Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting
St Petersburg University once again holds the leading position among Russian universities according to the Vladimir Potanin Foundation rankings
According to the results of the annual Vladimir Potanin Foundation rankings, the top three leaders among 75 competing higher education institutions are St Petersburg University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, and ITMO University. The results of the competition are published in the overall and cumulative rankings.
Since 2004, the Vladimir Potanin Foundation has been publishing the annual ranking list of Russian universities participating in the foundation’s scholarship programme. This year, the Expert Council of the Vladimir Potanin Foundation has adjusted the ranking methodology. In addition to the basic indicators such as the activity of students and teachers in the foundation’s fellowship, the social attitudes of universities and other criteria, the rankings assess teachers’ performance in the Academic Landing competition, and the number of university representatives who take part in the foundation school.
According to the annual overall ranking based on the adjusted methodology, the top three universities in 2022 are: first place − St Petersburg University (6.2); second place − Lomonosov Moscow State University (6.03); and third place − ITMO University (5.47).
According to the results of the cumulative ranking, St Petersburg University took first place (5.36 points); second place was taken by Lomonosov Moscow State University (5.32); and third place was taken by ITMO University (4.8) (St Petersburg University once again holds the leading position among Russian universities according to the Vladimir Potanin Foundation rankings).
The St Petersburg University Media Centre celebrates its 40th anniversary
In 1982, a training studio of the Department of Radio and Television at the Faculty of Journalism at Leningrad State University was opened at 33 10th Line, Vasilyevsky Island. In 2022, the "successor" to the studio, the St Petersburg University Media Centre, celebrates its 40th birthday.
For 40 years, students, under the guidance of experienced mentors, have made a wide variety of programmes, some of which have become series. These include numerous interviews, major reports, talk shows, authorial and feature programmes and many others.
By 2022, the studio has "grown" into the Media Centre, where future journalists hone their professional skills by producing programmes for the MOST TV channel. Students in Journalism and Advertising and Public Relations have internships here, where they can develop their practical skills through clinical experience: they learn the ins and outs of working on camera, shooting and editing. Students from other non-profession-oriented fields can also do internships at the Media Centre (The St Petersburg University Media Centre celebrates its 40th anniversary).
The meeting participants recalled that for decades the Media Centre’s predecessors had served the interests of the former Dean of the Faculty of Journalism. Nowadays, the Media Centre works for the benefit of the entire University, including in the clinical model of internships for students studying Journalism and Advertising and Public Relations. Anatoly Puyu, Director of the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication, to whom the Media Centre is now subordinated, said that the centre is equipped with high technology and new young professionals will be involved in the centre’s work.
Results of the 3rd stage of the All-Russian contest "Leadership Lab 2022: Best University Librarian"
On 21 September, the results of the 3rd stage of the All-Russian contest "Leadership Lab: Best University Librarian", supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, were summed up (Results of the 3rd stage of the contest "Leadership Lab-2022: Best University Librarian"). St Petersburg University was represented at the contest by Olga Murzina, Deputy Head of the Law Branch of the M Gorky Scientific Library. Olga Murzina was a prize-winner of the 1st stage of the contest and a prize-winner of the 3rd stage (3rd place among 136 participants).
The 7th International Symposium "Biogenic-Abiogenic Interactions in Natural and Anthropogenic Systems"
From 26 to 29 September, St Petersburg University hosted the 7th International Symposium where experts discussed fundamental and applied aspects of biogenic-abiogenic interactions in the lithosphere, biosphere and technosphere (Experts from Russia, India, Germany, Israel and Vietnam discuss biogenic-abiogenic interactions in natural and anthropogenic systems). The symposium was organised by St Petersburg University, the St Petersburg Society of Naturalists and the Russian Mineralogical Society. The symposium was attended by 140 participants from Germany, India and more than 20 Russian cities.
The participants were welcomed by: Kirill Chistyakov, Director of the Institute of Earth Sciences, St Petersburg University; and Igor Tikhonovich, Dean of the Faculty of Biology, St Petersburg University. The role of the symposium in the process of formation and development of new interdisciplinary research in biomineralisation in extreme conditions, development of nature-like materials and technologies was noted.
Project "Smart Route" of the Russian Society "Znanie"
On 26 September 2022, St Petersburg University acted as a co-organiser to host the events of the All-Russian project "Smart Route. Career and development of soft skills" of the Russian Society "Znanie" (Knowledge). More than 200 students discussed what skills are needed to build a successful career; how to balance study and work; and how to pass interviews and cope with stress.
VKontakte became a partner of the forum. Experts from VKonakte not only made presentations, but also organised discussions with the participants in the event, held workshops on leadership, teamwork and time management (St Petersburg University and the Russian Society "Knowledge": on trends in modern education and soft skills).
International activities
Rector’s meetings regularly analyse the international activities of St Petersburg University (Minutes of the Rector’s Meetings dated 15 August 2022; 22 August 2022; 29 August 2022; 5 September 2022; and 19 September 2022). According to Vice-Rector for International Affairs Sergey Andryushin, a number of new events took place last week.
Lectures at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in the Italian Republic
On 26 September 2022, on the Day of European Languages, the lectures were held by St Petersburg University Professor Leonid Moskovkin and Professor Giuseppe Marrani. Professor Giuseppe Marrani is Director of the Department of Humanitarian Studies at the University for Foreigners of Siena. These lectures are part of the series of seminars organised by the St Petersburg University Representative Office in the Italian Republic and the University for Foreigners of Siena. The lecture by Professor Leonid Moskovkin was devoted to the first textbooks in the Russian as a foreign language and their authors. Professor Giuseppe Marrani delivered a lecture "Dante: Hell and Inferno".
Meeting with representatives of Bahçeşehir University (Republic of Türkiye)
On 28 September 2022, a meeting was held with representatives of Bahçeşehir University (the Republic of Türkiye). It discussed promising areas for cooperation. Agreements were reached on signing an agreement on cooperation. The issue of signing protocols on the exchange of students and staff is being worked out.
Conference "Methods of Machine Learning and Statistical Models in Medicine"
On 29 September 2022, the conference "Methods of Machine Learning and Statistical Models in Medicine" was held. It was part of the initiative "Series of academic lectures of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology and St Petersburg University". The event was attended by Piotr Yablonsky, Vice-Rector for Medical Activities; Tatiana Trofimova, Director of the Research, Clinical and Educational Centre "Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine"; and other experts. They made presentations on various topics. The topics ranged from mathematical modelling for systems biology and medical problems to the possibility of automated analysis of digital radiographs in the diagnosis of pulmonary nodes and formations.
Lecture at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in the Kingdom of Spain
On 29 September 2022, the St Petersburg University Representative Office in the Kingdom of Spain hosted an online lecture "Poets of the Silver Age: George Ivanov and Irina Odoevtseva. A story of love". The lecture was delivered by Associate Professor of St Petersburg University Nina Shcherbak.
Meeting of the working group of the Association of Leading Universities
In January 2022, the Association of Leading Universities held a round table to discuss the issues of improving electronic control over exams and tests (invigilation). A working group was formed to prepare the rules for passing certification using invigilation system. The draft rules were prepared by representatives of the Presidential Directorate for Science and Education Policy in the Russian Federation; the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science (Rosobrnadzor); organisations providing invigilation services; the Open Education platform; and more than 55 educational institutions.
On 16 September 2022, a regular meeting of the working group was held, said Vladimir Starostenko, Acting Senior Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation and Information Security and Head of the working group of the Association of Leading Universities. After making some changes, the draft rules were unanimously supported by all members of the working group. The main purpose of the document is to unify the procedure for passing certification tests using invigilation. This is necessary, among other things, to ensure that students can more easily adapt to the conditions for exams and tests in the process of learning or when moving from one educational organisation to another. The corresponding document will be sent to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The member organisations of the Association of Leading Universities will be recommended to use it when conducting assessment tests.
As part of the event, the Dean of the Faculty of Law at St Petersburg University Sergei Belov presented the report "Rules and Norms of Scientific and Pedagogical Ethics". Artemii Semchenkov is a doctoral student of St Petersburg University, who is studying in the doctoral programme in Law, and Chair of the Students’ Scientific Society of the Faculty of Law at St Petersburg University. He spoke about the creation of an institution of academic honesty ambassadors in the student community. Members of the working group proposed to work out the issue of creating a unified code of ethics for participants in educational relations. A unanimous decision was made to continue work on the development of the concept of academic integrity ambassadors. The schedule and format of further meetings of the working group were approved.
The draft rules developed by the working group have been sent to directors and deans. They are instructed to submit proposals for this document in order to discuss them later at the Rector’s meeting.
Organisation the teaching and learning process
Over the past week, the St Petersburg University Virtual Reception received 22 enquiries to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. Additionally, 44 enquiries were registered in the student enquiry register. Most of the enquiries concern partial mobilisation. The St Petersburg University website contains information about partial mobilisation in the Russian Federation. Additionally, it provides information about the measures taken by St Petersburg University to support the St Petersburg University students and staff.
The heads of academic and research subdivisions continue to hold meetings with student activists: group leaders, representatives of student councils, and student scientific societies to name just a few. They discussed the organisation of the teaching and learning process. Over the past week, such meetings were held by the heads of the Graduate School of Management; the Institute of Philosophy; the Faculty of Biology; the Faculty of Foreign Languages; the Faculty of Arts; Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty; the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science; the School of International Relations; the Faculty of Political Science (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication); the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes; the Faculty of Sociology; the Faculty of Physics; the Faculty of Philology; the Faculty of Economics; the Faculty of Law; and the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology (the minutes of the meeting have not been formalised and are not submitted for publication).
Enquiry to the Virtual Reception concerning the materials for the qualification exam for guides and guide-interpreters
The St Petersburg University Virtual Reception once again proved its effectiveness. Thanks to this service, graduates who work as guide-interpreters asked the University to correct materials for the certification of guides.
In accordance with Decree № 833 of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 7 May 2022, the Russian Federation introduced mandatory certification of tour guides (guides) and guide-interpreters. It includes a qualification exam. As Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova said, in order to conduct a qualification exam, the list of relevant questions was approved by Order № 32-r of the St Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development dated 1 September 2022. The answers to the test part of the exam are also presented. The list includes 1,200 questions, five of which concern St Petersburg University.
Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova held meetings with the St Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development. Abdulla Daudov, Director of the Institute of History, was instructed to prepare five new questions about the history of St Petersburg University. After the completion of the work, the materials will be sent to the St Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development and the City tourist information bureau of St Petersburg to amend the previously approved documents.
Considering that the graduates who submitted the enquiry to the St Petersburg University Virtual Reception said about the distortion of information not only about the history of the University, but also on other issues related to the history and culture of St Petersburg, the University decided to support the initiative of guide-interpreters to conduct a cultural, historical and linguistic expert evaluation of the entire list of questions. The results of the expert evaluation will also be sent to the St Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development.
Obligations of students to pay for accommodation in the halls of residence
In accordance with clause 4.3 of the tenancy agreement for residential premises in the St Petersburg University halls of residences: "payment for the use of residential premises and utilities is carried out in advance for six months." Violation by students of the terms of payment established by the residential tenancy agreement leads to the accumulation of receivables.
As the Dmitrii Mikhailov, Chief Engineer — First Deputy for Senior Vice-Rector, said, approaches to working with receivables had repeatedly been discussed at Rector’s meetings (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 20 March 2017; Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 6 December 2021). Work with receivables is carried out by the employees of the University in accordance with the Regulation on working with receivables that was approved by Order № 1969/1 dated 9 March 2017.
Some of the debtors completed their studies at St Petersburg University, left the halls of residence, and did not pay off the debt. In such cases, the employees of the University carry out claims work. 937 claims were sent to debtors who left the halls of residence in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. As a result, the University received payment of the debt in the amount of 2,105,804 roubles 58 kopeks. It was not possible to recover part of the overdue debt due to the expiration of the limitation period, the amount of 5,797,883 roubles 74 kopeks was recognised as uncollectible.
Interaction with debtors who continue to study at the University and live in the halls of residence involves the following set of measures. Among them are the following:
- Information about the presence of debt is sent monthly to students by corporate e-mail. The corresponding electronic receipt is attached to the letter. Lists of debtors are also transferred to the staff of the Academic Affairs Department for organising additional notification of students. To prevent an increase in receivables in 2022, 686 claims were sent to debtors
- A ban has been established on the relocation to another accommodation of persons who have arrears in paying for accommodation in the halls of residence and additional services
- The debtor also cannot be provided with additional services (rental of household appliances, sports equipment, etc.)
- The presence of debts is taken into account when making decisions about the possibility of using the resources of the University: sending students to extracurricular activities (competitions and conferences to name just a few), to rest trips; and making a number of payments to students to name just a few. Additionally, the presence of debts is a reason for the University officials to consider the issue of holding the debtor liable. During 2020–2022, 29 reprimand orders and four expulsion orders were issued
If the claim work does not give positive results, debt collection is carried out in court. In 2020-2022, materials against 38 people were sent to the court. The requirements of the University for 19 materials have already been satisfied. For other materials, decisions have not yet been made.
The measures are set to reduce the volume of accounts receivable for accommodation in the St Petersburg University halls residence. As of 1 September 2020, it was 26,473,125 roubles 9 kopeks. As of 1 September 2022, the receivables were 15,747,478 roubles 56 kopeks, i.e. the receivables of the tenants living in the halls of residence are 6,112,325 roubles 7 kopeks, while the receivables of the evicted tenants from the halls of residence are 9,635,153 roubles 49 kopeks.
Dmitrii Mikhailov asked the heads of the academic and research subdivisions to draw the attention of students to the obligation to pay for accommodation in the University halls of residence. This work should be done during the meetings with student activists.
Partial mobilisation in the Russian Federation
In the Russian Federation, the partial mobilisation announced on 21 September 2022 by Executive Order No 647 of the President of the Russian Federation continues (see Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 26 September 2022).
According to Vice-Rector for Security Dmitry Gryaznov, employees of the Military Registration Office of St Petersburg University are working to prepare documents for the University students to receive a deferment of conscription for military service during mobilisation and in wartime. Since the announcement of partial mobilisation, the St Petersburg University Military Registration Office has verified the information on the University staff who are registered with the district Enlistment Offices of St Petersburg. The employees who have been granted an exemption from the mobilisation draft have been sent appropriate notifications to their corporate email addresses. Since 27 September 2022, certificates have been issued to such employees confirming the fact of a deferment of conscription for military service during mobilisation and in wartime. An appeal has been sent to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation on the possibility of expanding the list of positions of the St Petersburg University employees for granting a deferment of conscription.
Dmitry Gryaznov noted that the procedure to grant an exemption to the citizens of the Russian Federation who are in reserve, that is, who have military registration cards, is carried out not by St Petersburg University, but by district Enlistment Offices in accordance with the following requirements:
- employment at St Petersburg University in certain positions on a full-time basis (a full-time position)
- being on military registration at the Military Registration Office of St Petersburg University and the Enlistment Office at the place of registration or at the place of stay on the territory of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region
After the publication of Executive Order № 647 "On the announcement of partial mobilisation in the Russian Federation" of the President of the Russian Federation dated 21 September 2022, the attendance of the St Petersburg University Military Registration Office by students and staff of the University has increased many times over. In order to optimise activities, the University staff working in other divisions were temporarily sent to the Military Registration Office. From 28 to 30 September 2022, they were trained. On 3 October 2022, they began to work on the reception of the University staff and students in additionally allocated premises. The measures taken will reduce the time for processing documents to increase the daily throughput of the Military Registration Office of St Petersburg University.
Dmitry Gryaznov took into account the enquiries addressed to the Vice-Rector for Security in relation to the conscription of doctoral students of St Petersburg University. Dmitry Gryaznov said that, according to the regulatory documents, each doctoral student who had submitted to the Military Registration Office of St Petersburg University information about military registration with the Enlistment Office at the place of registration or at the place of stay, was granted the right to a deferment of conscription for military service during mobilisation and in wartime. As early as Sunday, 2 October 2022, each doctoral student who had previously informed the St Petersburg University Military Registration Office that they had a military registration card received a notification to their corporate email address about the possibility of receiving a certificate from the St Petersburg University Military Registration Office. The certificate confirms the right to grant a deferment of conscription for military service during mobilisation and in wartime. Certificates will be issued to doctoral students who are not registered with the military Office after submitting the original military registration card to the Military Registration Office of St Petersburg University.
Dmitry Gryaznov asked once again to pay attention to the need to obtain information only from official sources of information. Additionally, there is a possibility to use special resources. Among them are: the hotlines of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation; the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; and the Internet resource "Объясняем.РФ". A special section on the issues of partial mobilisation has also been developed on the St Petersburg University website.