Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

Current issues with organising the teaching and learning process

Over the past week, the Virtual Reception received 13 enquiries addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. Additionally, 14 enquiries were registered in the student enquiry register.

As the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities Marina Lavrikova said, the Virtual Reception received an enquiry submitted by the Associate Professor in the Department of Statistical Modelling. The enquiry focused on the timetable of the exams for the summer interim assessment in the 2021/22 academic year in one of the academic groups. The exam in the discipline "Modelling Distributions" is scheduled for 8 June 2022, the day after passing the test in another discipline. According to the Associate Professor, in this situation, students do not have time to prepare for the exam.

In response, an explanation was given that the timetable of the summer interim assessment in the 2021/22 academic year for the academic programme SV.5004.2019 "Applied Mathematics and Informatics" was drawn up in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.3 of the Academic Regulations for the bachelor’s, specialist’s, master’s programmes and programmes of a non-university level higher education in St Petersburg University, approved by Order № 470/1 dated 29 January 2016 (as amended).

According to clause 2.2.1 of the Academic Regulations, the timetable of classes is drawn up in accordance with the curriculum and the calendar study timetable. The timetable is agreed upon with the Chairperson of the Teaching Methodology Committee for the enlarged group of specialities and areas of study 01.00.00. The Chairperson should evaluate the reasonable sequence of tests and credits for preparing students for assessment tests. The timetable is approved by Order № 1936/1r dated 16 May 2022 and Order № 2114/1р dated 25 May 2022 by the Deputy Head of the Academic Office in the areas of mathematics, mechanics, control processes, physics and chemistry. If a teacher has suggestions for changing approaches to determining the sequence of assessment tests and exams within the time frame established by the calendar schedule in relation to the next interim assessment, such proposals should be addressed to the Chairperson of the Teaching Methodology Committee.

According to clause 2.3.11 of the Academic Regulations, the timetable of exams is compiled in the way to enable students to have at least three calendar days between exams to prepare, excluding the day of the previous exam. In the specified group, the last test provided by the curriculum is scheduled for 7 June 2022. This is a test for the discipline "Research work". Thus, the examination in the discipline "Distribution Modelling" on 8 June 2022 does not contradict the Academic Regulations. Additionally, on 4 July 2022 (as the teacher suggests), the exam cannot be postponed since the teacher takes a vacation on 4 July 2022.

Changes may be made to the timetable of tests and exams, which can be found on the University website in the Electronic Timetable section. In accordance with clause 2.3.16 of the Academic Regulations, changing the date and / or time of the test or exam is allowed only to a later date and/or time than the date approved by the timetable for the test or exam postponed. Taking into account the received enquiry, the exam in the discipline "Distribution Modelling" was postponed to 10 June 2022.

Since 24 February 2022, applications have been received from 141 applicants with a request to be transferred to St Petersburg University from a foreign university. Additionally, 12 applications were registered over the past week. There is systematic work with such applicants. In accordance with Decree № 434 of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 21 March 2022, letter № MN-5/927-DA of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated 1 March 2022, St Petersburg University accepts applications for the academic transfer of citizens of Ukraine, the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic; Russian citizens who were forced to leave Ukraine, the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic and arrived in the Russian Federation; and Russian citizens who expressed a desire to transfer from foreign educational organisations in states that are included in the list approved by Order № 430-r of the Government of the Russian Federation in connection with unfriendly actions. Currently, orders have been issued to enrol 27 students as an academic transfer from a foreign educational organisation. Fifteen students were enrolled on a government-funded basis, while 12 students were enrolled on a fee-paying basis. Additionally, three students have been admitted to classes at St Petersburg University while the academic transfer is being processed. Planned work is underway with other applicants.

According to information from the heads of most academic and research subdivisions, the interim assessment is held according to the timetable in the prescribed manner.

Meetings with students (representatives of student councils, student scientific societies, and group heads) were not held by some heads over the past week, but such meetings were held in other academic and research subdivisions.

At the meeting with the Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies, a student council member reported a complaint from second-year students. According to the students, when passing the test on the online course "Fundamentals of Business", the following errors were revealed: duplication of questions and different results when evaluating identical repeated questions. According to the results of the inspection, the shortcomings were corrected in a timely manner by the employees of the Centre of E-Learning Development.

At the meeting with students, the Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Biology discussed the organisation and format of the state final assessment.

During the meeting with the students, the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes discussed the issue of the form of the graduation projects. Attention was drawn to the fact that clarifications had already been given on this issue previously. By-laws stipulate that graduation projects are submitted electronically using the Blackboard. Current issues with organising the teaching and learning process and other issues were discussed at the meetings with representatives of student councils, student scientific societies and heads of academic groups and heads of the Faculty of Physics, the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes, the Institute of Philosophy, the Institute of History, the Faculty of Asian and African Studies, the Faculty of Sociology, the Faculty of Philology, the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology (minutes of the meetings are not formalised and not submitted for publication). The meeting of students with the heads of the Faculty of Economics was held (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication).

From 12 May to 3 June 2022, there were 1,644 defences of graduation projects for bachelor’s, specialist’s, and master’s students.

№	Area of study	Bachelor’s programme	Master’s programme	Specialist’s programme	Total
1	Biology	12	25		37
2	Journalism and Mass Communication	208	79		287
3	Earth Sciences	55	124		179
4	History	68	50		118
5	Arts	15			15
6	Arts and Humanities		24		24
7	Mathematics and Mechanics	36	12		48
8	Control Processes	51	59		110
9	Political Science		46		46
10	Psychology	3	30	13	46
11	Sociology	26	31		57
12	Physics	8	2		ten
13	Philology		20		20
14	Philosophy	41	40		81
15	Chemistry	18	60		78
16	Economy	204	108		312
17	Law		176		176
	Total	745	886	13	1,644

During the defence of the graduation projects, meetings of 246 state examination committees were held.

№	Area of study	Number of state examination committees
1	Biology	7
2	Journalism and Mass Communication	36
3	Earth Sciences	21
4	History	17
5	Arts	3
6	Arts and Humanities	6
7	Mathematics and Mechanics	7
8	Control Processes	21
9	Political Science	5
10	Psychology	14
11	Sociology	9
12	Physics	2
13	Philology	4
14	Philosophy	16
15	Chemistry	10
16	Economy	42
17	Law	26
	Total	246

Among 1,644 students who defended the graduation projects, 1,165 students (70.9%) received "excellent" grades; 390 students (23.72%) received "good" grades; 74 students (4.5%) received "satisfactory" grades; and 15 students received "unsatisfactory" grades (0.9%).

From 12 May 12 to 3 June 2022, state exams were held for students:

• bachelor’s students in the areas of study: Earth Sciences; Psychology; Economics; Political Science; International Relations; Arts and Humanities; Philology
• master’s students in the areas of study: Earth Sciences; Political Science; Psychology; Law; International Relations
• specialist’s students in the areas of: Dental Medicine; Psychology

Twenty-eight applications were received from students to the appeal commissions, with 11 of them were satisfied.

Vaccination (revaccination) against COVID-19

According to Order № 4430/1 "On informing St Petersburg University students about cases of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and vaccination against coronavirus infection (COVID-19)" (with amendments and changes) dated 29 April 2021, St Petersburg University students should report about passing the full cycle of vaccination against coronavirus infection (COVID-19). To this end, they should fill out the application form "For submission of information about vaccination against COVID-19" in the Student’s Personal Account and indicate the name of the vaccine. Information is accumulated in the "Students" information system.

A banner is placed on the Student’s Personal Account to remind students about the need to enter information about vaccination. Reminders are regularly sent via the University e-mail service.

№	Area of study	Students with vaccination, past disease certificates or medical exemption certificates
		as of 4 March 2022	as of 8 April 2022	as of 3 June 2022
1	Biology	52.65%	49.93%	45.93%
2	Asian and African Studies	69.07%	65.9%	62.92%
3	Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication	24.38%	23.67%	22.87%
4	Institute of History	42.59%	40.37%	38.48%
5	Institute for Cognitive Studies	42.11%	44.44%	35.29%
6	Institute of Earth Sciences	47.91%	47.97%	45.35%
7	Institute of Pedagogy	47%	46.46%	44.44%
8	Institute for Competition Development and Antimonopoly Regulation	91.67%	83.33%	75%
9	Institute of Philosophy	44.58%	43.1%	40.43%
10	Institute of Chemistry	69.2%	66.6%	65.79%
11	Arts	42.19%	41.32%	40.29%
12	Mathematics and Computer Science	51.68%	47.82%	44.03%
13	Mathematics and Mechanics	45.37%	44.71%	43.97%
14	Medicine	53.75%	52.08%	48.58%
15	Medical College	60%	64.15%	66.67%
16	International Relations	40.78%	39.23%	36.99%
17	Management	42.66%	42.46%	41.02%
18	Political Science	36.09%	36.59%	35.18%
19	Control Processes	41.94%	43.15%	42.3%
20	Psychology	43.14%	40.74%	38.99%
21	Liberal Arts and Sciences	47.68%	46.32%	43.18%
22	Sociology	36.33%	35.91%	36.36%
23	Dental Medicine and Medical Technologies	44.42%	43.84%	42.51%
24	Physics	55.24%	56.19%	53.07%
25	Physical Training (bachelor’s studies)	76.19%	76.19%	76.19%
26	Physical Training (non-university level higher education, excluding underage students)	42.23%	41.71%	39.65%
27	Philology	49.13%	47.44%	45.44%
28	Economics	29.81%	29.41%	28.75%
29	Law	36.25%	35.88%	34.73%
Total		43.35%	42.31%	40.49%

As of 3 June 2022, the proportion of vaccinated students who have submitted past disease certificates and have medical exemption certificates among adult students is 40.49%. In general, in relation to the total number of students at St Petersburg University, compared to 8 April 2022, there is a decrease in the proportion of the vaccinated (from 42.31% to 40.49%).

The Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, Marina Lavrikova drew attention to the fact that vaccination is the main measure to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infection. She asked students to be responsible for their own health and the health of others.

Organisation of academic transfer of students from other universities

Currently, academic difference during reinstatement and academic transfer to St Petersburg University from other educational institutions to places on a fee-paying basis can account for up to half of the curriculum. Previously, the difference could not exceed ten disciplines (St Petersburg University simplifies the rules for academic transfer from other universities).

As the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic activities, Marina Lavrikova said, during the transfer and reinstatement, there may be a difference in curricula that must be eliminated. To this end, the student is provided with an individual timetable for passing tests and exams in the manner prescribed by the St Petersburg University Academic Regulations. The new Order of the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University establishes that the academic difference should not exceed 50% of all disciplines of the curriculum in relation to transfer or reinstatement. Marina Lavrikova noted that we increased the number of tests and exams that an applicant for an academic transfer must additionally pass, and we significantly increased the number of opportunities to study at St Petersburg University. Now students can apply for academic transfer to almost any programme.

The most popular academic programmes at St Petersburg University for academic transfer are Management; Psychology; Advertising and Public Relations; International Relations; Economics; and Law.

Academic transfers and reinstatements are carried out on a competitive basis in the presence of vacancies and subject to the successful completion of the interim assessment by the student. The opportunity to apply remains with certain restrictions throughout the entire period of higher education, from the first to the last year of study. For example, only students of educational organisations included in the top 300 international rankings can be transferred to the final year.

The work of teaching methodology committees

The areas of activity of teaching methodology committees for enlarged groups of specialties and areas of study are regulated by the Regulations on the organisation of the work of teaching methodology committees (Order № 8078/1 dated 7 October 2016 with amendments and additions) (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations) and the Rules for the work of teaching methodology committees (Order № 13058/1 dated 24 December 2019 with amendments and additions) (hereinafter referred to as the Rules).

As the Vice-Rector for Teaching Methods, Elvira Zeletdinova, said, an appendix to the Rules approved the calendar of annual work of the teaching methodology committees. Following the Regulations, the Rules indicate 14 main topics to be considered by the teaching methodology committees, each of them has specific issues included in the agenda of the meetings of the teaching methodology committees for discussion and decision-making within the established period of time.

The issues considered by the teaching methodology committees are divided according to the life cycle of the academic programmes. These issues are related to: the development of the academic programmes; admission to study at the academic programme; implementation, updating and quality assessment; preparation for the state final assessment; interaction with employers at all stages of the life cycle of the academic programme; and some other issues related to the expert activities of the teaching methodology committees.

The calendar of annual work of the teaching methodology committees is periodically updated and adjusted. In connection with the introduction of annual events of an independent assessment of the quality of education, this year, the list of issues related to the assessment of the quality of education has been expanded, and the timing of the relevant events has been clarified.

In order to carry out a set of measures aimed at improving academic programmes, the teaching methodology committees annually form the quality control commissions for the teaching and learning process at St Petersburg University. This is set to assist the teaching methodology committees in preparing analytical materials on the issues under consideration. The main activities of the quality control commissions are regulated by Order № 12317/1 "On organising the work of quality control commissions of the teaching and learning process at St Petersburg University" dated 16 December 2019. The work of the quality control commissions is aimed at analysing the educational and methodological documentation of the academic programmes both at the stage of preparation for its implementation and in the process of pursuing the academic programmes by students. Additionally, it aims to monitor the implementation of recommendations for its adjustment and updating, including within the framework of events within the framework of the independent assessment of the quality of education.

The teaching methodology committees and quality control commissions are expert bodies that provide analysis and improvement of the content and control the quality of the teaching and learning process at St Petersburg University. Regular monitoring of the quality of education is an expert assessment of the curriculum content; programmes of disciplines; and funds of assessment tools, methods and procedures for conducting interim assessment both when approving the programmes of disciplines and when analysing the results of assessing residual knowledge and the results of the interim assessment. If deficiencies are identified, decisions are made to adjust the programmes of the disciplines.

Examinations and assessments by quality commissions are detailed and have a specific implementation. In connection with the student’s enquiry, the quality control commission of the teaching methodology committee for the enlarged group of specialities and areas of study 38.00.00 conducted an examination of the programme of the discipline ‘Enterprise Economics’. It is taught by Mariia Evnevich, Associate Professor in the Department of Enterprise Economics and Entrepreneurship. The commission recommended the following: to analyse the distribution of points for certain types of tasks; update the list of possible current control tasks; provide more detailed information about the tasks of current control and their evaluation in the programme of the discipline; to increase the duration of the exam; to limit required literature to sources published since 2018 and consider preparing a collection of assignments and tasks for the course, including situations relevant for the 2020s and reflecting current challenges; and to exclude the possibility of setting negative scores for various types of tasks stipulated in the programme of the discipline.

The Quality Control Commission noted that the implemented change in the period of study creates the prerequisites for future positive results of the interim assessment in the discipline. Based on the results of consideration at the meeting of the Teaching Methodology Committee, changes were made in terms of funds for evaluation tools, control and measuring materials and the procedure for conducting the exam. All of them are positive in relation to students. The new version of the programme of the discipline is published on the website.

St Petersburg University students win a grant to conduct training courses for volunteers

The Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) summed up the results of the All-Russian competition of youth projects among higher education institutions in 2022. In St Petersburg, 14 universities submitted applications for the competition and 13 out of them won. This year, two projects became the winners: the St Petersburg University Volunteer School and St Petersburg student interactive championship Moot.

According to Vladimir Savinov, Vice-Rector for Educational Activity, the Volunteer School and the finalists of the Your Move Competition 2021 received financial support for the development of volunteer activities at the University (a grant of 2.5 million roubles). Active work begins to implement the ideas of our students in this area. The opening of the new stream will take place in autumn 2022 (St Petersburg University students win a grant to conduct training courses for volunteers).

St Petersburg University has been participating in the youth project competition since 2018. This is not the first time that St Petersburg University students have become winners of the youth project competition among higher education institutions.

Vladimir Savinov noted that participation in the project activities of the University is necessary for the development of interdisciplinary and interpersonal interaction among students. It is extremely important for students to participate in any project competitions. It develops their personal and professional qualities.

The Volunteer School was founded in 2018 as part of the Volunteer Centre at the University. The Centre’s coordinators conduct courses to train volunteers. They also talk about the opportunities that open up for activists in the modern world and the types of volunteering.

Organisation of admission (setting a special quota)

In pursuance of Decree № 268 "On additional measures to support the families of military personnel and employees of certain federal state bodies" of the President of the Russian Federation dated 9 May 2022 and taking into account the methodological recommendations for organising the admission for the training of children of military personnel and employees of federal executive bodies and federal state bodies, in which federal law provides for military service, and employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation who take (have taken) part in the special military operation on the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic and Ukraine, St Petersburg University approved a special quota for admission to bachelor and specialist studies for children of military personnel and employees of some federal government agencies. The approved quota is within a special quota approved by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

As Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, said, the children of military personnel and employees of federal executive bodies and federal state bodies in which military service is provided for by federal law, employees of internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation taking (took) part in the special military operation on the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic and Ukraine have the right to enrol in the bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes:

• children of servicemen and employees who died, injured (wounded, traumatised, contused) or ill must be enrolled without entrance examinations (with the exception of additional entrance examinations of a creative and / or professional orientation)
• children of servicemen and employees, with the exception of servicemen and employees who died, were injured (wounded, contused) or ill, must be enrolled based on the results of entrance examinations conducted by St Petersburg University independently

More information about admission within the framework of a special quota can be found on the page of the St Petersburg University Admissions Committee.

Aleksandr Babich recalled that on the basis of Part 5 of Article 71 of Federal Law № 273-FZ "On Education in the Russian Federation" dated 29 December 2012, combat veterans, including persons who performed tasks during the special military operation on the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic and Ukraine, are entitled to admission to pursue the bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes in places at the expense of budgetary allocations within the established quota.

As early as 10 March 2022, St Petersburg University sent a letter to the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 9 March 2022 ) with a proposal to initiate amendments to the Federal Law ‘On Education in the Russian Federation’ to provide participants in the special military operation and their children with special rights and benefits when admission to pursue bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes. If the participants in the special military operation have a higher education, they have the right to receive a second or subsequent higher education of the level they already have free of charge.

The Chairperson of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture and the Chairperson of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education were informed about this initiative. The initiative was widely covered in the media: St Petersburg University offers to enrol participants in the operation to protect Donbass without exams; St Petersburg University proposes to enrol participants in the special operation in Ukraine without exams; St Petersburg University develops incentives for studying at universities for participants in the special military operation; St Petersburg University proposes to exempt the participants of the special operation from exams to enter universities.

We can say that the University’s proposals on measures to support military personnel and their children in terms of providing them with opportunities to receive higher education have been legally implemented.

Results of elections to the Russian Academy of Sciences

A general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences took place on 1–3 June. New members and corresponding members of the Academy, including eight employees of St Petersburg University were elected there.

• The following persons were elected members of the Russian Academy of Sciences:
  • Eugeniius Ivchenko, Professor in the Department of Solid State Physics
  • Sergei Krivovichev, Professor in the Department of Сrystallography
  • Nikolay Rozanov, Chief Research Associate in the Faculty of Physics
  • Valentina Stolyarova, Professor in the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry
• The following persons were elected corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences:
  • Nikolai Tsvetkov, Head of the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Polymer Physics
  • Dmitrii Arseniev, Chief Research Associate in the Department of Applied Cybernetics
  • Tatiana Trofimova, Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Head of the Research, Сlinical and Educational Centre "Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine"
  • Nikolay Kuznetsov, Head of the Department of Applied Cybernetics (Being 43 years old at the moment of elections, Nikolay Kuznetsov became the youngest member of the Academy in control theory in St Petersburg)

The meeting participants congratulated their colleagues on being elected members of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Researchers of St Petersburg University were awarded the St Petersburg Government prizes

The Government of St Petersburg held a grand ceremony of awarding the winners of the prizes for prominent results in science and technology as well as achievements in higher education and non-university level higher education devoted to the Day of the City.

Alexander Beglov, Governor of St Petersburg, congratulated the winners of the Government Prize and thanked them for serving the city. He noted that about 10 % of the whole research potential of Russia is concentrated in St Petersburg. About 3,000 scientific organisations and 70 universities work in the city, with more than 300,000 students studying here. According to Alexander Beglov, what the prize winners are doing is incredibly significant. They educate and teach younger generation. Our future is in their hands.

In 2022, 21 personal prizes were awarded in 17 nominations for prominent results in science and technology , including six prizes for young scientists. Forty-seven teachers were awarded the prizes for outstanding achievements in higher education and non-university level higher education in seven nominations.

Nine scientists of St Petersburg University were awarded the St Petersburg Government prizes (Nine scientists from St Petersburg University win awards from St Petersburg Government).

• Vladislav Kuznetsov, Doctor of Geology and Mineralogy, Professor in the Department of Geomorphology at St Petersburg University, received the Budyko Prize in the "Geography, and Atmospheric and Hydrosphere Sciences" nomination. The award was granted for a series of research papers "The development of methods for radioisotope geochronology of Quaternary deposits: theoretical aspects and practical use in palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology and oceanjgraphy"
• The Tarle Award in Historical Sciences was given to Aleksandr Puchenkov, Doctor of History, Professor in the Department of Contemporary History of Russia. The researcher was awarded for prominent achievements in studying the history of revolution and the Civil war in Russia
• The Dashkova Award in the Humanities and Social Sciences was awarded to Gayane Vartanyan, Research Associate in the Department of Psychology of Behaviour and Behavioural Deviations of St Petersburg University. The Government Award of St Petersburg was given for her outstanding results in the study of the psychological characteristics of people with destructive behaviour in Russia
• The Euler Prize in Natural and Technical Sciences was awarded to Ivan Ryzhkov, Candidate of Physics and Mathematics, Assistant Professor in the Department of Photonics at St Petersburg University, for the input in the development of experimental technology of spin system spectroscopy
• The award for young scientists for outstanding achievements in bioinformatics and algorithmic biology was given to Andrey Prjibelski, Candidate of Physics and Mathematics, Senior Research Associate in the Centre for Bioinformatics and Algorithmic Biotechnology at the Institute of Translational Biomedicine at St Petersburg University
• The team of authors, including representatives of the Department of Mathematical Modelling in Economical Systems Aleksandr Prasolov, Nikolai Smirnov and Inna Trofimova were awarded the Prize of the Government of St Petersburg for prominent achievements in higher education and non-university level higher education in 2022. The researchers were awarded for the development and implementation of the degree programme "Mathematical Methods and Digitalisation of Economics" in the "Development of Innovative Activity in an Educational Organisation" nomination
• Liliia Duskaeva, Professor of St Petersburg University, author of "Stylistic analysis in Media Linguistics", won the "Research achievements contributing to the quality of training for specialists and highly-trained specialists" nomination. The book is devoted to stereo texts — new normative textual formats that emerged and developed in the hypertextual media inside media. These materials are created not only by an author, but also by multiple commentators that assess the source text and give their opinion. In her book, the professor of St Petersburg University analysed the patterns of these textual formats caused by the increasingly complicated media environment

In 2022, the Gennady Leonov Award in the nomination "Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence", established following the initiative of researchers at St Petersburg University, was awarded for the first time. Lev Utkin, Doctor of Engineering, Professor of the Higher School of Artificial Intelligence at Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University, was awarded the prize for a series of research and developments on the "Solutions for fundamental and applied problems of artificial intelligence in medicine and industry".

Over 200 applications have been submitted to the competition for the prizes of the Government of St Petersburg this year. Sixty-eight researchers and teachers of universities and colleges, including teams of authors, were awarded prizes.

Meetings of the heads of the academic and research subdivisions with the heads of departments, representatives of student communities and trade unions

The importance of holding such meetings has been repeatedly emphasised at the Rector’s meetings (dated 13 December 2021; dated 3 March 2022). Upon analysing the information on organising the meeting with the heads of academic and research subdivisions, heads of departments, representatives of student communities and trade unions in March and April, Vladimir Eremeev, Vice-Rector for Human Resources, noted that the majority of directors still pay special attention to the meetings with students, group leaders and representatives of student communities (volunteer, sport, and research to name just a few.). The general number of such meetings has significantly increased compared to the previous months. At the same time, such meetings have not been held by the directors of the Institute of Pedagogy, the Institute for Cognitive Studies and Institute for Competition Development and Antimonopoly Regulation.

For various reasons, some directors fail to pay attention to discussing problems with the trade union. Thus, ten staff teams (pedagogics, cognitive studies, competition development and antimonopoly regulation, chemistry, biology, mathematics and computer sciences, international relations, liberal arts and sciences, dental medicine and medical technologies, law) held no meetings with the trade union representatives.

Regular coverage at the Rector’s meeting of the meetings with the department heads, representatives of student communities and trade unions and the performance of duties to hold such meetings by directors and deans has notably activated such work in the field.

International activities

International activities at St Petersburg University were analysed at the recent Rector’s meetings (minutes of the Rector’s meetings dated 14 March 2022, 4 May 2022, 11 May 2022, 16 May 2022, 23 May 2022 and 30 May 2022). According to Deputy Rector for International Affairs Sergey Andryushin, a number of new events happened last week.

Development of Cooperation with Donetsk National University

On 30 May, negotiations were held with Svetlana Bespalova, Rector of Donetsk National University. The issues of signing a cooperation agreement to create academic programmes in a network format between St Petersburg University and Donetsk National University were discussed. Following the meeting results, a roadmap for organising further interaction is being prepared.

Competition for the knowledge of Russian among students at the universities of the Republic of Korea with the participation of the Representative Office of St Petersburg University in the Republic of Korea

The 12th competition in the Russian language among the students of Korean universities took place in the Republic of Korea with the support of the Representative Office of St Petersburg University. The event has been traditionally held since 2011. The competition organisers include the Institute of Russian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, the Embassy of Russia in the Republic of Korea, Representative Office of St Petersburg University in the Republic of Korea, PJSC Aeroflot, the Korea Foundation and Russkiy Mir Foundation.

This year the competition was devoted to the 150th birthday of Vladimir Arsenyev, a Russian Officer, prominent geographer, traveller, ethnographer and writer who greatly contributed to the studies of the Russian Far East. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the competition has been held online for the third year in a row.

The ceremony of awarding the winners and prize winners of the competition took place on 27 May in the Embassy of Russia in the Republic of Korea. Andrey Kulik, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Korea, congratulated the winners noting that every year the number of talented young people in the Republic of Korea showing genuine interest in the Russian culture is growing. Mr Kim Hyun Taek, Honorary Professor of the Institute of Russian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Coordinator of the project ‘Representative Office of St Petersburg University at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies’, also congratulated the competition participants. Deputy Rector for International Affairs Sergey Andryushin sent a video address wishing the competition participants to stay strong in the pursuit of their goals as well as stay healthy.

Open lecture organised by the Representative Office of St Petersburg University in Italy

On 31 May, an online lecture titled "Vsevolod Meyerhold, Zinaida Reich, Sergei Yesenin" took place at the Representative Office of St Petersburg University in Spain. The lecture was given by Anna Silyunas, theatre and art critic, Director of the Representative Office of St Petersburg University.

A rare beauty of unusual intelligence, a talented typist, a talentless wife of a film director — all of it and many other things were said about Zinaida Reich, a beloved of poet Sergey Yesenin and theatre director Vsevolod Meyerhold. Sergei Yesenin and Zinaida Reich met at the Publishing House of the first legal socialist-revolutionary newspaper "Delo Naroda", where Zinaida worked as an assistant to the publishing house secretary. Soon they got married, but this happy period did not last long. In 1921, Zinaida Reich divorced Sergei Yesenin, while being pregnant with a second child.

After the divorce, Zinaida Reich entered Higher Theatre Workshop, where Vsevolod Meyerhold was teaching. Despite the significant difference in age (the theatre director was 20 years older), Meyerhold fell in love with his student leaving behind his family and three children. The second marriage was much more successful. The theatre director turned their house into a fashion saloon, where Zinaida was "the queen". He also made Zinaida the leading actress of his theatre despite the resistance of the colleagues. Was she happy after all? The lecture participants were able to discuss it, since, not long before the death of Yesenin, Meyerhold had learned about secret meetings between his wife and the poet.

Piano concert by Galina Zhukova in the Assembly Hall of St Petersburg University within the framework of the activity by the representative offices of St Petersburg University abroad

On 1 June, a concert of Galina Zhukova, Associate Professor and prize winner of international competitions, took place at the Assembly Hall of the Twelve Collegia building. The concert programme was devoted to Maestro Aquiles Delle Vigne, a prominent pianist and teacher, founder of the International Music Academy in Coimbra, and Honorary Professor of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Galina Zhukova performed a prelude, fugue and variation by Sezar Frank in the piano transcript by Aquiles Delle Vigne, Piano Sonata No 2 (A-dur), Op 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven, Polonaise-fantaisie by Frédéric Chopin, Sonata "After Reading Dante" from the "Years of Pilgrimage" cycle by Ferenc Liszt.

The entrance to the musical performance was free of charge, following the University tradition. The broadcast of the event allowed for the audience at the representative offices of St Petersburg University in different countries to enjoy the masterful performance by Galina Zhukova.

Grand opening of the season at the St Petersburg University Botanical Garden

On 2–7 June, a temporary lecture hall was open at the St Petersburg University Botanical Garden, where visitors could attend landscape design master classes by leading experts in the field. The visitors were invited to attend a garden exhibition "University Seasons — 2022", showcasing theme gardens designed by students from universities and colleges in St Petersburg for the 2022 summer season opening. (The St Petersburg University Botanical Garden welcomes summer).

According to Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova, the University staff and students, as well as the guests, took part in establishing a new tradition of opening the season at the St Petersburg University Botanical Garden.

On 2 June, a presentation of the exhibition of thematic gardens "University Seasons — 2022" took place. For a week, students from: St Petersburg University; Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University; and the St Petersburg College of Garden Architecture worked on creating garden projects in three different styles: Japanese; Alpine; and Scandinavian. Every team was supervised by a curator from the landscape architecture and garden design communities of St Petersburg and Moscow.

For almost a week, the St Petersburg University Botanical Garden hosted tours, lectures and workshops on studying nature in the city, selecting plants, landscape sketching, creating modern flower beds and florist compositions and other topics. A grand opening of the Environmental Clinic of St Petersburg University also took place in the St Petersburg University Botanical Garden.

Exhibition devoted to Peter the Great

On 2 June, an exhibition devoted to the 350th anniversary of Peter the Great opened at the Diaghilev Contemporary Art Museum. A collective exhibition of works by students of senior classes at the B. Ioganson St Petersburg State Academy Art Lyceum at the Russian Academy of Arts is united by the topic of Peter the Great demonstrating love to the city founded on the delta of the Neva River. Paintings and drawings created during the jubilee year cover the themes that resonate with the youngest artists of St Petersburg: youth of the Emperor; brave and great transformations; and St Petersburg today. The exhibition plots include the following: Peter the Reformer; Soldiers’ Revolt; Poltava; Coronation of the Princes; Peter shaves the beards of court nobility; and Peter saves the sailors to name just a few.

The exhibition also features the items introducing the visitors to the context of the Peter’s time: the modern plaster copy of the face mask of Peter the Great taken during his lifetime by Rastrelli and replicas of everyday items of the time (still life assemblage). Sculpture works of the Lyceum graduates expand the understanding of the sources, spiritual ties and influence of Peter the Great deeds. The exhibition features such sculptures as "Diplomatic mission of Alexander Nevsky", "The youth of Mikhaylo Lomonosov", "Architect" and "Allegory of Neva".

According to Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova, the B. Ioganson St Petersburg State Academy Art Lyceum at the Russian Academy of Arts (also globally known as Secondary Art School) presented the world not only with a brilliant assemblage of academic artists, but also with a significant number of modern art masters in St Petersburg in the 20th century. The Lyceum is located on Vasilyevsky Island. It features a unique educational system providing for excellent training of specialists in the field of visual arts. A number of its graduates connected their life with the University, including Ivan Uralov, Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts at St Petersburg University.

In future, the Diaghilev Contemporary Art Museum plans to develop cooperation with the Lyceum and prepare annual joint projects. The students of the Lyceum are potential applicants of St Petersburg University, particularly, in academic programmes in the field of art.

The museum staff plans to hold the tour ‘Spit of Vasilyevsky Island in the time of Peter the Great (the main campus of St Petersburg University)’ for the exhibition participants. The exhibition will be open on 2 to 13 June.

Litigation with SETL CITY

In March 2020, St Petersburg University filed a claim to the Arbitration court of St Petersburg University and the Leningrad Region on the duty of SETL CITY JSC to perform warranty obligations on the roof renovation of the Stables Building and the Hoffmeister Building on the premises of the Mikhailovskaya Dacha Palace and Garden Complex as well as the works on removing the leakage traces. According to Yury Penov, Deputy Rector for Legal Affairs, in the course of litigation, the parties reached a settlement agreement approved on 21 April 2021. According to the settlement agreement, SETL CITY JSC took an obligation to repair the roofs and remove the traces of leakage during the period from 15 May till 15 September 2021.

In October 2021, St Petersburg University had to turn to the Arbitration court of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region with a claim to collect a forfeit on the part of SETL CITY JSC for the failure to perform the last court order.

In February 2022, the Arbitration court of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region ruled that SETL CITY JSC should pay the forfeit for 100,000 roubles for every day of non-performing the court order to St Petersburg University starting 19 February 2022.

On 9 March 2022, SETL CITY JSC filed an appeal against the decision of the Arbitration court of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. On 1 June 2022, the 13th Arbitration court of appeal ruled that the decision of the Arbitration court of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region on collecting the forfeit for 100,000 roubles on the part of SETL CITY JSC for every day of non-performing the court order to St Petersburg University starting 19 February 2022 shall remain unchanged and that the appeal of SETL CITY JSC shall not be satisfied.