Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

Celebrating the winners of the International Mathematics Competition for University Students IMC-2021

Rector Nikolay Kropachev   congratulated the winners of the 28th International Mathematics Competition for University Students. The championship took place online hosting 113 teams from universities all over the world (Students of St Petersburg University win the main international student mathematics Olympiad – the International Mathematics Competition for University Students 2021).

The University team included Aleksandr Grebennikov, Stanislav Krymskii, Mikhail Ivanov, Nikita Dobronravov, Marat Abdrakhmanov, Nikita Karagodin, Dmitrii Iartsev, Egor Dobronravov, Kirill Tyshchuk, Mikhail Novikov.  Additionally, Konstantin Chelpanov and Artem Skvortsov took part in individual classification. Five of them were among the top ten participants in individual classification. The team leaders were Danila Cherkashin, Research Associate in the Chebyshev Laboratory, and Professor Fedor Petrov, who became the third most efficient leader among the IMC-2021 teams. Our team wins the Olympiad in mathematics once every three years showing good results in between. Over the past seven years it has been among the top five participants. Fedor Petrov promised that the tradition of successful performances will be continued. ‘It is high time we won every year,’ he emphasised.

The International Mathematics Competition for University Students has taken place annually since 1994. It is supported by University College London, the American University in Bulgaria, and high-tech companies such as Huawei, Wolfram Research, Maplesoft, Zulip, and Springer. This year, St Petersburg University became the only Russian university among the top ten participants.

St Petersburg University scientists present the results of research on COVID-19 immune response dynamics

In June 2021, a prestigious medical journal Journal of Medical Virology published an article by the University alumnus Andrei Ivanov, Head of the Department of Human Genetics at the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University. It is devoted to long-term monitoring of build-up and reduction of the IgA and IgG antibodies level during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted together with the staff of the Molecular Biophysics Division at the B.V. Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute.

As a result, the scientists managed to measure the parameters of immune response dynamics and the role of class A immunoglobulins in collective immunity development.   A brief overview of the article is published at the University website (St Petersburg scientists assess the dynamics of immune response to COVID19 in St Petersburg).

Today, despite significant progress in the field of scientific description of coronavirus biology, development of antivirus vaccines and creation of efficient test systems, a number of problems is still to be solved. One of them is the character, intensity and duration of the body immune response after contact with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Currently, the majority of immune research is related to studying severe forms of the disease, while the publications devoted to long-term observations of the immune status in post-COVID-19 patients and people with low SARS-CoV-2 viral load are rarely found.    There is no clear answer to the question if those who have to live next to COVID-19 patients or infected people form an immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and how long the protective pool of antibodies stays after going through the disease. 

Andrei Ivanov started his research in May 2020 intending to solve these problems. The goal was to perform quantitative assessment of the immune response level duration for COVID-19. The scientist therefore performed: a nine-month long monitoring of the development and decline of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection; and qualitative assessment of the IgA and IgG immunoglobulin levels in the blood of healthy citizens of St Petersburg and post-COVID-19 patients. 180 volunteers leading active social life during the pandemic took part in the project. The RNA virus was determined by a standard PCR test in real time mode. Enzyme immunoassay was performed for quantitative assessment. The use of two methods simultaneously every two weeks enabled the researcher to determine the moment of the disease onset and the initial level of antibody response. Further periodic changes in IgA and IgG levels in the blood of the participants showed the dynamics of its development and reduction.

As it was mentioned, during the research 28% of patients (51 people) were infected with COVID-19. All people that went through the disease formed a stable humoral immune response. However, individual immune responses had different characteristics: in particular, a significant number of project participants diagnosed with COVID-19 demonstrated not entirely typical change in the IgA antibody level almost in 40% of cases. These antibodies retained high levels for over six months and often exceeded in quantity the IgG antibodies.

Another important research result is the data on the presence of an increased level of IgA antibodies in a part of healthy people. The scientists concluded that it is the IgA decreased level that signifies the need in vaccination and protection of the body after going through coronavirus disease. It is especially important for people with autoimmune conditions and weak immunity. The analysis of antibody level can help in calculating the vaccination time line and revaccination after going through the disease. This is crucial when planning vaccination campaigns and evaluating the development of collective immunity.  Understanding the immune response development will help to determine vaccination intervals more accurately for different population groups.

Currently, the time of the research is prolonged and new data on the IgA dynamics for a longer time period are expected.

Current issues with organising the teaching and learning process

Over the past week, the Virtual Reception received 52 enquiries on various topics including 14 questions on educational and methodological issues: possibility of transfer; date of starting the classes in the autumn term of the 2021/22 academic year; COVID-19 vaccination requirements when settling at St Petersburg University halls of residence; providing unique information on the document of a standard form through the Public Services Portal ‘Gosuslugi’; distant learning possibilities at St Petersburg University; and auditing classes to name just a few.

Over the same time period, 30 enquiries including 29 questions on educational and methodological issues were registered in the enquiry register: entry of international students to the Russian Federation; status certificate requests; class format; preparing agreements with clinics; vaccination of international students; and student group formation to name just a few. Timely responses to all student enquiries have been prepared by officials, heads of various services of the University, and heads of academic and research departments.

The deans of faculties and directors of institutes have provided reports on holding meetings with the student community representatives. The representatives of the Student Council at the Institute of Earth Sciences at St Petersburg University discussed the transfer of some practical activities to August-September. The University student enquired if this will result in shifting the start date of the academic year and in person classes.  Acting Director of the Institute of Earth Sciences Takhir Aliev said that a detailed response can be given only upon the issue of relevant orders. As of today, the calendars of the relevant academic programmes and their timetable have been adjusted. Currently, the orders on practical activity referrals have been issued.

The Dean of the School of International Relations received an enquiry from a third-year bachelor’s student with a request to provide her with a referral letter for an internship. On 8 August 2021, St Petersburg University sent a formal request to the Eurasian Economic Commission regarding an internship position. On 14 August 2021, the Eurasian Economic Commission replied that due to the coronavirus limitation, there was no possibility to accept the student for an internship at the moment. The student was informed about the response of the Commission. The Dean also received an enquiry over e-mail from a first-year student dismissed for academic failure. The University student was given an opportunity to get a credit based on the results of the ‘History of Russia’ online course. However, the student failed to pass it during all the available attempts. As a result, the student was dismissed in June 2021. A detailed response is being prepared for the student.

The majority of heads of academic and research departments have reported no updates on the academic process due to holiday time. The majority of heads of academic and research departments have reported that over the past week no meetings were held with the Student Council representatives due to holiday time and the absence of issues to discuss.

Preparation to the new academic year

St Petersburg University continues working on the distribution of assignments to develop timetable for all academic programmes (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 16 August 2021). The number of requests from the directors and deans to employ teaching staff under part-time employment agreements or under civil contracts with further creation of teaching assignments has increased three-fold as compared to the previous week. However, it should be noted that it takes time to process such requests. As a result, the timetable lines have been filled for about 2% as of today. It seems like a small figure, but the number of teachers behind it is quite significant. In this regard, the HR department will process the received information as fast as possible. 

The process of distributing teaching load has accelerated in the subdivisions that were in the ‘red zone’ last week: the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology at St Petersburg University; the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. On average, the number of filled lines has increased by 12%. 

All the processes related to teaching assignments are being approved through the ‘Delo’ information system. 

Results of the student survey performed by the academic mobility programme participants

703 people took part in the academic mobility programmes implemented by St Petersburg University together with international partner universities in the 2020/21 academic year.    250 of them studied at St Petersburg University also with the use of information and communication technologies.

Based on the result of the survey performed among international students studying for an extra degree at St Petersburg University, the majority of students were satisfied with the academic programme and administrative support provided by the University staff coordinating the admission at the level of the University and the fields of study. International students gave an especially high praise to the level of teaching Russian as a foreign language at St Petersburg University. 

International students of the degree programmes at St Petersburg University in the 2020/21 academic year mentioned the following problems: inability to come to St Petersburg in person and associated communication problems (technical and psychological); time difference between St Petersburg and their locations; and inconveniences related to the time of classes. It should be noted that in comparison with the autumn term of the 2020/21 academic year, students studying at St Petersburg University in the spring term report no technical difficulties with connecting to classes and finding the right course. All the technical issues were resolved and no complaints were received.    

In general, despite the impossibility for the majority of students to enter the Russian Federation due to the restrictions (which certainly affected the students’ opinion), students’ feedback on studying at St Petersburg University is positive for the most part. 

453 students of St Petersburg University took part in the academic mobility programmes at international partner universities in the 2020/21 academic year. 92 of them studied remotely staying in the Russian Federation. The survey results demonstrate that the majority of students (82% of respondents) positively assess their experience of studying in degree programmes abroad. During the term, all students directed to international universities received continuous support in terms of information and other needs on the part of the University coordinators. Besides, additionally 11 students expressed gratitude to the University staff for excellent work and assistance in preparation to the study abroad term. Based on the term outcomes, the credits for the degree programmes both in the offline and online format in partner universities were transferred. Some students mentioned that they experienced difficulties adjusting to online format in partner universities. Three students were not satisfied with the studies. However, the absolute majority (61 people) find their experience of studying in degree programmes useful.

Students mention the system of selecting and registering for courses and receiving the visa among the major difficulties in dealing with host institutions.

One of the major problems experienced by the University students was the lack of clarity regarding the possibility of travelling to the country of the host institution in August of 2020. To prevent the spread of the new coronavirus disease, St Petersburg University issued Order No 1916/1 dated 13 March 2020 ‘On students’ health care and suspension of international travel’ that suspended the issue of local acts on directing students of St Petersburg University to foreign countries. This issue was pointed out by 16% of respondents.

In general, the scope of outgoing academic mobility in the 2020/21 academic year reduced almost two-fold in comparison with the 2019/2020 academic year, which is directly related to the coronavirus pandemic. Most of the partner universities cancelled or shifted the admission of students to future time periods, while the students are still expressing low interest in studying in degree programmes online. 

The Chinese Cabinet at St Petersburg University

The project of creating a Chinese Cabinet at the University was initiated in 2019 in connection with the visit of comrade Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China and Honorary Doctor of St Petersburg University (Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, has been awarded an honorary doctorate from St Petersburg University). It was successfully implemented in cooperation with the headquarters of the Confucius Institute. The headquarters of the Confucius Institute has a separate category of grants aimed at funding similar projects. St Petersburg University is one of the key international partners of the headquarters. However, the grant applicants should provide a most detailed financial feasibility and technical documentation as well as a project design reflecting its relation to China. All the required documents were developed by the University staff and were highly praised by the Chinese partners.

The Chinese Cabinet at St Petersburg University should become a landmark of the kind and a bright example of friendly humanitarian and cultural cooperation between Russia and China illustrating the great input of the University into the development and strengthening of academic and cultural ties between Russia and China.   

Currently, the works on refurbishing the room have been successfully completed in the historic premises of the University at 11 Universitetskaya Embankment (the Palace of Emperor Peter II). The Chinese Cabinet will serve as a place to conduct studies, testing, joint work of research groups in the Chinese studies, studies of language, culture and history, negotiations with Chinese partners in the online and offline modes. The Cabinet will become a platform for scientific exchange and other events demonstrating significant achievements of the University in the sphere of Chinese studies. 

Admissions processes at St Petersburg University

St Petersburg University completed the admission to the bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes. The admission orders for full-time students funded from the state budget were issued on 17 August 2021. In general, 2,156 citizens have been admitted on government-funded places. Thus, the admission within the planned admission number determined by Order No 848 of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated 31 July 2020 (hereinafter referred to as Order No 848) was performed for 100% of places.  

On 21 August 2021, the orders on the admission to St Petersburg University for the bachelor's and specialist’s programmes to fill the fee-paying places were issued. 1,800 applicants have been admitted (the lists of admitted students can be viewed on the St Petersburg University Admissions Committee website).

St Petersburg University performed the work aimed at increasing the availability of higher education by means of using a student loan with governmental support within the framework of admitting fee-paying students to bachelor’s, specialist’s and other programmes. The representatives of St Petersburg University and PJSC Sberbank provided this information during the online all-University Welcome Day (St Petersburg University applicants informed about the changes in the admission rules in 2021). The information on student loans was also published on the University website in the applicant’s personal account and mailed to the e-mails of all applicants. PJSC Sberbank provided for a personal manager and a ‘hot line’ for the applicants of St Petersburg University. Based on the information from PJSC Sberbank, in June and July 2021 the applicants of St Petersburg University concluded 338 student loan agreements. The information on the agreements concluded in August will be provided in the beginning of September. 

• On 17 August 2021, the admission to full-time master’s programmes at St Petersburg University was completed.  1,990 citizens have been admitted on government-funded places. Thus, the admission within the planned admission quotas determined by Order No 848 was performed for 100% of places.  380 applicants have been admitted under the fee-paying agreements.  The lists of admitted students can be viewed here. The admission to the part-time master's programmes to the fee-paying places will be open till 23 September 2021. 
• The admission to the aspirantura programmes aimed at training research and teaching staff was completed on 21 August 2021.  432 citizens were admitted to government-funded places. Thus, the admission within the planned admission quotas determined by Order No 849 of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated 31 July 2020 (hereinafter referred to as Order No 849) was performed for 100% of places.  The admission orders are published on the website of the St Petersburg University Admission Committee. 53 applicants will be admitted under the fee-paying agreements.
• The admission to the clinical residency programmes was completed on 20 August 2021.  94 citizens were admitted to government-funded places. Thus, the admission within the planned admission quotas determined by Order No 849 was performed for 100% of places.
• 292 applicants have been admitted under the fee-paying agreements. The admission orders have been published.
• The admission to the secondary vocational training programmes was completed on 21 August 2021. 95 citizens were admitted to the government-funded places. Thus, the admission within the planned admission quotas determined by Order No 371 of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation dated 31 July 2020 was performed for 100% of places.
•  246 applicants have been admitted under the fee-paying agreements. The admission orders can be viewed on the website of the  St Petersburg University Admission Committee.

The dynamics of admission is estimated as stable and comparable to 2020 indicators. No abrupt changes in the quantitative or qualitative criteria have been noticed. For example, the average score of the Unified State Examination of those enrolled in the government-funded places within the general competition was 93.09, while in 2020 this parameter was 93.61.

Following the process of admission for foreign citizens, currently together with the Russian Ministry of Education, the University is processing the required admission documents for the foreign citizens that have been selected on a competitive bases and recommended for admission. The documents include a ‘referral for studying’ document, visa instructions and admission orders for foreign citizens, confirmed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for places funded from the federal budget.

On 28 August 2021, the Government Executive Office held another extended session with the participation of the federal authority representatives supervising educational organisations of higher education, and rectors of the universities supervised by the Russian Federation Government. The session was devoted to the industrial operation of the federal information system – superservice ‘Enter the University online’. 

The session participants discussed the issues of: timely processing by individual educational institutions of the applications submitted via the superservice; the reasons of refusing the applications; and the ways of improving the superservice.

Accommodation arrangements in the University halls of residence

St Petersburg University continues the activity on preparing for the new academic year.  As of today, the University halls of residence have 4,498 places available by 25 August 2021. Each of them is prepared and equipped in accordance with the equipment standard approved by the University. By 31 August 2021, 128 more places will be freed by the aspirantura graduates, non-degree programme students, student family members and others.  After the repair works performed by the University staff, 227 places including 189 placed in the Peterhof complex and 38 in the Vasilyevsky Island have been put into operation.

The distribution of rooms has been done in advance for the convenience of students. Tenancy agreements and other documents have been generated. It will significantly reduce the time required for the settlement procedure and help to avoid standing in lines. To increase the throughput capacity in the central access control point, four additional work stations for the staff of the Access control and security division have been mounted. Volunteers have been attracted to the settlement campaign.

The Virtual Reception received many enquiries on the resettlement in the halls of residence and between the residential buildings. It was decided that the resettlement between the residential buildings will start after the completion of the settlement campaign that will last till 15 September. The resettlement between Peterhof and the city halls of residence will be possible starting 1 October. The relevant changes will be made in the order restricting the resettlement. All activities will be implemented taking into account the current epidemiological situation.

COVID-19 vaccination arrangements

In view of the new academic year start, the University received enquiries from international students and their parents on the process of vaccination.

Earlier, a mobile vaccination point was arranged in 20 Korablestroitelei Street, so the students can get vaccinated near their accommodation. 120 students out of 503 students staying at the halls of residence at that time made a vaccination appointment. 113 out of 120 students were vaccinated with the two components of ‘Sputnik V’ vaccine. No more students expressed a desire to get vaccinated ignoring the second invitation. The polyclinic at St Nikolas Hospital provided for vaccination for the students of St Petersburg University staying at the Peterhof halls of residence. At the Rector’s meeting, it was decided to ask the Hospital administration to organise a mobile vaccination point for the students studying in Peterhof. Out-of-town students of St Petersburg University are recommended to get vaccinated in their region in advance. 

The city of St Petersburg is collecting the information on the potential number of international students wishing to get vaccinated in the Russian Federation. St Petersburg University regularly submits such information upon request and is ready to follow the recommendations of the city.

Placement of information boards with the Russian Professorial Assembly prize winners at St Petersburg University

To preserve and further develop the research potential of the Russian science and higher education, stimulate scientific and technical development and motivate outstanding research and teaching staff, the all-Russia public organisation ‘Russian Professorial Assembly’ has established national prises: ‘Professor of the Year’, ‘Dean of the Year’, ‘Rector of the Year’.

In 2020, six staff members of St Petersburg University received the awards (The winners of the Russian Professorial Assembly prize announced, The best professors and deans of the year prizes awarded at St Petersburg University). Dean of the Faculty of Psychology Alla Shaboltas and Dean of the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes Leon Petrosyan won in the ‘Dean of the Year’ nomination.   

The title of the professor of the year was given to Nikolay Kuznetsov, Head of the Department of Applied Cybernetics at the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty; Vladimir Popondopulo, Head of the Department of Commercial Law at the Faculty of Law; and Leonid Smorgunov, Head of the Department of Political Governance at the Faculty of Political Science.   

Moreover, Irina Novikova, Dean of the School of International Relations won both the ‘Dean of the Year’ and ‘Professor of the Year’ prizes. 

Rector Nikolay Kropachev took the decision to celebrate the achievements of outstanding scientists and teachers by a relevant bonus and by placing the information on the national award winners in the University premises. In this regard, several versions of stands and boards were developed and approved by the subdivision heads and administrative services.  

Six stands and seven boards with the last names of the prise winners were produced and placed in the University buildings hosting the relevant subdivisions:

• 6 Makarov Embankment

• 1 Smolny Prospect (entrance 7 and 8)

• 7a 22nd Line, Vasilyevsky Island

• 35 Universitetsky Prospect, Peterhof

• 28 Universitetsky Prospect, Peterhof

Changes in human resources

The position of Vice Rector for Academic Activities and Teaching Methods has been established at the University. Former Head of the General Office of Academic Affairs and Teaching Methods Elvira Zeletdinova was appointed Acting Vice Rector.  

Elvira Zeletdinova graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy, completed aspirantura and doctorate programmes at Lomonosov Moscow State University. She is Candidate of Science (Philosophy) (1992), Doctor of Political Science (2003), Professor (2005), and Honorary Worker in the field of education of the Russian Federation (2019). Since November 2019, she has headed the General Office of Academic Affairs and Teaching Methods at St Petersburg University.

Elvira Zeletdinova has passed through all the stages of university work. At the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution ‘Astrakhan State Technical University’ she took the positions of Associate Professor, Head of the Department, Director of the Educational Policy Department (licensing, accreditation, quality management system, education quality control), Director of the Institute of the Humanities, Vice Rector for International Relations, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs. She has authored scientific and methodological works on the quality of education and methodological problems of forming competencies and participated in and directed five state university accreditations.

Since 2010, she has served as a federal expert in professional education quality. She is a member of the National Guild of Experts in Higher Education. In 2021, Ms Zeletdinva has confirmed the title of an international expert.

Elvira Zeletdinova is a specialist in the field of political sociology and elitology. She heads the regional research school in political sociology. Professor Zeletdinova has supervised 10 candidates of sciences; and authored over 200 publications, five monographs, and over 70 articles in reviewed journals including those in Scopus and Web of Science databases (three articles within the last three years). She has directed 13 research grants of the Russian Humanitarian Foundation, Russian Foundation for Basic Research, and the United Nations Development Programmes.

Vice Rector for Academic Affairs will report directly to the Rector.