Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting
- St Petersburg University Professor Raul Gainetdinov receives a letter of gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation
- St Petersburg University Assistant Professor Ivan Diakov receives the Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts
- Meeting of the Bureau of the Department of Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- International activities
- Events to mark the 90th anniversary of the Abkhazian State University
- Meeting of the Science and Education Working Group of the St Petersburg Dialogue Forum
- Meeting of St Petersburg University representatives and representatives of the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology of the Syrian Arab Republic
- Visit to St Petersburg University of the Head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Seminar on translation problems at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Italy
- Lecture at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain
- Courses of Russian as a Foreign Language in Mongolia
- Teaching the discipline (module) "History of Russia"
- Organisation of the teaching and learning process
- Changes made by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation to the procedure for admission to academic programmes of higher education
- Meetings of the heads of academic and research subdivisions with the heads of departments, students, and representatives of the trade union organisation
- Vaccination (booster vaccination) against COVID-19, vaccination against influenza
- University students rescue a man from a fire
- So-called closure of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences at St Petersburg University
1. St Petersburg University Professor Raul Gainetdinov receives a letter of gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation
For merits in research, pedagogy, education and for many years of conscientious work, the President of the Russian Federation has announced gratitude to Professor Raul Gainetdinov, Director of the Institute of Translational Biomedicine at St Petersburg University.
Raul Gainetdinov works in the field of experimental pharmacology of brain diseases, using genetically altered animals as models of human diseases such as: schizophrenia; depression; Parkinson’s disease; and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children (ADHD). He advises a number of international pharmaceutical companies. Professor Gainetdinov is the author of over 240 scientific articles (including publications in Science, Nature, Cell, PNAS) and 13 patents. His H-index is 74. In 2018-2020, he was on the Web of Science (WoS) Highly Cited Researchers list in his area of expertise (pharmacology): Among the six Russian scientists included in the top most cited scientists in the world, there are three researchers from St Petersburg University.
The colleagues congratulated Raul Gainetdinov on his well-deserved award.
2. St Petersburg University Assistant Professor Ivan Diakov receives the Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts
A ceremony to award gold medals of the Russian Academy of Arts has been held in Moscow. Ivan Diakov, an artist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Fine Arts at St Petersburg University, was among the awardees. The Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts is one of the Academy’s highest honours. It was presented by Zurab Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts.
Ivan Diakov is a hot enamel specialist and Head of the enamel workshop within the framework of the Applied Art academic programme. He was awarded a gold medal by the Russian Academy of Arts for his personal exhibition "Twelve Steps to the Carpenter" and his contribution to the development of applied arts in Russia (St Petersburg University Assistant Professor Ivan Diakov receives the Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts).
The colleagues congratulated Ivan Diakov on his well-deserved award.
3. Meeting of the Bureau of the Department of Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, reminded that during the presidential election of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), RAS Academician Gennady Krasnikov had formulated the task of enhancing the Academy stature. In this regard, the Russian Academy of Sciences will actively engage in the government decision-making system. Plans for implementing this task were discussed at a meeting of the Bureau of the Department of Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Taliya Habrieva is Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Honorary Doctor of St Petersburg University, Director of the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation and Secretary General of the Department of Social Sciences. She asked the Bureau members to use their organisations’ portals to inform widely about RAS activities. The Rector instructed the University staff, full members and corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences to inform regularly about the activities of their branches of the Academy.
The Meeting of the Bureau of the Department of Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences:
- discussed work plans for 2022 and 2023 (the Rector instructed the directors and deans to submit proposals for these documents)
- agreed upon candidates for the positions of heads of RAS institutes (in future, the list of these candidates will be sent in advance to the directors and deans for discussion)
- accepted recommendations for the RAS prizes (a professor from St Petersburg University took part in the contest for the Fyodor Martens Award; there were no applicants from the University in the contests for the Maksim Kovalevsky Prize and for the Mikhail Speransky Gold Medal)
- discussed the proposal of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to form "one-time" dissertation councils to defend a particular dissertation (for reference: such an idea was implemented at St Petersburg University nine years ago: St Petersburg University Academic Degrees)
4. International activities
At the Rector’s meetings, the international activities of St Petersburg University are regularly analysed (Minutes of the Rector’s meetings dated 29 August 2022; 5 September 2022; 19 September 2022; 3 October 2022 and 10 October 2022). According to Vice-Rector for International Affairs Sergey Andryushin, a number of new events took place last week.
Events to mark the 90th anniversary of the Abkhazian State University
A few months ago, Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev and Rector of the Abkhazian State University Aleko Gvaramiya discussed the prospects for intensifying academic cooperation between St Petersburg University and the Abkhazian State University, which resulted in intensification of our contacts. In particular, Aleko Gvaramiya recalled that back in Soviet times a plot of land had been allocated on the Black Sea coast for the construction of a joint practical training centre. This plot is still assigned to the Abkhazian State University. Аleko Gvaramiya noted that this land plot is preserved for the implementation of joint initiatives between St Petersburg University and the Abkhazian State University.
At the invitation of the Abkhazian State University administration, Vice-Rector for International Affairs Sergey Andryushin took part in the events to mark the 90th anniversary of the Abkhazian State University.
During his speech at these events, Professor Gvaramiya pointed out the long-standing links between St Petersburg University (Leningrad State University) and the Abkhazian State University. He also stressed the great contribution of alumni to the formation of the Abkhazian State University. Plans are currently underway for the heads of the academic and research subdivisions of the Abkhazian State University to visit St Petersburg University to exchange information and establish new contacts.
Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of St Petersburg University, was elected Professor Emeritus at the Abkhazian State University.
Meeting of the Science and Education Working Group of the St Petersburg Dialogue Forum
Sochi hosted a Meeting of the Science and Education Working Group of the St Petersburg Dialogue Forum. The event included a presentation "St Petersburg University and Germany: three centuries of relationship". The discussion focused on cooperation between Russian and German academic organisations.
Meeting of St Petersburg University representatives and representatives of the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology of the Syrian Arab Republic
On 13 October, a meeting was held between representatives of St Petersburg University and representatives of the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technologies of the Syrian Arab Republic. It was focused on discussing international cooperation in education and research activities. During the talks, the Syrian side expressed its willingness to initiate joint projects in materials science, laser technologies, computer science, and robotics. As a result of the meeting, it was decided to sign a protocol on academic exchange during the visit of an interdepartmental humanitarian delegation of the Russian Federation to the Syrian Arab Republic, scheduled from 16 to 21 October.
Visit to St Petersburg University of the Head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran
On 14 October, Mr Hussein Roozbeh, Head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, visited St Petersburg University. As part of the meeting with students and professors, Mr Hussein Roozbeh spoke about the humanitarian activities carried out by the organisation he heads. He also talked about grants for students and professors at Russian universities.
Seminar on translation problems at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Italy
On 12 October, the Representative Office of St Petersburg University in Italy hosted a seminar on translation problems for students from the University and the University for Foreigners of Siena.
Lecture at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain
On 13 October 2022, the St Pertesburg University Representative Office in Spain hosted an online lecture ’Homo Semioticus: "Other Logics" and Neuroscience’. The lecture was delivered by Professor Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies at St Petersburg University.
Courses of Russian as a Foreign Language in Mongolia
St Petersburg University has established cooperation with the Russian House in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. A roadmap of joint activities has been developed. On 11 October, the first class in Russian as a foreign language took place. More than 50 students started attending classes. There are plans to hold joint events for: teachers of Russian as a foreign language (the Mongolian Teaching Methodology Club; and testing to name just a few); and young people living in Mongolia (career guidance sessions, and presentations).
5. Teaching the discipline (module) "History of Russia"
Order of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation № 662 dated 19 July 2022 "On Amendments to the Federal State Educational Standards for Higher Education" establishes the required minimum number of credits and the workload for the ‘History of Russia’ discipline (module) for bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes, regardless of the chosen main field of study. The "History of Russia" should be studied in an amount of not less than four credit points (an average of 144 academic hours). The amount of direct contact teaching hours should be at least 80% in full-time type of study, and at least 40% of the workload allocated for the implementation of the relevant discipline (module) in part-time and extramural types of study.
This regulation was developed by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education together with the Russian Historical Society association and representatives of the academic and professional communities. It will come into force on 1 September 2023.
According to Elvira Zeletdinova, Vice-Rector for Teaching Methods, the general university discipline "History of Russia" has been included in all curricula of bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes at St Petersburg University since 2017. Since 2018, it has been taught as an online course. The total workload of the course is three credit points (108 academic hours).
The University’s degree programmes of higher education are developed and implemented based on the independently established educational standard, taking into account the requirements of the federal state educational standards. In the near future, work will be organised to update the syllabus of the general university discipline "History of Russia" and other teaching materials of the University.
The Rector’s meeting discussed ways to ensure quality teaching of the "History of Russia" discipline (module) to students of all academic programmes at St Petersburg University. The directors and deans were instructed to submit proposals for teaching the ‘History of Russia’ course for students of various academic programmes.
6. Organisation of the teaching and learning process
Over the past week, 44 enquiries were addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. The majority of enquiries relate to transfer and reinstatement issues, and the provision of training sessions using information and telecommunication technologies.
An analysis of the information on the organisation of the teaching and learning process provided by the heads of academic and research subdivisions has been carried out. As of 14 October, the relevant information was not sent by Anna Germer, Director of the Medical College. The issues related to changing the group for studying a foreign language, the provision of additional classrooms and others are being resolved in due order.
The heads of academic and research subdivisions continue to hold meetings with student activists: group heads, and representatives of student councils and student scientific societies to name just a few. They discussed issues with organising the teaching and learning process. Over the past week, meetings were held with the heads of: the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication; the Institute of Earth Sciences; the Institute of Philosophy; the Faculty of Foreign Languages; the Faculty of Arts; the Faculty of Medicine; the School of International Relations; the Faculty of Political Science; 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 minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication); and the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication).
In connection with receiving information from the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region about students subjected to administrative liability under various articles of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation, the procedure of disciplinary action will be organised, including requests for written explanations from the students. This is in accordance with the Procedure of Disciplinary Action against Students and Removal of Disciplinary Action from Students, approved by Order of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation № 185 dated 15 March 2013.
After receiving explanations from students, they will be invited to a meeting of a special committee, with the participation of the Vice-Rector for Legal Affairs, the Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, the Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, and the Dean of the Faculty of Law. At the meeting, students will be able to provide information about the circumstances of the incident and report about the appeal against the decision or about the intention (if any) to appeal against the decision to impose administrative penalty, or about the results of the appeal.
For reference: similar work was organised previously (relevant issues were considered at the Rector’s meetings held on 14 March 2022, 4 April 2022, and 18 April 2022).
7. Changes made by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation to the procedure for admission to academic programmes of higher education
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation issued Order No 814 dated 26 August 2022 (hereinafter referred to as Order № 814). Order № 814 amended the Procedure for Admission to Academic Programmes of Higher Education, i.e. bachelor’s, specialist’s, and master’s programmes (hereinafter referred to as the Procedure for Admission), approved by Order No 1076 of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated 21 August 2020.
As Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, said, Order No 814 stipulates the following changes:
- Conducting admissions to places within a special quota in bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes in accordance with Decree № 268 "On additional measures to support the families of military personnel and employees of some federal state bodies" of the President of the Russian Federation dated 9 May 2022. Previously, there were no relevant norms in the Procedure for Admission. In 2022, admission to places within a special quota was carried out on the basis of a direct decree of the President of the Russian Federation, taking into account the methodological recommendations of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation
- The deadline for the acceptance of documents from applicants for bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes on a fee-paying basis is set no later than 20 August. Previously, the Procedure for Admission did not determine such a period
- As part of admission to bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes, when establishing an entrance test in a foreign language, an opportunity for an educational organisation to determine one or several foreign languages in which applicants can use the results of the Unified State Exams. Aleksandr Babich noted that this was a proposal submitted by St Petersburg University; it has been implemented. Previously, when establishing an entrance test in a foreign language, applicants had the right to submit the results of the Unified State Exams in any foreign language: English, French, German, Spanish, or Chinese
- By the decision of the educational organisation, organisation of the preliminary auditions (rounds) when conducting practical creative additional admissions tests when admitting applicants to bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes in arts
- Changing the maximum number of specialties and (or) areas of study in which an applicant has the right to simultaneously participate in the competition for bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes in each educational organisation. Order № 814 stipulates five specialties and (or) areas of study. Previously, the maximum number of specialties and (or) areas of study was ten
- Consideration of the participation of an applicant in a multidisciplinary competition in several specialties (areas of study) within a consolidated group as participation in a competition in one specialty or an area of study. Previously, when conducting a multidisciplinary competition, the number of specialties or areas of study in which an applicant simultaneously participated in the competition corresponded to the number of specialties or areas of study included in the competition
- Submission of various applications by an applicant to study on the government-funded places in bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes and to study on a fee-paying basis. Previously, an educational organisation could provide for the submission of one (single) application for participation in the competition both for government-funded places and on a fee-paying basis
- Indicating the priorities by an applicant in the application for admission separately when applying for a government-funded place and separately when applying on a fee-paying basis. Aleksandr Babich noted that this was a proposal submitted by St Petersburg University; it has been implemented. When applying for government-funded places, an applicant can change the enrolment priorities before the end of the period for submitting the documents. Earlier in the Order of Admission, there was no mention of enrolment priorities
- The possibility of an educational organisation to refuse to use the electronic information system of an educational organisation in the event that an educational organisation uses the Superservice "Enter the university online" of the Public Services Portal (hereinafter referred to as the Superservice). Aleksandr Babich noted that this year it was impossible, since during the 2022 admission campaign the Superservice worked only two days out of 40 days for accepting documents. As a result, St Petersburg University had to accept documents from applicants, and then manually enter them in the Superservice
- Submission of the consent to enrolment by an applicant in an educational organisation only upon admission on a fee-paying basis in case of failure to submit the original document of the established form and the absence of a mark on the submission of the original document of the established form to the educational organisation issued to applicants in the Public Services Portal. Previously, the consent to enrolment had to be submitted in all cases, i.e. when applying for government-funded places and applying on a fee-paying basis
- Enrolment in the government-funded places in accordance with the highest enrolment priority in which applicants have successfully passed the competition. Enrolment in a fee-paying basis is carried out in accordance with one or more enrolment priorities
- Completion of the submission of originals of the education credentials (marking the submission of originals in the Public Services Portal) for admission to the government-funded places in bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes is set 12 noon (Moscow time) of the established date. Previously, a specific time within the established date was not determined by the Procedure for Admission
Directors and deans were instructed to submit proposals for amending and supplementing Order № 814.
8. Meetings of the heads of academic and research subdivisions with the heads of departments, students, and representatives of the trade union organisation
One of the duties of the heads of academic and research subdivisions that are stipulated in their labour agreements is to hold meetings with heads of departments, students, and representatives of the trade union organisation.
As Vice-Rector for Human Resources Vladimir Eremeev said, in September 2022, meetings with heads of departments were held in all academic and research subdivisions. In most subdivisions, meetings were held weekly with student activists. Among these subdivisions are the followings: the Institute of History; the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty; the Faculty of Foreign Languages; the Faculty of Arts; the School of International Relations; the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes; the Faculty of Sociology; the Faculty of Physics; the Faculty of Philology; and the Faculty of Economics. Heads of other institutes and faculties met with students less often, but at least once a month. In September, the relevant events were not organised only by the Institute for Cognitive Studies and the Institute of Pedagogy.
In 13 subdivisions, meetings with representatives of the trade union organisation were not held. Among them are the following: the Graduate School of Management; the Institute for Cognitive Studies; the Institute of Pedagogy; the Institute of Chemistry; the Faculty of Biology; the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty; the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science; the School of International Relations; the Faculty of Political Science; the Faculty of Liberal Sciences and Arts; the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Medical Technologies; the Faculty of Physics; and the Faculty of Law.
An analysis of this information shows that most of the heads of the academic and research subdivisions regularly organise and hold meetings with both heads of departments and students. Yet not all of them pay due attention to the need to discuss current problems with members of the trade union organisation representing the interests of the staff. Vladimir Eremeev asked the directors of the institutes and the deans of the faculties to pay attention to this issue.
9. Vaccination (booster vaccination) against COVID-19, vaccination against influenza
St Petersburg University continues to implement a set of measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. One of the measures is vaccination (booster vaccination) against COVID-19.
In accordance with Order № 4430/1 "On informing about the cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by the students of St Petersburg University" dated 29 April 2021: the University students are required to report the completion of the full vaccination cycle against COVID-19. To this end, students and doctoral students need to fill in a form in the Personal Account. A reminder of the need to provide such information is published in the Personal Account. The staff must submit such data to the Human Resources Department.
According to medical forecasts, in the near future, the situation with the spread of COVID-19 may be complicated by a seasonal wave of influenza. An effective way to prevent the spread of the influenza virus, including within the organisation, is timely vaccination. Vaccination against influenza is included in the national calendar of preventive vaccinations (Order № 1122n "On approval of the national calendar of preventive vaccinations, the calendar of preventive vaccinations for epidemic indications and the procedure for conducting preventive vaccinations" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated 6 December 2021). Students in organisations of non-university level higher education and educational institutions of higher education and employees of medical organisations and organisations engaged in educational activities are citizens who are subject to mandatory vaccination against influenza. Vaccination is carried out in medical organisations at the place of residence (place of attachment) or in other medical organisations that you can choose yourself. Information about vaccination, including the possibility of getting vaccinated at St Petersburg University, is published on the University website and sent to corporate mail addresses. Last year, the St Petersburg University Collective Agreement was supplemented with a provision on providing an employee with an additional day of rest after being vaccinated against the flu.
The heads of academic and research subdivisions need to consider the following issues:
- vaccination (booster vaccination) of students against COVID-19 and vaccination of students against influenza at meetings organised with student activists
- vaccination (booster vaccination) of staff against COVID-19 and vaccination of staff against influenza at meetings held with members of the teams of the academic and research subdivisions; members of the teams of the academic and research subdivisions should be reminded of the need to provide Human Resources Departments with information on vaccination against influenza by 29 October 2022
The staff have the opportunity to get vaccinated (booster vaccinated) against influenza at the University at the following addresses:
- Room 14, 5 Mendeleevskaya Line, Vasilyevsky Island (from 10.30am to 2pm on 20 October 2022 and 21 October 2022)
- Health Centre № 2, 35 Universitetsky Prospect, Peterhof (from 10 am to 12 noon on 20 October 2022)
Pre-registration is held on 17, 19 and 19 October 2022 by phone: +7 (812) 363-60-75; + 7 (812) 363-60-83. You must have copies of documents with you: the second, third and fifth (with registration) pages of the passport; compulsory medical insurance policy; and Personal Insurance Policy Number/SNILS.
Influenza vaccination is not recommended for people who have received any of the vaccinations less than a month ago. Those who have been vaccinated against influenza will receive a certificate from a medical institution. Timely vaccination is an effective way to prevent the spread of the influenza virus.
10. University students rescue a man from a fire
Director of the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication Anatoly Puyu said that recently there was a big fire on the second floor of the house on Kadetskaya Line that is opposite the University building where the School of Journalism and Mass Communication is located. Four St Petersburg University students noticed a fire, promptly called emergency services and ran to the burning house to warn the residents. Among them was Aleksandr Kirienko, a second-year master’s student in Historical Journalism, who helped a 64-year-old man escape from a burning flat.
Student girls ringed and knocked on the doors. Aleksandr Kirienko began to open the windows, because it was impossible to breathe in the entrance. Then he saw that the door to one of the flats was open. In the room, he found a man who, due to carbon monoxide poisoning, could no longer leave the burning flat on his own. Aleksandr Kirienko helped him out and led him outside. Matvei Makarov helped the rescued man. Our students rescued a man from a fire.
Anatoly Puyu said that at the meeting of the academic council of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the lecturers thanked these students. The Rector instructed Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, to acknowledge the heroic deed of the students.
11. So-called closure of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences at St Petersburg University
Information about the so-called closure of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences at St Petersburg University was disseminated by the media after one of the lecturers of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences at St Petersburg University published a post on social networks. Information about the so-called closure of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences at St Petersburg University is not true. The lecturer who published false information was not present at the meeting on 13 October 2022, where issues related to the implementation of academic programmes in Arts and Humanities were discussed.
The implementation of the academic programmes in Arts and Humanities at St Petersburg University is carried out in accordance with the established procedure. In accordance with the Charter of St Petersburg University, approved by Decree № 1241 of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 31 December 2010, the creation, reorganisation and liquidation of the institute and faculty are carried out on the basis of the order of the Rector of St Petersburg University after discussion at the meeting of the Academic Council of the University.
Clarifications on this issue in the Virtual Reception of St Petersburg University were given by: Nina Savchenkova, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences at St Petersburg University; Nikita Kuznetsov, Chair of the Standing Teaching Methodology Committee of the Academic Council at St Petersburg University, and Director of the Institute of Philosophy at St Petersburg University; and Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies at St Petersburg University and Head of the Department of the Problems of Convergence in the Natural Sciences and Humanities at St Petersburg University.