14 November 2022 Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

№ 551
dated 14.11.2022

    The 1st St Petersburg Congress of International Relations Researchers "Global and Regional Challenges in the Changing World"

    From 10 to 12 November, St Petersburg University held the First St Petersburg Congress of International Relations Researchers "Global and Regional Challenges in the Changing World". About 600 scholars and experts from more than 20 countries participated in the congress. The largest number of reports were delivered by scholars from China, India, Türkiye, Brazil and CIS countries. Researchers from the UK, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the USA, Finland, Japan and Korea also took part in the congress. Of the Russian academic institutions, the largest delegations came from: MGIMO University; the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University); the Russian State University for the Humanities; Lomonosov Moscow State University; the Diplomatic Academy; and Tomsk State University. The event was also attended by practically all the leading research institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the humanities, including: the Institute of World History; the Institute of Europe; the Institute for US and Canadian Studies; the Institute of Latin America; the Institute for African Studies; the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences to name just a few.

    According to Irina Novikova, Dean of the School of International Relations at St Petersburg University, the organisers of the congress had the task to create a convenient platform for a broad expert discussion of: present-day international relations; challenges and prospects of Russian foreign policy; and features of the multipolar world order.

    A variety of formats were used in the work of the congress: conferences; seminars; round table discussions; a teleconference; a meeting of editors-in-chief of academic journals on international issues; and workshops for students by leading experts on international relations to name just a few. The students were greatly interested in: a teleconference with New York − a briefing on "Russia and the UN in a period of international instability" by Dmitry Polyanskiy, First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN in New York; and an open lecture by Professor Abdullahi Yibaikwal Shehu, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

    During the plenary session, leading experts in the field of international relations presented their reports: Alexander Chubarian, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Academic Director of the Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Alexey Gromyko, Director of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Professor Stanislav Tkachenko, Head of the master’s programme in Diplomacy of the Russian Federation and Foreign States at St Petersburg University; and Timofei Bordachev, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club.

    Irina Novikova highlighted several features of the congress.

    • A Historical and Diplomatic Centre was established at St Petersburg University. This idea was suggested during the opening ceremony of the congress by Vladimir Zapevalov, Ambassador-at-Large and Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in St Petersburg. The proposal was supported by all participants in the congress — and on the same day, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, signed an order to establish such a centre at the University (A Historical and Diplomatic Centre established at St Petersburg University). The signed order was announced before the plenary session had even ended
    • The Committee for External Relations of St Petersburg was a co-organiser of the events. The cooperation made it possible to jointly organise a round table discussion on the current achievements and prospects of St Petersburg’s international activities in the new environment. During the round table, Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of St Petersburg University, presented a report on the University’s international activities under the new conditions. Sergei Markov, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for External Relations, spoke about the work devoted to perpetuation in other countries of the memory of the besieged Leningrad’s feat and USSR’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. Vyacheslav Kalganov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for External Relations, shared his information about the cooperation of St Petersburg with Vietnam and the countries of Southeast Asia. Ivan Bodak, Head of the Division of International Humanitarian Cooperation, spoke about the interaction of St Petersburg with the Slavic countries of Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. Tatiana Mudrova, Head of the Division of CIS Countries, informed the audience about the current areas of cooperation between St Petersburg and the CIS countries. Ekaterina Lebedeva, Vice-President of the St Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, reported about the development of external economic relations of the city. The presentation of Nadezhda Poltavchenko, Artistic Director of the Moroshka Song and Dance Theatre, aroused great interest. It revealed the role of Russian song and dance as a tool of Russia’s "soft power" abroad. The round table was also attended by the consuls general of Russia-friendly states
    • The panel areas of the congress are of global nature. The congress included the round table "Russia and Türkiye in the Afro-Eurasian Space". Separate panels focused on Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe and North America
    • The panels were of interdisciplinary nature. The Life Sciences and Diplomacy panel, for example, focused on biosecurity issues. It was attended by experts in international relations, diplomats, biologists from Lomonosov Moscow State University, and medical professionals (in particular, Denis Rebrikov, Director of the Institute of Translational Medicine at the Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology)
    • Students participated in the organisation of the congress. Some panels were prepared by the Student Scientific Society of the School of International Relations at St Petersburg University. A special timetable during the congress days enabled students to take part in its key events. Additionally, the School for Young Experts in International Relations was organised, where academics shared the secrets of how to write a good academic paper and diplomatic practitioners talked about how to predict the future (about the possibilities and limitations of analytical work). Sergei Andreev is Member of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, President of the Scholarly Association for International Studies of Afghanistan (Consociatio Eruditorum Studiis Afganologicis Internationalibus − CESAI) and former head of the UN Iraq and Sudan analysis bureau. He shared the specifics of analytical work of an expert in international relations

    Irina Novikova thanked the staff of the Department of Public Events and Partner Cooperation and the Information Technology Service for their great job in preparing the congress. She also expressed special thanks to the St Petersburg Dialogue Forum, the partnership with which enabled the congress to be held at a high level.

    The Rector emphasised that, unlike the recently discussed International St Petersburg Historical Forum (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting held on 10 October 2022), students took an active part in this congress. Among other things, they had the opportunity to practice their English language skills while listening to a speech by the Nigerian ambassador and at other events. Nikolay Kropachev also reminded: Alexander Chubarian, Academic Director of the Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, had noted that historians and experts in international relations at St Petersburg University hold leading positions in Russia.

    The Youth Forum "Culture Code — 2022"

    On 11 November, St Petersburg University hosted the first ever Culture Code 2022 Youth Forum. The programme included four subject areas: "Museums and Cultural Heritage" (University as an exhibition space. The Culture Code Forum hosts interactive exhibitions); "Art"; "Creative Industries and Contemporary Art"; and "Cinema", bringing together 15 events. The Forum was conceived as the largest space for discussing the most relevant topics for young people related to: the role of culture in the contemporary world; and the formation of a holistic view of historical heritage and its preservation (Youth Forum: Culture Code 2022).

    According to Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova, the business programme was based on six discussions on:

    88 speakers from Russia, Austria, Belgium, Spain and China, who formed the expert community of the forum, represented different spheres of professional activities: education, science, culture, art, and cinema to name just a few.

    One of the key events of the forum was the presentation ‘The garden between seasons and epochs’ moderated by Aleksei Reteyum, Chairman of the Council of the Association for the Development of Urban Parks and Public Spaces of Russia, Director for Development of the Russian Society for Nature Protection. The participants were welcomed by Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage and Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies at St Petersburg University. The following projects were presented at the event: the University Seasons project (The St Petersburg University Botanical Garden welcomes summer); and a unique album about the Botanical Garden ("A place where the soul rests": the album about the St Petersburg University Botanical Garden presented). The presentation also included an exhibition of the students’ work and a quest from the St Petersburg University Environmental Clinic "Our University Garden".

    The Culture Code 2022 Youth Forum was the result of cooperation between St Petersburg University and various cultural institutions: The Alexandrinsky Theatre; Lomonosov Moscow State University; Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory; the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts; the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia; the Russian Public Organisation "The Union of Composers"; Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering; Saint Petersburg State Institute of Film and Television; N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov St Petersburg State Conservatory; the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet; and the Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design. In total, more than 1,000 people took part in the events of the Culture Code 2022 Youth Forum in person and online.

    Professor Aleksandr Filippov awarded the honorary title "Honoured Physician of the Russian Federation"

    President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has signed a decree awarding Aleksandr Filippov, Professor in the Department of Hospital Therapy at St Petersburg University, a general practitioner and cardiologist, the honorary title "Honoured Physician of the Russian Federation".

    Professor Filippov has been teaching for more than 30 years, lecturing to students in cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology, rheumatology and clinical pharmacology. He has supervised seven young doctors who have defended their candidate dissertations. He specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of therapeutic diseases: cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary and gastrointestinal diseases. He uses uniquely designed techniques in his work, such as his own method of assessing the risk of atherosclerosis complications (St Petersburg University professor awarded the title "Honoured Physician of the Russian Federation").

    The colleagues congratulated Professor Filippov and wished him every success in his work.

    St Petersburg University students are bronze medallists of the International Collegiate Programming Contest

    The 45th Annual International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) World Finals were held in Bangladesh. The St Petersburg University team was ahead of programmers from the University of Oxford, Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Cambridge.

    The finalists were the students of 140 universities from 45 countries. They had to solve 12 problems in several programming languages in five hours. The St Petersburg University team − LOUD Enough (Ivan Bochkov, Vladislav Makarov and Nikita Gaevoi) solved eight of the twelve problems. The University teams won ICPC medals nine times under the leadership of their coach Andrei Lopatin in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. In 2011, they became European champions; and in 2017 and 2018, they were medallists in Northern Eurasia. In 2014 and 2016, they ranked first in the world.

    St Petersburg University trains highly qualified specialists in the field of Information Technology. In addition to gaining knowledge as part of studying in academic programmes, the University students have the opportunity to study various areas of programming more deeply and participate in all-Russian and international contests (St Petersburg University students are bronze medallists of the International Collegiate Programming Contest).

    95th anniversary of St Petersburg University magazine

    In November, the popular science magazine of St Petersburg University "St Petersburg University" celebrates its 95th anniversary since its founding. During this time, more than 3,000 issues have been published. The University students, staff and graduates can learn more about the history of the magazine’s development at the exhibition, which opened to mark the anniversary in the gallery of the Twelve Collegia building of St Petersburg University.

    The history of the St Petersburg University magazine began in 1927. At that time, a group of enterprising students under the leadership of Sergei Masitin, a student in the Faculty of Soviet Law, decided to transform the weekly student newspaper "Studencheskaya Pravda" into a full-fledged printed publication with the same name. In order to create a quality local media outlet, the University students personally contributed ten kopecks each to the capital of the "enterprise", formed an editorial board and set up premises for it, and organised subscriptions to the newspaper. The students prepared the debut issue in the autumn, for the tenth anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution.

    The format, design, and name of the publication changed several times: from February 1930, it was the newspaper "Leningrad University"; from 27 September 1991, it was the newspaper "St Petersburg University"; and from 1 September 1995, it was the magazine "St Petersburg University". In February 2014, it underwent another change: it became full-colour and took on a popular science format. All surviving issues from 1927 to 1995 can be read online in the University repository. Current issues of St Petersburg University magazine are available on the publication’s website.

    International activities

    According to Vice-Rector for International Affairs Sergey Andryushin, a number of new events took place last week.

    Russia-China Olympiad in Physics

    From 6 to 20 November, a Russia-China Olympiad in Physics is held as part of the work of the St Petersburg University Representative Office in the People’s Republic of China. Participants are invited to answer ten questions in English. The procedure and conditions of the competition are the same for students in the two countries − the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China. The students who receive the maximum number of points (about 10% of the number of participants) will be awarded diplomas of winners.

    Teleconference between Dmitry Polyanskiy, First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, and students and professors of St Petersburg University

    On 9 November, there was a teleconference between Dmitry Polyanskiy, First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, and students and professors of St Petersburg University. In his brief introductory remarks, Mr Polyanskiy spoke about the current activities of the UN Security Council and the tasks of the representative office. He elaborated on: the challenges of interaction between the permanent members of the UN Security Council; and the role of the General Assembly. The questions addressed to Mr Polyanskiy touched upon: the general challenges of the United Nations in the era of globalisation; the specifics of the Russian Federation’s position on the issue of Security Council reform; and certain aspects of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 on the situation in Libya in 2011 to name just a few.

    Translation Workshop

    On 9 November, a Translation Workshop was organised at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Italy. Students from St Petersburg University and the University for Foreigners of Siena took part in the workshop. An excerpt from Alessandro Baricco’s novel Mr Gwyn was chosen for translation.

    Tataina Chernigovskaya’s lecture on the study of the cerebral hemispheres

    On 10 November, Professor Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies at St Petersburg University, delivered an online lecture at the University’s Representative Office in Spain. The lecture was focused on the study of the cerebral hemispheres.

    Assistance that St Petersburg University can provide during the special military operation by the Russian Federation

    At one of the recent Rector’s meetings, Rector Nikolay Kropachev set a task for the heads of the University’s academic and research subdivisions. The task was to prepare proposals in relation to additional support measures that the University could provide during the special military operation by the Russian Federation. As the Senior Vice-Rector Elena Chernova said, the proposals submitted by the directors and deans were summarised and divided into the following groups.

    1. Providing assistance to the participants in the special military operation and their families:
    • medical care at the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies (Abdulla Daudov)
    • blood donation for the needs of participants in the special military operation (Abdulla Daudov; Irina Balova; and Svetlana Rubtsova)
    • psychological assistance at the Psychological Clinic at St Petersburg University (Alla Shaboltas; Abdulla Daudov); targeted pedagogical assistance to children from families of participants in the special military operation (Elena Kazakova)
    • training military personnel who are to depart for the zone of the special military operation; training focuses on developing practical skills in diagnostics, medical procedures, medical manipulations, and emergency care at the resource educational centre of high medical technologies "Centre of Medical Accreditations" (Aleksandr Losev)
    • legal assistance at the Legal Clinic at St Petersburg University (Kirill Chistyakov)
    • recreating and ensuring well-being at the academic and recreational facility Horizon (Kirill Chistyakov)
    • volunteer support to families of the participants in the special military operation (Svetlana Rubtsova)
    • collection of funds; continuation of collecting humanitarian aid (this proposal was received from all directors and deans); and expansion of the presence of the Russian Red Cross at the University (Mikhail Koryshev)
    1. Providing assistance to the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, and new territories:
    • additional support for students who arrived in St Petersburg from the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, and new territories (Kirill Chistyakov)
    • ensuring closer cooperation with educational, research and other organisations of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, and new territories (teleconferences, lectures, seminars; non-degree programmes; internships for students and staff; access to St Petersburg University’s online courses to anyone who is interested in the online courses; assistance in conducting practices; and patronage over organisations and individual divisions of organisations by the University) (this proposal was received from the majority of directors and deans)
    1. Information support:
    • explanatory work on the causes and goals of the special military operation by the staff and students of St Petersburg University (Aleksandr Kurochkin)
    • meetings with the artists whose work is aimed at strengthening national and patriotic self-consciousness (Mikhail Piotrovsky; Kirill Chistyakov)
    • exhibitions of works of art; competitions; music festivals; and other events aimed to provide spiritual, moral and patriotic education of young people (Mikhail Piotrovsky; Kirill Chistyakov)

    A significant part of the proposals is already being implemented by the University. The heads of academic and research subdivisions need to further discuss the format of student participation in this work at the meetings with student activists, i.e. heads of academic groups; representatives of student councils; and student scientific societies to name just a few.

    Elena Chernova said that on 11 November 2022, Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, and Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, issued Order № 12099/1 "On the rights of students who are military personnel and employees of the bodies that take (have taken) part in the special military operation and their children" dated 11 November 2022. The by-law stipulates the following: the priority of consideration of applications on transfer from the fee-paying basis to the government-funded places submitted by the St Petersburg University students who are the military personnel and employees of public sector who take (have taken) part in the special military operation and their children; conditions of providing such students with accommodation; the priority right to receive legal assistance and (or) psychological assistance at St Petersburg University’s clinics; and other measures.

    The Rector instructed the directors and deans to provide information on the additional support measures to students and staff that may be offered by the University during the special military operation.

    A round table on teaching social science at school

    On 10 November 2022, St Petersburg University held a round table "Teaching social science in general education institutions". The round table was initiated by Rector Nikolay Kropachev. The discussion was attended by Vice Governor of St Petersburg Irina Potekhina; Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Leningrad Region for Social Affairs Nikolay Emelyanov; Vice-Rectors; heads of academic and research subdivisions at St Petersburg University; St Petersburg University academic staff; and representatives of the pedagogical community of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

    As Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities Marina Lavrikova said, the purpose of the round table was to discuss the possibilities for support from the experts of the University for teaching social science at school. The discussion was moderated by Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy at St Petersburg University. She asked the participants to answer the following questions: what difficulties do school teachers have in preparing and conducting lessons in social science; how does this subject influence the axiological and conceptual attitudes of the young generation; and what kind of resource assistance do social scientists need today?

    The participants in the Rector’s meeting said that the University does not offer a programme to prepare teachers of social science. Today, the lessons of social science at schools in St Petersburg and the region are most often taught by historians (80%), geographers; and biologists. More often than not, the issues that are discussed during these lessons are hard to answer even to students in economics or law. These issues are also present in the Unified State Examination. During the round table, it turned out that the curriculum of social science does not include, for example, the study of the rights and obligations of schoolchildren.

    Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev suggested organising a congress of teachers of social science in St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region in early 2023 and holding a Russia-wide event in St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region in the summer of 2023. The vice-governors supported these proposals. The participants in the round table opted for the development of cooperation with the University researchers. This may include the following: joint research projects; conferences; and programmes for improving the qualifications of teachers. The Rector said that, as suggested by Professor Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy at St Petersburg University, he decided to conduct targeted admission to the master’s programme "Teacher of Social Science" in 2023.

    The results of the discussion of the round table will form the basis for the development of a set of measures by St Petersburg University to support teaching social science in schools in St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. The working expert group will include representatives of the relevant academic and research subdivisions at St Petersburg University.

    Organisation of the teaching and learning process

    Over the past week, 32 enquiries were addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. The majority of enquiries relate to the procedures for granting an academic leave and preparation of various documents on studies.

    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 11 November 2022, the information was not sent by Iurii Shcherbuk, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Medical Technologies. Classes are held according to the timetable in due order. The committees continue to check that the requirements for the organisation of the teaching and learning process are met (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting held on 31 October 2022). 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 current aspects of student life. Over the past week, meetings were held with the heads of: the School of Journalism and Mass Communication; the Institute of Philosophy; the Faculty of Biology; the Faculty of Asian and African Studies; 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 Physics; the Faculty of Philology; the Faculty of Economics (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication); the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication); and the Medical College (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication). Among the issues discussed were those concerning: current issues with organising the teaching and learning process; students’ participation in scientific events; and student contests to name just a few.

    Violations of the provisions of the legislation of the Russian Federation and by-laws of St Petersburg University committed by students at St Petersburg University

    Information about violations of by-laws and legislation of the Russian Federation by the St Petersburg University students in 2021 and 2022 was discussed at the Rector’s meetings held on 5 September 2022; 20 June 2022; 16 May 2022; 18 April 2022; 17 January 2022; 11 October 2021; and 15 June 2021. According to Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions Aleksandr Babich, from 3 September to 11 November 2022, the St Petersburg University by-laws were violated by 57 students on the territory of the University.

    Among these students by levels of education were the following: students of non-university level higher education — 9; bachelor’s and specialist’s students — 37; master’s students — 7; aspirantura students — 1; and students of the Preparatory Course — 3.

    In the fields of study, they were from: Asian and African Studies — 1 student; Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations — 7 students; Arts — 4 students; History — 1 student; Earth Sciences — 2 students; Political Science — 1 student; Mathematics and Mechanics — 5 students; International Relations — 1 student; Applied Mathematics and Control Processes — 3 students; Psychology — 1 student; Sociology — 2 students; Physics — 3 students; Philology — 7 students; Philosophy — 1 student; Chemistry — 1 student; Economics — 1 student; Law — 4 students; Physical Training — 8 students; Nursing — 1 student; and Preparatory Course — 3 students.

    Types of violations:

    1. Clause 2.2 of the Regulations on Controlled Entry and Internal Security Policy at St Petersburg University, namely: access and trespass to the St Petersburg University facilities for which no special access regime has been established by other by-laws, are carried out through a checkpoint — 7 persons
    2. Clause 3.18 of the Regulations on Controlled Entry and Internal Security Policy at St Petersburg University, namely: a person entitled to receive documents for access to the territory of St Petersburg University used documents issued to another person — 2 persons
    3. Clauses 2.1.7, 2.1.8 of the Internal regulations for students at St Petersburg University, namely: treat the University property with care, take measures to ensure the safety of this property — 2 persons
    4. Clause 10.2.8 of the Accommodation Regulations in the St Petersburg University halls of residence, namely: coming with an unauthorised person into a hall of residence, violation of access control — 1 person
    5. Clauses 10.2.1, 10.2.8 of the Accommodation Regulations in the St Petersburg University halls of residence, namely: violation of the prohibition to arbitrarily move from one dwelling place to another dwelling place in the St Petersburg University halls of residence and the prohibition to take furniture and equipment from one dwelling place to another dwelling place, illegally accepting unauthorised persons to a hall of residence and (or) leave them for the night, provide accommodation to third parties — 7 persons
    6. Clause 10.1.9 of the Accommodation Regulations in the St Petersburg University halls of residence, namely: failure to pay rent for accommodation and utilities — 18 persons
    7. Clause 2.1.11 of the Internal regulations for students at St Petersburg University, namely: observe the access control established at the University, including not handing over a pass, including a pass on an electronic magnetic basis (a student card, an ID card) to other persons and not using a pass (a student card, an ID card) issued to another person — 2 persons
    8. Clause 6.1.3 of the Internal regulations for students at St Petersburg University, namely: the use of alcoholic, low-alcohol drinks, and beer is prohibited on the territory of the University — 10 persons
    9. Clause 1 of Order № 11725/1 ‘On the prohibition of smoking in the buildings and on the territory of St Petersburg University dated 28 November 2019 — 8 persons

    Explanatory work is being carried out with 20 students. Sets of documents are being developed for disciplinary sanctions. They will soon be sent for consideration to the Student Council of St Petersburg University. After receiving the opinion of the Student Council of St Petersburg University, a decision will be made on bringing students to disciplinary responsibility. In respect to two students, the work will be carried out and the sets of documents for a disciplinary sanction will be sent for consideration to the Student Council of St Petersburg University after the students return from the academic leave, i.e. in 2023.

    From 3 September to 11 November 2022, five students who committed violations in the period up to 3 September 2022 were brought to disciplinary responsibility: three admonitions; one reprimand; and one student was expelled.

    Aleksandr Babich said that when considering the issues of bringing students to disciplinary responsibility, the Student Council of St Petersburg University proposed to mitigate the measure of disciplinary responsibility in four cases out of five cases. In two cases, taking into account the opinion of the St Petersburg University Student Council, the measure of disciplinary responsibility was reduced. For all five draft orders, the St Petersburg University Student Council considered the issue for more than one month. Four enquiries of these five enquiries were considered for more than two months.

    The Student Council of St Petersburg University is currently considering 60 sets of documents. Twelve of them were sent more than seven months ago; 14 of them were sent more than five months ago; 16 of them were sent more than four months ago; two of them were sent more than three months ago; and two of them were sent more than two months ago.

    It is noted that the charters of some of the educational institutions of higher education stipulate the period for consideration of draft by-laws by the student council, for example, the Charter of the Higher School of Economics. The charter also states that if a reasoned opinion on the issue is not received within the specified period, the relevant body of the university has the right to adopt such a by-law.

    As reported at the Rector’s meeting held on 17 October 2022, the University received information in relation to 12 students who had been brought to administrative responsibility from the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. In this regard, St Petersburg University considered disciplinary responsibility of these students. The students were asked to prepare written explanations. After receiving these explanations, the students were invited to the meetings with the committee. The committee included Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions; Yury Penov, Deputy Rector for Legal Affairs; Sergei Belov, Dean of the Faculty of Law; and Alla Shaboltas, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology.

    At the meetings with the committee, the students could provide information about the circumstances of the incidents. Additionally, they could report on the appeal (the intention to appeal) of the decision to bring them to administrative responsibility or the results of the appeal.

    The members of the committee held meetings with ten students. Two more students are currently on an academic leave and will be interviewed after they return to studies after taking an academic leave. During the meetings, seven students reported that they had been detained by accident and they had not intended to violate public order. Three students said that they had deliberately violated public order or simply joined the violators of public order. All students said that they do not intend to violate the legislation in future. None of the students provided information about the cancellation of the decision to bring to administrative responsibility based on the results of the appeal. The members of the committee also studied the information characterising the students, their previous behaviour, and other facts of legal significance.

    Following the explanations received from the students and the analysed materials and taking into account the intention of the students not to commit such violations in future, the members of the committee recommended that all ten students be reprimanded. Draft orders have been prepared and sent to the Student Council of St Petersburg University.

    Operation of warning systems

    In order to ensure informing the staff and students at St Petersburg University in a timely manner about the threat of emergencies of a natural and man-made nature or about the occurrence of emergencies; about the dangers arising from military conflicts or as a result of these conflicts; about the threat of or commission of terrorist acts; and to communicate civil defence signals, St Petersburg University has a warning system.

    According to Dmitry Gryaznov, Deputy Rector for Security, from 10.30am to 11am on 8 November 2022, a set of technical warning means of the regional automated centralised warning system for St Petersburg population of the warning system of St Petersburg University was involved in a check of the readiness of the regional automated centralised warning system in the city. The terminal warning means were switched on. Verification signals and information were provided to the population. To transmit a warning signal "Attention everyone!", electromechanical sirens, technical means of warning, information devices and warning devices were switched on. Television channels, broadcasting stations, technical means of companies that were connected with the city’s warning system were also involved.

    The Rector instructed the directors and deans to provide information on the verification of the warning systems during the meetings with students and staff.