Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting | St Petersburg University

The participants in the meeting held a moment of silence for Aleksandr Nozdrachev, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Professors Emeritus of St Petersburg University.

Participation of St Petersburg University in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum

On 15 to 18 June, St Petersburg University took part in the events of the 25th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the world’s leading platform for discussing global economic issues and sharing best practices and competencies for sustainable development.

The University signed a number of documents during the Forum.

An agreement with Gazprombank was signed on the implementation of the Area of St Petersburg University Development project to build a new University campus in the Pushkinsky District of St Petersburg. On behalf of Gazprombank, the agreement was signed by Elena Borisenko, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprombank and a graduate of the University’s Faculty of Law. At the meeting, the Rector spoke in detail about the format of Gazprombank’s participation in the project and also announced the start of housing construction in the Pushkinsky District of St Petersburg − in the immediate vicinity of the new University campus
A cooperation agreement with Rosseti Lenenergo was signed to ensure power supply to the facilities of the Area of St Petersburg University Development. The signing ceremony was also attended by Andrey Murov, First Deputy General Director and Executive Director of Rosseti, a member of the Board of Trustees of St Petersburg University and a graduate of the University’s Faculty of Law. The agreement was signed by Igor Kuzmin, General Director of Rosseti Lenenergo, a graduate of a professional retraining programme at the Graduate School of Management of St Petersburg University that confers an additional qualification of Master of Business Administration
An cooperation agreement with the Leningrad Region was signed to create the "Neva Delta" Innovative Science and Technology Centre, which in combination with the Area of St Petersburg University Development project is designed to form zones with advanced educational and scientific infrastructure
The St Petersburg City Government and St Petersburg University concluded a cooperation agreement to combine their efforts aimed at expanding the range and improving the quality of city educational services. During the ceremony, the Governor of St Petersburg Alexander Beglov presented the Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev with a token commemorating the 350th anniversary of the birth of Peter the Great. The Rector presented Alexander Beglov with the album "Students of Peter the Great University", prepared to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Peter the Great
An agreement with the independent non-profit organisation "Russia is a Land of Opportunities" was signed to jointly support talented young people
St Petersburg University, the administration of the Tambov Region and Derzhavin Tambov State University concluded a trilateral agreement on the participation in the Mendeleev Research and Educational Cluster programme
A cooperation agreement was signed with the Government of the Omsk Region
An agreement with Roscongress Foundation and LLC Talenti was concluded to implement joint projects
A cooperation agreement with the Alexandrinsky Theatre was signed to implement a joint project "The National Theatre School"

During the business programme, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, met with Evgeny Primakov, Head of the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo). They discussed a number of issues concerning the work of St Petersburg University’s representative offices and branches abroad and the development of the University’s educational initiatives.

Experts from St Petersburg University spoke at the SPIEF events. Anastasia Yarmosh, Vice Rector for Strategic Development and Partnership at St Petersburg University, took part in the discussion "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Russia: Economic Context". This topic sounds particularly relevant to leaders of the scientific, cultural and creative communities in the Year of the Cultural Heritage of the Peoples of Russia.

Maiia Rusakova, Director of the Centre for Sociological and Internet Research at St Petersburg University, presented the results of the annual all-Russian monitoring of care for children with palliative status, which the University conducts together with: the Office of the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights; the Children’s Hospice; the Krug Dobra Foundation; and NPO Stellit. So far, the survey has been conducted in 85 constituent entities of the Russian Federation (St Petersburg University continues to implement its social mission).

Olga Dergunova, Director of the Graduate School of Management of St Petersburg University, took part in the discussion "Sustainable development for future generations: on the brink of achieving goals" and the business lunch of digital development leaders "The Pulse of Digitalisation: People and Technology".

Iuliia Arai, Associate Professor in the Department of Strategic and International Management at St Petersburg University, spoke at the event "Obtaining the education needed to organise a social business" (Social entrepreneurship develops through cooperation, interaction and mutual "pollination" with knowledge: Iuliia Arai, Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Management of St Petersburg University).

At the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University presented the charitable project "Star Country" that enables orphaned children to receive high-tech medical care.

Current issues with organising the teaching and learning process

Over the past week, the Virtual Reception received 12 enquiries addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. Additionally, seven enquiries were registered in the student enquiry register. The enquiries were on various topics, including: Professional development courses at St Petersburg University; The grade point average in the personal electronic transcript of records.

According to Acting Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities Svetlana Begeza, since 24 February, 148 requests to be transferred to St Petersburg University from a foreign university have been received. Additionally, five requests were registered last week. According to Regulation № 434 dated 21 March 2022 of the Government of the Russian Federation , and Letter MN-5/927-DA dated 1 March 2022 of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation: St Petersburg University accepts transfer requests from the citizens of Ukraine, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic and Russian citizens who had to leave the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and Ukraine and arrive in Russia, as well as the Russian citizens expressing the desire to transfer from international educational organisations in the states included into the list of non-friendly states established by Regulation № 430-r of the Government of the Russian Federation. As of today, orders have been issued to enrol 29 students as an academic transfer from a foreign educational organisation. Sixteen students were enrolled on a government-funded basis, while 13 students were enrolled on a fee-paying basis. Four students have been allowed to attend classes during the transfer period. Planned work is underway with other applicants.

According to information from the heads of most academic and research subdivisions, the interim and final assessments are 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. However, such meetings were held in other academic and research subdivisions.

Thus, during the reporting period, representatives of the student council and students met with the Deputy Director for Youth Policy at the Institute of Chemistry. The issue in organising the teaching and learning process were discussed. The first-year students who defended their term projects noted that during the defence, the examination board members, in the students’ opinion, asked a number of questions, the answers to which imply a certain knowledge of the content of the disciplines that, according to the curriculum, are taught only in the following semesters. This information will be checked and taken into account when discussing academic issues at a meeting of the Teaching Methodology Committee in Chemistry.

According to the information from the Director of the Institute of History, a meeting with the Chair of the Student Council and group heads was held on 15 June. During the meeting, the issues of the summer interim assessment were discussed. It was stated that the interim assessment is held in due order.

Student representatives also met with the Dean of the Faculty of Philology, the Acting Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Physics, the Dean of the School of International Relations (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication), the Deputy Dean for Youth Policy of the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Medical Technologies (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication). It was noted that there were no problems during the reporting period.

The Acting Head of the Department of Physical Training and Sports continues to interact with the heads of the academic groups who study in their first, second and third years in the bachelor’s programme "Physical Training and Sport". The Director of the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology promptly inform the student activists using distance technology.

From 11 to 17 June, 1,129 students in bachelor’s, specialist’s and master’s programmes had their graduation project defences.

From 11 to 17 June 2022, state exams were held for:

bachelor’s students in the areas of study: Asian and African Studies; Law
aspirantura students in the areas of study: Biology; Earth Sciences; Philosophy; History; Political Science; Philology; Chemistry; Economics; and International Relations

Following the results of the final state examinations: ten bachelor’s students in Law filed enquiries to the appeal committees.

The "Entrepreneurship Academy" project

Following Rector’s order, in 2021, the work on creating an Academy for Young Entrepreneurs for the students of St Petersburg University and the youth of St Petersburg was organised. The Academy is a project of St Petersburg University aimed at organising academic, educational and other related activity using the University business incubator resources to develop business and leadership competencies among the students of St Petersburg University and the youth of St Petersburg. The key function of the Academy is supporting the national project "Small and medium sized entrepreneurship (SME) and individual entrepreneurship initiative support".

According to Svetlana Begeza, Acting Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, a draft regulation on the Academy was developed, where the main directions of activity and the core team members were defined. The following spheres were reflected in the roadmap:

developing and modernising online specialities and online courses in education and entrepreneurship competencies
implementing non-degree programmes
educational activity and popularisation of entrepreneurship ideas among the students of St Petersburg University and the youth of St Petersburg, development of start-up initiatives
research activity, expert and consultancy activity
development of cooperation with the leading national and international professional communities and universities, business leaders, state structures of Russia
forming a community of young entrepreneurs of St Petersburg University and other participants in the entrepreneurship process

On 3 February, following Order № 213/1р of Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, the list of the working group members for the "Academy of Entrepreneurship at St Petersburg University" project was approved. In the course of the year, there has been ongoing activity on networking, further project team building, elaborating the priorities, customising additional programmes, implementing online courses, competitions and other areas. Taking into account that the roadmap does not cover all the project prospects, it will be further elaborated in view of the possibilities of the team. For example, it is planned to create a digital platform for the entrepreneur ecosystem, which can unite the work of various resources and projects of the University related to entrepreneurship activity. It is also planned to take the activity of the Academy to the international level by establishing relations with foreign subjects of the global entrepreneur ecosystem from friendly countries (international accelerators, and entrepreneur universities to name just a few) and by holding joint events.

Moreover, within a relatively short time period, important projects with the participation of not only students and teachers of St Petersburg University, but also representatives of the business community, financial sector, state authorities and leading experts and researchers were implemented, including the following:

over ten open lectures and workshops were held
the work of the Centre for Applied Economic Research (the Economic Clinic) was organised
over ten new educational products (online courses and non-degree programmes) were developed, including such unique projects as "School of Business" (online format), "Digital Transformation of Science and University Education"; existing courses and programmes were updated
International Conference "Business Management in the Digital Economy" and panel discussion "FinTech and Venture Industry: from Start-ups to Global Corporations" as part of the international conference for young economists "Development of Modern Economy in Russia"
Round table "Import Replacement: Resources, Possibilities, Challenges for Entrepreneurs" was held to celebrate the Day of Russian Entrepreneurship
Topics of the active student communities, including "School of Branding" and "Theory and History of Accounting and Audit" were updated
Partner relations with research and educational organisations and business representatives of St Petersburg have been established

The nearest plans cover further implementation of the roadmap and the development of new online courses, including such an important and up-to-date course as "ESG-transformation of companies in view of new challenges", network projects in blockchain and artificial intelligence with industry partners, holding a week of entrepreneurship at the University together with the Agency for Strategic Initiatives and the companies of St Petersburg. Besides, it is planned to hold profile weekly events in the form of open workshops and lectures on the basis of the University business incubator. The mentioned project initiatives were already voiced at the 10th All-Russia Meeting of the Council of Young Scientists on 2 to 4 June 2022. Successful experience in implementing the Entrepreneurship Academy project will be taken into account when developing the academic programme of talent pool development in the field of research management and innovations for the winners of the "Science" track at the all-Russia contest "Leaders of Russia".

When speaking about the project implementation, Svetlana Begeza invited the representatives of all staff teams of the research and academic subdivisions at St Petersburg University, who have experience of successful entrepreneurship activity and start-up project management, as well as all parties interested in exchanging this information with the students of St Petersburg University and the youth of St Petersburg to take part in the project. Please, send inquiries to the address of project manager Viktor Titov: v.o.titov@spbu.ru.

Implementation of academic programmes in the Arts and Humanities

Following the directions of the supervisory agencies, all academic and teaching methodology documentation of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences undergoes expert assessment by the Standing Teaching Methodology Committee of the Academic Council at St Petersburg University. curriculum of the bachelor’s programme "Liberal Arts and Sciences" corresponding to the curriculum of 2019-2021 was discussed and approved at the meeting of the Teaching Methodology Committee on 50.00.00 "Art" on 28 January 2022.

Upon receiving the comments from the Standing Teaching Methodology Committee of the Academic Council, in April 2022, the staff team of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences introduced a new draft of the curriculum and suggested that 70 disciplines should be removed, and the number of professional trajectories should be reduced from 12 to 10. The Standing Teaching Methodology Committee considered the proposals of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and elaborated and approved the draft of the curriculum with the focus on competencies. This curriculum will be integrated in the 2023/2024 academic year.

In the 2022/2023 academic year, the curriculum presented by the Teaching Methodology Committee on 50.00.00 "Art" (minutes No 05/2.1/50-03-1 dated 28 January 2022) with the amendments related to the comments from supervisory agencies will be used.

The work on adjusting the curricula of the previous years, including the reduction of disciplines offered by the Teaching Methodology Committee 50.00.00 will be performed from 15 June till 15 July following the established procedure for all academic programmes.

Application process for non-university level higher education programmes, bachelor’s programmes and specialist’s programmes started

On 1 June, the number of places allocated at St Petersburg University as part of special quotas and target quotas was announced. The cost of education for physical and legal persons was also stated.

On 20 June, the application process for non-university level higher education programmes, bachelor’s programmes and specialist’s programmes started. Applicants can submit their applications and documents using one of the following four methods: in-person (through the information centre of the Admissions Committee at St Petersburg University), by post, via the Personal Account of the Applicant on the website of St Petersburg University, via the "Enrol online" super-service on the Gosuslugi portal.

Results of the additional distribu tion of admission quotas for the master’s programmes corresponding to the priority areas of the scientific and technological development for the 2022/2023 academic year

Based on Article 19 of Federal Law № 46-FZ dated 8 March 2022 "On introducing changes to specific regulatory acts of the Russian Federation", the Government of the Russian Federation was entitled to determine additional academic quotas for places funded from the federal budget in the master’s programmes at universities. Further, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation will distribute these quotas among the organisations performing educational activities without any public competition.

According to Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, Regulation of the Government of Russia № 1508-р dated 9 June 2022 added 30 thousand additional admission quotas funded from the federal budget for the admission in the 2022/2023 academic year for the master’s programmes corresponding to the priority fields of the scientific and technological development. At the same time, additional admission quotas have not been considered when calculating the share of government-funded places in the general number of admission quotas for specialities and fields of study funded from the federal budget for 2022 according to Regulation of the Government of the Russian Federation № 3303-р dated 23 November 2021.

According to Annex № 1.282 to Order of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation of Russia № 549 dated 15 June 2022, St Petersburg University was assigned additional admission quotas for master’s programmes funded from the state budget for the 2022/2023 academic year in the following integrated fields of study:

01.04.00 Mathematics and Mechanics (10 places)
02.04.00 Computer and Information Sciences (10)
09.04.00 Informatics and Computer Engineering (10)
58.04.00 Asian and African Studies (10)

Taking into account the competition during admission in the previous years, the demand for academic programmes on the part of applicants, the development of academic and research activity at St Petersburg University in the priority areas of the scientific and technological development, in particular, in the field of artificial intelligence, additional admission quotas for the following master’s degree programmes are distributed in the following way based on the decision of the Admissions Committee at St Petersburg University:

group of programmes in the field of study 01.04.02 "Applied Mathematics and Computer Science" (Mathematical Modelling, Programming and Artificial Intelligence; Methods of Applied Mathematics and Informatics in Control Problems; Mathematical and Information Support of Economic Activity; Mathematical Methods of Digitalisation of Economics; Operations Research and Systems Analysis; Applied Mathematics and Computer Science in Problems of Medical Diagnosis; Applied Information Technology. Information Expert Systems; Mathematical Robotics and Artificial Intelligence) − 10 places
group of programmes in the field of study 02.04.02 "Fundamental Informatics and Information Technology (Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Technologies; Distributed Computational Technologies)" − 10 places
the field of study 09.04.03 "Applied Informatics", programme "Artificial Intelligence and Data Science" − 10 places
group of programmes in the field of study 58.04.01 "Asian and African Studies" (Asian and African History (with Asian/African Language Tuition); Asian and African Cultures (with Asian/African Language Tuition); Asian and African Literatures (with Asian/African Language Tuition); Politics and International Relations in Asia and Africa (with Asian/African Language Tuition); Asian and African Religions (with Asian/African Language Tuition); Asian and African Socio-Cultural Anthropology (with Asian and African Language Tuition); Asian and African Economies and International Economic Relations (with Asian/African Language Tuition); Asian and African Languages) − 9 places
the field of study 58.04.01 "Asian and African Studies", programme "Contemporary China: Economics, Politics, Society (with the Chinese language Tuition)" − one place

Violations of the legislative regulations of the Russian Federation and by-laws of St Petersburg University committed by the University students

The information on violations of the regulatory legal acts and legislative regulations of the Russian Federation by the University students in 2021 and 2022 was discussed at the Rector’s meetings dated 16 May 2022, 18 April 2022, 17 January 2022, 11 October 2021, 15 June 2021.

According to Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, violations of the by-laws of St Petersburg University by five students were registered on the premises of the University from 13 May till 17 June. Three violations were performed by bachelor’s programme students and two — by master’s programme students. Fields of study: Mathematics and Mechanics, International Relations, Applied Mathematics and Control Processes, Political Science, Sociology (one in each).

Types of violations:

Article 10.1.3 of the Rules for Living in St Petersburg University halls of residence, in particular, failure to observe cleanness and order on the residential premises — 2
Articles 10.1.1 and 10.2.3 of the Rules for Living in St Petersburg University halls of residence, in particular, failure to observe safety rules and fire safety when using electrical appliances and energy-intensive devices on the residential premises — 1
Article 10.2.8 of the Rules for Living in St Petersburg University halls of residence, in particular, illegal hosting of third persons in the hall of residence and (or) overnight hosting and providing residential premises for third persons — 1
Article 2.1.8, 2.1.9 of the Academic Regulations at St Petersburg University, in particular careful treatment of the University property, taking measures to preserve the property, being disciplined, keeping the University premises clean and orderly — 1

The students received explanations and clarifications of the performed violations. Documents for further disciplinary measures were formed and sent to the Student Council at St Petersburg University for consideration. The cases of the five students are currently with the Student Council of St Petersburg University. Upon receiving the opinion of the Student Council, the orders on taking disciplinary measures will be issued.

Aleksandr Babich reminded that currently, the Student Council of St Petersburg University is considering 44 sets of documents. Twelve The Student Council received 12 of them over three months ago and 12 — over one month ago.

Besides, from 13 May till 17 June, 51 students were imposed disciplinary measures for committing violations before 13 May. Three warnings and 48 reprimands were announced.

Aleksandr Babich noted that when considering the issues of imposing disciplinary measures, the Student Council suggested that the disciplinary measure should be mitigated in 48 of 51 cases. In three cases, the disciplinary measures were mitigated taking into account the opinion of the Student Council. The Student Council considered four drafts of orders for over one month.

45 of 48 reprimands were made to the students that were held administratively liable for participation in unsanctioned actions by legal authorities. It was covered in detail at the Rector’s meeting on 16 May 2022.

As Aleksandr Babich reminded, the Student Council of St Petersburg University did not agree with the disciplinary measure in the form of a reprimand and suggested that the listed students should not be imposed any penalty at the meeting on 29 April 2022. An extract from the minutes of the meeting of the Student Council dated 29 April 2022 with the above-mentioned opinion was presented on 11 May 2022 in relation to 45 of 59 students. The position of the Student Council of St Petersburg University was studied, legal arguments were analysed taking into account the response of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation on the legal nature of the relevant disciplinary measures. In view of the above-mentioned information, 45 students will be reprimanded. When the opinion of the Student Council of St Petersburg University on the drafts of the orders for the remaining students is received, it will be carefully considered and the decisions on imposing relevant disciplinary measures will be taken.

If the regulation on administrative liability is cancelled by the court, the order on imposing disciplinary measures will also be cancelled (it was previously discussed at the Rector’s meetings, in particular, at the Rector’s meeting dated 8 November 2021 and at the Rector’s meeting dated 7 February 2022). Recently, the University officials have not received any information from students that the decisions on holding them administratively liable have been revoked.

Determining the priority areas for research and development activity

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation has informed St Petersburg University of the criteria to determine priority areas of research and development activity as well as provided relevant reference and presentation materials. The list includes a number of criteria defining the priority areas of research, scientific value, social and economic effects, technological readiness, financial and economic parameters.

According to Sergey Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research, following the results of the meeting of the Committee for the Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation on 31 May, within the framework of article 5 section II minutes № 3 of the Committee meeting, organisations acting as the main distributors of budgetary funds and participants of the programme on "Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation" shall determine the priority areas of civil research and development in 2023-2025 taking into account the criteria defined by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. St Petersburg University shall determine these priorities together with the organisations of the industrial sector, research and expert community.

The Vice-Rector for Research gave a task to the directors and deans to consider the materials on a priority basis and provide their expert opinion by 23 June.

Research performance indicators

St Petersburg University must submit information as statistical data form № 2-research once every three years. The statistical data form presents the financial indicators of the organisation and performance indicators. Among them are: publication activity; the number of grants received; the number of research subdivisions; and the number of results of intellectual activity.

The analysis of the research performance of St Petersburg University over the past three years (2018–2021) demonstrates the following.

Growth of fixed assets by 24.5%. The increase in indicators is due to the implementation of the St Petersburg University Strategic Plan and the participation of the University in competitions as part of the implementation of national projects

Availability and composition of fixed assets of the organisation; thousand roubles	Dynamics of change
Total, including:	+ 24.5%
buildings and constructions	+ 1.1%
machinery and equipment, among them are:	+ 72.2%
instruments, devices, equipment (instrument base) used for research and development	+ 68.3%

A drop of 12.1% in the volume of research and development carried out using unique research facilities. The decrease in the indicator is associated with a decrease in funding due to the limited access of customers to research equipment and the delivery of samples due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021

The volume of research and development carried out using unique research facilities; thousand roubles	Dynamics of change
total, including:	− 12.1%
commissioned by third parties	− 18.8%

The dynamics of changes in internal costs for research and development by the priorities of the scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation shows both growth and decline in certain areas. This dynamic is due to an increase in the cost of projects related to priority import substitution. Among them are: the opening of the Euler International Mathematical Institute in St Petersburg (the Euler Institute); the opening of Agrotechnologies of the Future, a world-class research centre; completion of the grants of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research; the absence of new competitions due to the restructuring of the fund; and the presence of restrictions in the competitions of the Russian Science Foundation by the number of projects per manager

Internal costs for research and development according to the priorities of the scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation; thousand roubles	Dynamics of change
The transition to advanced digital, intelligent manufacturing technologies, robotic systems, new materials and design methods, the creation of systems for processing large amounts of data, machine learning and artificial intelligence	+ 345%
Connectivity of the territory of the Russian Federation through the creation of intelligent transport and telecommunications systems; achieving and maintaining leadership positions in the creation of international transport and logistics systems, the development and use of space and air space, the World Ocean, the Arctic and Antarctic	+ 1,547%
The possibility of effective response of Russian society to big challenges, taking into account the interaction of man and nature, man and technology, social institutions at the present stage of global development, including using the methods of the humanities and social sciences	+ 347%
Transition to environmentally friendly and resource-saving energy, increasing the efficiency of production and deep processing of hydrocarbon raw materials, the formation of new sources, methods of transportation and storage of energy	− 58%
Transition to personalised medicine, high-tech healthcare and health-saving technologies, including through the rational use of drugs (primarily antibacterial drugs)	− 42.5%
The transition to a highly productive and environmentally friendly agro- and aquaculture; development and implementation of systems for the rational use of chemical and biological protection of agricultural plants and animals; storage and efficient processing of agricultural products; the creation of safe and high-quality products, including functional food	− 40.7%
Countering technology-driven, biogenic, socio-cultural threats, terrorism and ideological extremism, cyber threats, and other sources of danger to society, economy and country	− 56.5%

Growth of publication activity by 10.5%. The increase in the indicator is associated with an increase in the qualification requirements for being elected to positions of academic staff and the measures taken to stimulate the quality of publications for the University staff

Published articles in peer-reviewed journals	2018	2021	Dynamics of change
Total	1,053	1,163	+10.5%

Reducing by 66.2% the number of grants received for the implementation of research, development, technological projects (works). The drop in the indicator is due to the lack of new competitions of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research due to the restructuring of the Foundation, and the presence of restrictions in the competitions of the Russian Science Foundation in terms of the number of projects per manager

Received grants for the implementation of research, development, technological projects (works)	2018	2021	Dynamics of change
Total	397	134	− 66.2%

Reducing by 40% the number of the research subdivisions created jointly with international organisations (international scientists) and the number of invited international specialists who carried out research, made inventions (at least three months a year) and did internships in the organisation. The drop in the indicator is due to the restrictions imposed against the backdrop of the pandemic situation with COVID-19

Research subdivisions	2018	2021	Dynamics of change
Number of the research subdivisions created jointly with international organisations (international scientists), at the end of the reporting year; units	20	12	− 40%
The number of invited international specialists who carried out research and made inventions (at least three months a year), underwent an internship in the organisation; people	181	109	− 40%

Growth in the number of valid protection documents which protect intellectual property rights, for: inventions by 15%; utility models − by 21%; databases − by 105%; computer programmes − by 32.6%. The growth of indicators is due to the state policy to stimulate the intellectual property protection and the widespread use of digital technologies

The number of valid protection documents which protect intellectual property rights for	2018	2021	Dynamics of change
Inventions	213	245	+ 15%
Utility models	67	81	+ 21%
Database	19	39	+ 105%
Computer programmes	184	244	+ 32.6%

Overall, despite the following: the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021; a significant decrease in the number of new competitions (and, accordingly, in the number of grants) due to the merger of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research with the Russian Science Foundation; and the restrictions in the competition documentation of the Russian Science Foundation on the number of projects that can be managed and in which you can take part; there is a positive trend in the effectiveness of the research activities at St Petersburg University for the period from 2018 to 2021.

Winners of the ninth stage of the mega-grant competition

On 17 June 2022, the results of the ninth stage of the competition for the provision of grants for government support of research conducted under the guidance of leading scientists (mega-grants of the Government of the Russian Federation) were officially released. St Petersburg University has become the absolute leader in terms of the number of supported applications in St Petersburg and in the Russian Federation. St Petersburg University will have three new laboratories led by leading scientists in the fields of the following sciences: mechanics and engineering; medical and health sciences; and physics and astronomy.

As the Vice-Rector for Research Sergey Mikushev said, 293 applications from 49 regions of Russia were submitted during the ninth stage of the competition. Research organisations submitted 58 applications, and 235 of them were submitted by educational organisations. Based on the results of the consideration of documents by the competition commission of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, 38 applications were rejected, 7 applications were withdrawn, and 255 applications were allowed to participate in the competition.

In terms of the number of submitted applications from universities, the leading position is taken by St Petersburg University (13 applications); Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod — National Research University (UNN) — 9 applications; the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia — 9 applications; South Ural State University — 9 applications; Lomonosov Moscow State University — 7 applications.

In terms of the number of supported projects, St Petersburg University also takes the leading position (3 projects out of 13 admitted to the competition). South Ural State University (2 projects out of 8 projects) and Southern Federal University (2 projects out of 5 projects) take the second place. Lomonosov Moscow State University; ITMO University; the National University of Science and Technology (MISiS); the National Research Tomsk State University; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology; the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia; and Siberian Federal University has one project each. A total of 30 applications were supported following the results of the ninth stage of competitive selection .

Based on the results of the competition, the following winners will be invited to St Petersburg University who will be the heads of laboratories: ‪

Baoqiang Li‬ (China) with the project "Dynamics and Extreme Characteristics of Promising Nanostructured Materials" (field of sciences: mechanics and mechanical engineering; the responsible person at St Petersburg University is Yuri Petrov, Professor in the Department of Theory of Elasticity) ‬‬‬‬
Axel Haverich (Germany) with the project to create a laboratory of microangiopathic mechanisms of atherogenesis (field of study: medical and health sciences; the responsible person at St Petersburg University is Leonid Churilov, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology)
Constantinos Stoumpos (Greece) with the project to create a laboratory of crystal photonics (field of study: physics and astronomy; the responsible person at St Petersburg University is Alexei Emeline, Professor in the Department of Photonics)

New laboratories will be opened at the Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University (1 application out of 8 admitted to the competition was supported); at the Bonch-Bruevich Saint Petersburg State University of Telecommunications (1 application out of 1 was supported); and at ITMO University (1 application out of 6 was supported).

A total of 90 million roubles will be allocated to each of the laboratories for the implementation of projects over three years (2022–2024). Congratulations to the winners!

Changes in the nomenclature of academic programmes for which academic degrees are awarded

According to Order № 445 "On amendments to the nomenclature of academic programmes for which academic degrees are awarded of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated 11 May 2022, approved by Order № 118 of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated 24 February 2021, and in accordance with the fields of study for the academic staff in aspirantura programmes (military aspirantura programmes) in scientific specialities provided for by the nomenclature of academic programmes for which academic degrees are awarded, approved by Order № 118 of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated 24 February 2021, established by Order № 786" of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated 24 August 2021’ (hereinafter referred to as the Order) approve the changes in the nomenclature of academic programmes for which academic degrees are awarded. The changes come into force on 27 June 2022.

Changes have been made in the following areas.

Adjustments were made in terms of the codes and names of academic programmes, names of fields of sciences (according to Para 1 "a" — "y" of the Order):

a) the lists of the fields of sciences that correspond to academic programmes were adjusted, for example, in the speciality 1.2.1 "Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning", the field "Engineering Sciences" has been added to the specified field "Physical and Mathematical Sciences"

b) the clarifications were made to the names of the academic programmes, for example, academic programme 2.3.1 "System Analysis, Management and Processing of Information" was changed to 2.3.1 "System Analysis, Management and Processing of Information, Statistics"

c) the following academic programmes were added:

2.10.1 "Fire Safety",

2.10.2 "Environmental Safety",

2.10.3 "Occupational Safety",

5.2.7 "State and Municipal Administration".

Adjustments were made in terms of the codes of the enlarged groups of fields of study; the enlarged groups of fields of study; codes; scientific specialities; fields of sciences (according to Para 2 of Para 1–37 of the Order) in the fields of study for the academic staff in aspirantura programmes, including the following changes:

a) the lists of fields of study to which academic programmes correspond were corrected, for example, academic programme 3.1.28 "Haematology and Blood Transfusion" now refers to both the field of medical sciences and biological sciences;

b) the following academic programmes were added:

2.10.1 "Fire Safety",

2.10.2 "Environmental Safety",

2.10.3 "Occupational Safety",

3.2.6. "Safety in Emergency Situations",

5.2.7 "State and Municipal Administration",

1.3.21 "Medical Physics";

c) speciality 3.2.5 "Medical Psychology" was included in another group of academic programmes, i.e. 5.3 "Psychology". The code changed accordingly, i.e. 5.3.6 "Medical Psychology".

Adjustments were made in terms of the codes of the enlarged groups of the fields of study; the enlarged groups of the fields of study; codes; fields of sciences; groups of academic programmes; names of academic programmes, areas of study (according to Para 3 of Para 1–25 of the Order) in the fields of study for academic staff in military aspirantura programmes. Among these changes are the following:

b) the following academic programmes were added:

2.10.1 "Fire Safety",

2.10.2 "Environmental Safety",

2.10.3 "Occupational Safety",

3.2.6. "Safety in Emergency Situations",

5.2.7 "State and Municipal Administration";

c) speciality 3.2.5 "Medical Psychology" was included in another group of academic programmes, i.e. 5.3 "Psychology". The code changed accordingly, i.e. 5.3.6 "Medical Psychology".

A number of academic programmes are declared invalid. A detailed list can be found in the text of the Order.

International activities

At the recent Rector’s meetings, the international activities of St Petersburg University were analysed (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 14 March 2022; 23 May 2022; 30 May 2022; 6 June 2022; and 14 June 2022). According to the Deputy Rector for International Affairs Sergey Andryushin, a number of new events took place last week.

Participation of St Petersburg University in the work of the interdepartmental delegation of the Russian Federation in the Syrian Arab Republic

On 12 — 18 June 2022, St Petersburg University, on behalf of the Rector, took part in the work of the interdepartmental delegation of the Russian Federation in the Syrian Arab Republic. The delegation included representatives of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation; the National Defence Management Centre of the Russian Federation; the Ministry of Science and Higher Education; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media; the Union of Machine Builders of Russia; Rosatom; the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences; the Russian Children’s Foundation; Rostec; and other organisations.

As part of the trip to the city of Homs, negotiations were held with the Rector of Al- Baath University. There was a solemn ceremony of signing an agreement between St Petersburg University and Al-Baath University. The agreement was reached on the organisation of exchange programmes for students and academic staff and network academic programmes. After signing the agreement, a book donation ceremony was organised by the St Petersburg University Publishing House for students and schoolchildren who study the Russian language. The Rector of Al- Baath University graduated from the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty at St Petersburg University in 1991. He spoke with great warmth about his alma mater. He also stressed the high level of development of research and the quality of education at St Petersburg University. He showed the laboratories and research centres at Al-Baath University. Unfortunately, according to him, the equipment is very outdated, but Syrian scientists invent and create their own models of equipment necessary for research. As part of the discussion, the potential of the St Petersburg University Research Park was presented. Its resources can be used by Syrian scientists in case of joint research with St Petersburg University colleagues and preparation of joint publications. The Rector of Al-Baas University expressed his deep gratitude to Rector Nikolay Kropachev and the academic community of St Petersburg University for their help and the opportunity to work together. He also noted the invaluable support that Russia provides to Syria in protecting against terrorism and preserving statehood. The Syrian News Agency published a news article on the signing of an agreement with Al-Baath University and the transfer of humanitarian aid.

The delegation travelled to the oldest city of Syria, Hama. During the trip, the delegation visited Al-Wataniya Private University. The Rector of Al-Wataniya Private University expressed great interest in cooperation with St Petersburg University in the field of management and economics. An agreement was reached to organise a videoconference for academic staff of the two universities to discuss the prospects for joint work.

During the visit to the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST), a cooperation agreement was signed with St Petersburg University. During the visit, the Rector of HIAST thanked St Petersburg University and Rector Nikolay Kropachev for their support. He also noted that the two universities have much in common. In particular, HIAST also has a special status that allows it to develop its own educational standards, issue its own diplomas, and enter into agreements without the consent of the Syrian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. After the agreement signing ceremony, HIAST Vice-Rectors demonstrated research centres and laboratories, and their leaders presented their projects. They noted that cooperation with St Petersburg University is not only a unique opportunity for them, but also an urgent need. Of particular interest to Syrian colleagues is cooperation in the field of environmental studies; nanotechnology and materials science; robotics, mathematics and computer science. Achieving concrete results in research is a matter of restoring the national economy and ensuring the economic development of Syria in the context of the ongoing fight against terrorism and illegal economic restrictions from the West. HIAST scientists are interested in starting cooperation with St Petersburg University and Russian colleagues as soon as possible.

As part of this visit, a cooperation agreement was also signed with Damascus University. St Petersburg University already has close ties to improve the skills of teachers of the Russian language in Damascus University. As part of the agreement, it is planned to organise work on the creation of network programmes and academic exchange.

Additionally, negotiations were held with Nikolai Sukhov, Director of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Damascus. The St Petersburg University Publishing House donated books to Syrian students and schoolchildren as humanitarian aid. The Russian Centre for Science and Culture supports teachers of the Russian language throughout Syria and organises language courses in cooperation with schools and universities. Nikolai Sukhov expressed interest in developing cooperation with St Petersburg University in organising an online school of St Petersburg University for Syrian schoolchildren and training Russian teachers for universities in the Syrian Arab Republic.

After the completion of the official programme, the delegation of the Russian Federation flew on three military planes to Khmeimim Air Base. The Russian Ministry of Defence organised a concert of the wind ensemble for the delegation.

During the stay of the Russian delegation in Syria, its security was provided by the military police and the military group of the Russian Armed Forces that performed their duty in the Syrian Arab Republic. They thanked St Petersburg University for the initiative that formed the basis of the presidential decree and amendments to the law on education, allowing the children of the participants in the special operation in Ukraine and the military personnel taking part in hostilities, including in Syria, to enter Russian universities on preferential terms (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 6 June 2022).

Meeting with the International University of Kyrgyzstan in an online format

On 15 June 2022, a meeting was held with the representatives of the International University of Kyrgyzstan in an online format. During the meeting, the parties discussed the details of signing an agreement on cooperation and academic exchange between universities (St Petersburg University expands the geography of its international cooperation).

The International University of Kyrgyzstan is a state university of the Kyrgyz Republic with the status of an international higher educational institution. It was founded in 1993. Today, the International University of Kyrgyzstan actively organises international internships for students and academic staff training, and opens laboratories and clinics in the regions of the republic for internal programmes. More than half of the University students study in academic programmes in Medicine.

Open lecture at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain

On 15 June 2022, the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain hosted an online lecture ‘Marina Tsvetaeva, Sergei Efron, Sophia Parnok: "Love another. No, others. No, all"’. It was a continuation of the series of lectures "The Story of One Love". The lecture was given by Anna Silyunas, a theatre critic, expert in art and Director of the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain.

Participation of St Petersburg University in the meeting of the Coordinating Council of the CIS Network University

On 16 June 2022, a meeting of the coordinating council of the CIS Network University was held. During the meeting, issues about the activities of the CIS Network University were discussed. Among them were: main results and development prospects; admission campaign for joint academic programmes within the framework of the CIS Network University in the 2022/23 academic year; approval of new joint academic programmes; entry of new members into the CIS Network University; and approval of the annual work plan of the CIS Network University. Based on the results of the meeting, a protocol will be prepared and sent to all participants of the CIS Network University.

Visit to St Petersburg University of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Yemen to Russia

On 16 June 2022, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Yemen to the Russian Federation, Ahmed Salem Al-Wahishi, visited St Petersburg University (Learn Russian language online: St Petersburg University discusses cooperation with the University of Aden). During the meeting, issues of cooperation in the field of studying the Russian language were discussed. Representatives of Yemen spoke about the difficulties that arise when studying the Russian language abroad, in particular, at the University of Aden (Yemen). They asked St Petersburg University to help them in the field of electronic educational technologies. On the part of St Petersburg University, it was proposed to consider the possibility of introducing St Petersburg University online courses in Russian as a foreign language and incorporate teaching and methodological materials of St Petersburg University into the teaching and learning process.

St Petersburg University publications are winners of the contest "The Best Books of the Year — 2021"

Two books published by the St Petersburg University Publishing House in 2021 are the winners of the 32nd all-Russian competition "The Best Books of the Year — 2021".

The St Petersburg University textbook "Economics of Japan" was edited by Sergei Belozerov, Professor and Head of the Department of Risk Management and Insurance at St Petersburg University; and Sergei Sutyrin, Professor and Head of the Department of World Economy at St Petersburg University. The book won the competition "The Best Books of the Year — 2021" in the nomination "Best Educational Publication".

The authors of the textbook are an international team of scientists from St Petersburg University, Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University, Kyoto University, and University of Niigata Prefecture. The publication highlights the main features of the modern economy of Japan, its place in the world economy and international economic relations. The textbook covers the history of the formation of the social and economic systems of Japan and the legal system in its aspects such as investment law and public finance law.

The monograph "Centre and regions. The economic policy of the government on the outskirts of the Russian Empire" was edited by Mikhail Khodiakov, Professor and Head of the Department of Contemporary History of Russia at St Petersburg University. It was also shortlisted and became a diploma winner in the nomination "The Best Book about Russia".

The collective monograph examines the economic policy pursued by the government on the outskirts of the Russian Empire during the reign of Nicholas II in 1894–1917. The focus is on the Far East, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Western Territory, and the Baltic states. The study is based on a wide range of archival materials and shows how regional economic interests were promoted in the capital, taking into account the specifics of the economic space of different parts of the country in terms of their development.