard to verify them.

When looking for the material to fill the collection with high-quality research information, bibliographers of the M. Gorky Scientific Library of St Petersburg University made thorough research of printed sources in the library. They prepared the materials of value to the University history called ‘St Petersburg University in the words of the University staff and students’. They started with the words of Dmitri Mendeleev: ‘With the soul belonging to the University’.

An expanded bibliography includes over 100 people who left a significant trace in Russian science and culture at the end of the 17th — 19th centuries and their sayings of various length and content about the University of that time. The material preparation required a detailed study of printed sources, structuring and editing the material for further presentation and use.

The material of 360 pages of text is a unique collection for researchers in anticipation of the 300th anniversary of the University.

At the stage of preparation, the project was discussed with the specialists from the Institute of History. Historians pointed out the depth, volume and, in some cases, novelty of the collected material for readers and researchers. It was also noted that the material overlaps with the current project ‘St Petersburg University in the memoirs of its contemporaries’. It was recommended to present the project ‘St Petersburg University in the words of the University staff and students’ in an online format making it available for all interested parties.

In December, the staff of the Public Relations Department completed the work on publishing the memoirs and sayings in a special section of the portal. Currently, the archive of memoirs and sayings of the University staff and students is open to everyone.

Publishing the project online allows for adding material with the use of new sources. Directors and deans were requested to discuss the project with the staff of the institutes and faculties and make proposals on completing the text.