Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

Events held in the memory of Lyudmila Verbitskaya

On 24 November 2022, St Petersburg University opened a photo exhibition to commemorate the memory of Lyudmila Verbitskaya, who was an outstanding scholar, Dean of the Faculty of Philology, President of the University, honorary citizen of St Petersburg, and President of the Russian Academy of Education. The photo exhibition is held in the gallery on the second floor of the Twelve Collegia building (St Petersburg University opens a photo exhibition to commemorate the memory of Lyudmila Verbitskaya).

On the anniversary of the death of Lyudmila Verbitskaya, the University has been holding photo exhibitions for the third year. In 2020, the collection of memoirs about the outstanding scholar was presented at the exhibition. Additionally, the diplomas were awarded to students who were the first to receive a scholarship named after Lyudmila Verbitskaya. In 2021, St Petersburg University opened a free open access to a book Let’s talk correctly! by Lyudmila Verbitskaya.

This year, the photo exhibition features photographs from different periods of her life: from the very beginning of her career to the last years of her life. Some of the photographs depict the events that are significant for the University. The photo exhibition will run until 8 December 2022. The University students and staff can visit the exhibition in person and have an online tour of the photo exhibition.

On 24 November 2022, the Russian Academy of Education held the opening of the International Philological Forum in memory of Lyudmila Verbitskaya, Member of the Russian Academy of Education. The event was supported by the Russian Literature Society and the International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature. At the opening of the forum, there was a first night of a short documentary film "Faces of the epoch. Lyudmila Verbitskaya". The film was shot by the Russian Academy of Education on the eve of the anniversary year. The film presents the memories of contemporaries about Lyudmila Verbitskaya, who was an outstanding statesperson, a scholar, and a teacher. The film was made with the following people: Olga Vasilieva, President of the Russian Academy of Education, Member of the Russian Academy of Education, Doctor of History; Andrei Fursenko, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics; Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Law; Viktor Sadovnichy, Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics; Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies at St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education, Doctor of Biology; and relatives of Lyudmila Verbitskaya (Natalia Bubnova and Tatiana Leshukova to name just a few).

The forum brought together specialists in the field of linguistics, literary criticism, cultural studies, translation studies, pedagogy, and psychology of education. It also brought together employees of museums and libraries and representatives of publishing houses from 67 regions of the Russian Federation and 25 countries of the world.

Day of the teacher of higher education

A ceremonial meeting of the Academic Council of St Petersburg University was held in the Assembly Hall of the Twelve Collegia building to mark the Day of the teacher of higher education. It is a very young holiday. It was established by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in November 2021 (The University marks the Day of the teacher of higher education).

The date of 19 November was not chosen by chance. On this day in 1711, Mikhail Lomonosov was born. He was one of the first students and later the head of St Petersburg Imperial University and the Gymnasium. Opening the meeting of the Academic Council, Senior Vice-Rector of St Petersburg University Elena Chernova reminded about this. She congratulated the staff of the University on the new professional holiday and urged to continue the work of famous University staff.

The St Petersburg University staff, researchers, and students were greeted by guests of the University and University staff, students, and alumni. Among them were: Aleksei Korabelnikov, Vice-Governor of St Petersburg, Chairman of the Board of the ‘The Development of St Petersburg University’ Endowment Fund; Andrey Maksimov, Chairman of the Committee on Science and Higher Education of the Government of St Petersburg; Gennady Bogomazov, Chair of the Collegium of Honorary Professors of St Petersburg University; and Vasilii Zaikin, Head of the Directorate for Payroll Sales at VTB Bank. Additionally, there were representative of the alumni community. Among them was: Arsenii Maiorov, Deputy General Director − Director of the Department of Regional Development of the Russian Society "Znanie" (Knowledge).

Elena Chernova awarded diplomas to the laureates of St Petersburg University. She also presented other awards and gratitude ("The University is our home! ..") . An exhibition "Where science is high, a person is also high" was opened in the corridor of the Twelve Collegia building to mark the Day of the teacher of higher education.

Fifth Professorial Forum "Science and Education in the Context of Global Challenges"

On 22-24 November 2022, the Russian Professorial Assembly held the fifth Professorial Forum "Science and Education in the Context of Global Challenges". The event was part of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia. St Petersburg University acted as an organiser and a platform for the research and industrial section "Physical Sciences". It was held on 24 November 2022 in the Mendeleev space. The focus of the section is "Problems of personnel for the programme to achieve the scientific and technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation".

Professor Nelli Diveeva, Professor Vladimir Popondopulo, Professor Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Professor Dmitrii Shmonin and others took part in the various events of the Professorial Forum. Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev presented a report ‘The problem of developing a system of indicators of the effectiveness of the academic staff in educational and research activities’. The report was presented at a joint meeting of public councils under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science ( Rosobrnadzor), and the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation.

As part of the fifth Professorial Forum, the Russian Professorial Assembly announced the winners of the following national awards: Dean of the Year Award and Professor of the Year Award. Among the winners are: Kirill Chistyakov, Director of the Institute of Earth Sciences; Nikita Kuznetsov, Director of the Institute of Philosophy; Sergey Tunik, Professor in the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry; and Oleg Redkin, Professor in the Department of Arabic Philology (St Petersburg University scholars receive the titles of professors and deans of the year) . The winners will receive incentive prizes. Their achievements will be marked with commemorative plaques in the buildings of St Petersburg University.

International activities

As reported by Acting Vice-Rector for International Affairs Valeriia Malomuzh, the following events were held last week.

The events of the Korea—Russia Dialogue Forum

On 13 November 2022, a cycle of lectures "Days of Korean Cinema in St Petersburg" was opened at the National Library of Russia. The event was held with the support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in St Petersburg. At the opening of the cycle of lecturers, there was a report by Vladimir Gronsky, Head of the working group "Culture and Art" of the Korea—Russia Dialogue and General Director of the National Library of Russia. Among those who were actively engaged in organising the cycle of lectures were St Petersburg University lecturers. Among them are: Inna Tsoy; Anastasiia Gureva; Rumiia Tangalycheva; and Sergei Ilchenko. The event was held with the support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in St Petersburg.

On 23 November 2022, there was the 9th Forum of Rectors of leading universities of Russia and the Republic of Korea. The event brought together representatives of 19 universities. Among them were: 11 universities from Russia and eight universities from the Republic of Korea. The Forum of Rectors is organised by the working group ‘Education and Science’ of the Korea—Russia Dialogue Forum. The head of the working group from the Russian side is Iurii Marfin, Acting Rector of the Pacific National University. From the Korean side, the head is Kyu Sang Chung, President Emeritus of Sungkyunkwan University. During the Forum, the participants discussed the issues related to the implementation of the third mission by universities. Additionally, they discussed innovations in education. The experience of St Petersburg University was presented by Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Chairman of the Russian Coordinating Committee of the Korea—Russia Dialogue; and Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities.

On 25 November 2022, there was a seminar of specialists from the working group "Economy, Trade and Resources". Experts of the two countries in the field of economics, mathematics and information technology discussed the tasks of further economic cooperation between the two countries. The seminar was organised by the working group "Economy, Trade and Resources" of the Korea—Russia Dialogue. The head of the working group from the Russian side is Sergey Frank, Advisor to the Chairman of the Management Board of PAO NOVATEK, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SMART LNG. From the Korean side, the head of the working group is Hyun Wook Chae, Professor at Yonsei University. Experts of the two countries in the field of economics, mathematics and information technology discussed the tasks of further economic cooperation between the two countries. The seminar also engaged the following experts: Alexander Masaltsev, trade representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Korea; Sergei Belozerov, Professor, Head of the Department of Risk Management and Insurance at St Petersburg University; Elena Sokolovskaia, Lead Research Associate in the Laboratory of Asian Economic Studies at St Petersburg University; Andrei Kovsh, Associate Professor in the Department of American Studies at St Petersburg University; Aleksandr Prasolov, Professor in the Department of Modelling in Economic Systems at St Petersburg University; Maria Tsenzharik, Associate Professor in the Department of Economics of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at St Petersburg University; Kirill Dorozhkin, fintech and edutech expert at the Distributed Ledger Technologies Centre at St Petersburg University; Daria Martynova, Leading Research Associate in the Centre for Eurasian Studies at the Institute of Contemporary International Studies at the Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

Events at the St Petersburg University Representative Offices

On 15 and 22 November 2022, the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain hosted online lectures by Nina Shcherbak, Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology and Cultural Linguistics at St Petersburg University. Among the lectures were the following: Psychoanalysis in Russian literature and English language prose by women. On 17 November 2022, there was a lecture St Petersburg: solemn, calm and sombre by Professor Ivan Uralov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts at St Petersburg University.

On 16 November 2022, there was a seminar on the methodology of teaching physical disciplines at the St Petersburg University Representative Office at Harbin Institute of Technology (China). The event was attended by Yi Shen, Vice President of Harbin Institute of Technology; Valeriia Malomuzh, Deputy Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St Petersburg University; Aleksei Titov, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Physics at St Petersburg University; Nikolai Tsvetkov, Head of the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Polymer Physics at St Petersburg University; Vladimir Chirkov, Associate Professor in the Department of Radiophysics at St Petersburg University; Alexander Shchekin, Head of the Department of Statistical Physics at St Petersburg University; Nikolai Timofeev, Professor in the Department of Optics at St Petersburg University; Marina Sheliapina, Associate Professor in the Department of Nuclear Physics Research Methods at St Petersburg University; Elena Aksenova, Associate Professor in the Department of Statistical Physics at St Petersburg University; Vasilii Buslov, Associate Professor in the Department of Computational Physics at St Petersburg University; Anna Podsevalnikova, Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Polymer Physics at St Petersburg University; and Ruslan Asfin, Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Spectroscopy at St Petersburg University to name just a few.

Cooperation with the University of Kelaniya

On 18 November 2022, there was a meeting between representatives of St Petersburg University and the University of Kelaniya. Professor Janita A. Liyanage, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, took part in the meeting. St Petersburg University was represented by: Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs; Alexey Rodionov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies; and Marina Karpova, Director of the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University. The University of Kelaniya was represented by: Professor Neelakshi Premawardhena, Director of the Centre for International Affairs; and Professor Mervin Kumara Weerasinghe, Head of the Department of Library and Information Science. The parties agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding to promote academic mobility and short-term internships for librarians at the M Gorky Scientific Library. The issue of the possibility of teaching the Sinhala language at St Petersburg University was also discussed.

Collaboration with Hamad Bin Khalifa University

A series of meetings between representatives of St Petersburg University and Hamad Bin Khalifa University was held. The parties discussed the approaches to interaction in the field of mathematics, engineering, physics, and medicine. St Petersburg University was represented by: Sergei Ivanov, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science; Sergei Belov, Dean of the Faculty of Law; Ivan Pchelin, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; Aleksandr Degtiarev, Professor in the Department of Computer Modelling and Microprocessor Systems; Maksim Karev, Associate Professor in the Department of Bioinformatics and Mathematical Biology; Aleksei Uteshev, Head of the Department of Fundamental Informatics and Distributed Systems; Sergei Efremov, Deputy Director for Research at the Pirogov Clinic for High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University.

Grant from the Russian Science Foundation and the National Natural Science Foundation of China received

St Petersburg University won a competition for the three-year grant from the Russian Science Foundation and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The competition is part of the strategic partnership with Harbin Institute of Technology. As part of the work, scientists will simulate the process of magnetic reconnection to make human missions to Mars a reality (Physicists at St Petersburg University to simulate the process that causes space explosions). The work is expected to be carried out in close cooperation with the Laboratory for the Research of the Ozone Layer and the Upper Atmosphere at St Petersburg University. The Head of the mega-grant of the Government of the Russian Federation is Evgeny Rozanov. The Laboratory is currently developing an integrated model "atmosphere-magnetosphere-ionosphere".

Learning Russian as a foreign language

On 17 November 2022, remote Russian language courses were launched in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Classes will run until May 2023. Fifty students started training. The courses were opened by St Petersburg University with the support of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Venezuela, in particular, with the assistance of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Sergei Melik-Bagdasarov.

On 18 and 19 November 2022, representatives of the University, with the support of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Zimbabwe, organised a number of events in the Republic of Zimbabwe. There was a presentation of the academic programmes of the University. Additionally, there was a lecture on Russia. On 19 November 2022, state testing in Russian as a foreign language (TORFL) was held in a full-time format for the first time. At the opening of these events, representatives of the Embassy noted that cooperation with St Petersburg University, courses on the Russian language, and a face-to-face TORFL are historical milestones. Today, there is a rise in the interest in the Russian language in Africa. St Petersburg University is the only organisation in Zimbabwe that has such activities.

Agreement on strategic cooperation between St Petersburg University and Sichuan Province

On 25 November 2022, there was a solemn ceremony of signing an agreement on strategic cooperation between St Petersburg University and the Government of Sichuan Province (the People’s Republic of Cnina). The agreement was signed by Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev and Luo Qiang, Acting Governor of Sichuan Province (St Petersburg University signs a cooperation agreement with Sichuan Province). The agreement ensures mutually beneficial cooperation between St Petersburg University and innovative enterprises of Sichuan Province to develop the regional economy. It also ensures close cooperation with the public sector of Sichuan Province to develop advanced training programmes for teaching and managerial personnel. The agreement also ensures cooperation in the field of expert evaluations by the Centre of Expert Advice at St Petersburg University. It also ensures participation of the University in joint innovative enterprises and pilot plants in Sichuan. Additionally, there were presentations of St Petersburg University academic programmes at universities and schools in Sichuan Province. There were presentations of universities and museums from Sichuan Province at St Petersburg University. Testing centres for Russian as a foreign language were opened. Other initiatives will be also implemented.

Agreement with Donetsk National University

St Petersburg University signed a cooperation agreement with Donetsk National University. You can find the texts of the agreements in the subsection of register of international agreements of the section International Affairs on the St Petersburg University website.

Agreement with the Agency for External Labour Migration under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan

St Petersburg University signed a cooperation agreement with the Agency for External Labour Migration under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Cultural events at St Petersburg University from 28 November to 5 December 2022

Elena Lebedkina, Head of the Main Department for Exhibitions, Museum, Library and Publishing Activities, presented a digest of the cultural events of the University. These events will be held from 28 November to 5 December 2022.

Open lecture "When you can’t read everything: the printed book and the birth of modern bibliography"

On 30 November at 5pm, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University (Reading Room, 7-9 Universitetskaya Embankment) will host an open lecture "When you can’t read everything: the printed book and the birth of modern bibliography". The lecture will focus on printed books; the rules for editing texts that appeared in the 16th century; and creating tools for finding the necessary information. Mikhail Sergeev, Chief Librarian of the Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts at the M Gorky Scientific Library, will talk about the tasks that bibliographers of the 16th century solved and about the formation of bibliographic standards that are familiar to researchers today. You will be introduced to unique publications from the collections of the University.

Virtual exhibition "Recognition of merits. Awards and medals of Dmitri Mendeleev"

On 30 November 2022, the Dmitri Mendeleev Museum and Archives at St Petersburg University opens a virtual exhibition "Recognition of Merits. Awards and medals of Dmitri Mendeleev". Professor of St Petersburg University Dmitri Mendeleev was Doctor of Sciences and an honorary member of many Russian and foreign academies, universities, institutes, and scientific societies. He was awarded various prizes, diplomas, orders, and medals.

Rhodonite at the online exhibition "Manganese minerals"

From November 30, you can get acquainted with the Ural gem, i.e. rhodonite, at the Mineralogical Museum of St Petersburg University. It is part of the tour and the online exhibition "Manganese minerals".

Exhibition "I want to be just an artist"

On 2 December 2022, the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University opens the exhibition "I just want to be an artist". It marks the 100th anniversary of the famous theatre and film artist Bella Manevich. The exhibition will feature objects and paintings by Bella Manevich from the collection donated to the University by her grand-daughter Apollinariia Avrutina. Professor at St Petersburg University and Director of the Centre for Contemporary Turkish Studies and Russia-Türkiye Relations at St Petersburg University.

Presentation of the monograph "Essays on the history of North Korea. Chronicles 2000—2022"

On 3 December at 1pm, there is a presentation of the monograph "Essays on the history of North Korea. Chronicles 2000—2022" at the International Book Fair for High-Quality Fiction and Non-Fiction in Moscow. The monograph was prepared by Sergei Kurbanov, Professor in the Department of Korean Studies at St Petersburg University, and published by the St Petersburg University Publishing House.

Workshop "Education of nobility. Nabokov’s House"

The Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University offers a workshop "Education of Nobility. Nabokov’s house". Prior registration is required.

A painting from the University’s collections presented at the exhibition "Portrait of an artist" in the Manege Central Exhibition Hall

On 5 December at 6pm, there is a grand opening of the large inter-museum exhibition project ‘Portrait of an artist’ at the Museum of Art of St Petersburg in the 20th-21st centuries. The Museum is a branch of the Manege Central Exhibition Hall. It is located at 103 Griboyedov Canal Embankment. It presents the paintings from the collections of the State Russian Museum and the Moscow Museum of Modern Art to name just a few. There is also a painting from the collections of the University, namely from the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art at St Petersburg University. It is a portrait of Leon Lazarev by the artist Aleksei Stern. This partnership became possible only after the registration of the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Arts in the State Catalogue of the Museum Fund of the Russian Federation. For the first time in the history of St Petersburg University, the issuance of an exhibit was formalised in accordance with the procedure established by law through the register of transactions of the State Catalogue.

The organisation of work with students

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. Classes are held according to the timetable in due order. As of 24 November 2022, the information was not sent by Svetlana Rubtsova, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages.

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. Over the past week, meetings on the organisation of the teaching and learning process were held at: the Faculty of Arts; the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty; the Faculty of Medicine; the School of International Relations; the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes; the Faculty of Sociology; the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Medical Technologies; the Faculty of Physics; the Faculty of Philology; the Faculty of Law; 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).

Over the past week, 21 enquiries were addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. The majority of enquiries relate to preparation of various documents on studies.

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 committee, with the participation of the Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, the Vice-Rector for Legal Affairs, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, and the Dean of the Faculty of Psychology. 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, 18 April 2022, 17 October 2022 and 14 November 2022).