16 January 2023 Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

№ 556
dated 16.01.2003

    The development of St Petersburg University is included in the list of the main scientific achievements in 2022

    The decentralised international system of interbank financial messages developed by St Petersburg University is included in the list of the main scientific achievements in 2022, according to the наука.рф. It is part of the national project "Science and Universities". This project received the Technology Breakthrough Award in the Opening New Markets category (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting held on 12 December 2022).

    In 2022, the Distributed Ledger Technologies Centre at St Petersburg University developed a decentralised international system of interbank financial messages. It is an alternative to SWIFT. It uses blockchain technology. The University launched a pilot project to create the University-wide quantum network and developed technologies for protecting artificial intelligence systems from malicious or accidental influences that affected the reliability of the results.

    In July 2022, the Centre began testing the system that was an alternative to SWIFT. The key feature of the DCMS (decentralised interbank messaging system) is that each of the participants stores transaction information and owns the system as a whole on an equal basis with other participants (be it a bank from Russia or a foreign bank). This approach completely eliminates the possibility of illegal disconnection, because there is no single owner who can restrict access to others. Distributed ledger technologies ensure safety of all transactions and openness of the information system. Each participant receives a full financial instrument for their own purposes without fear that the solution may be taken away by someone or you may be disconnected. Each bank participating in the system reserves the right not to accept payments, for example, if this violates its legislation or corporate rules.

    Despite the absence of a single owner, the use of the DCMS does not infringe on the rights of the regulators of the participating countries. Conversely, it increases confidence in the system as a whole and eliminates the risk of involuntary disconnection.

    St Petersburg University chemists develop a water remediation method using nanoparticles

    Scientists from St Petersburg University have developed a method for purifying water from organic compounds using tin oxide nanoparticle based photocatalysts. The findings of the research supported by a grant from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research are published in the scientific journal "Journal of Alloys and Compounds".

    Water pollution is one of the acute environmental issues of our time. One of the most promising approaches in wastewater treatment technology to purify water is to use photocatalysis. It is a process in which light energy is used to trigger chemical reactions to break down organic compounds into carbon dioxide and water through the presence of a catalyst − a special material in the form of nanoparticles. Until now, there has been no understanding of what exactly determines the efficiency and speed of such purification: the size of the particles, the features of their structure or their composition.

    The scientists from St Petersburg University found the answer to this question: they proposed a systematic approach to matching a particular pollutant with nanoparticles for use in photocatalytic water purification units. The materials developed exhibit photocatalytic activity when exposed to visible light from ordinary diode lamps, which in all respects are cheaper and easier to operate than the ultraviolet ones used previously.

    A fundamentally new approach has been proposed. It can be compared to road navigation systems, which, for any desired destination, process several route options, analyse the current traffic situation and select the shortest route. Whereas previously the materials for photocatalysts were chosen almost at random, today this process is becoming thoughtful and well-founded. The Principal Investigator of the project is Anastasiia Podurets, an early career researcher in the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry at St Petersburg University.

    The research was carried out within the framework of a project supported by a grant from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research "Development of approaches to computer simulation of nanoparticle growth from solutions: Experimental and computational study using Ni-doped SnO2 as a photocatalyst". The research findings will also be presented in the dissertation ‘Relationship "synthesis conditions − morphological and structural parameters − photocatalytic properties" in tin dioxide nanoparticles doped with ions of 3d-elements’, which Anastasiia Podurets will defend at St Petersburg University (Chemical navigation: St Petersburg University scientists develop a water remediation method using nanoparticles).

    St Petersburg University zoologists discover four new species of micro-invertebrates

    Zoologists from St Petersburg University and the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences have discovered four previously unknown for the Russian fauna species of tardigrades. Tardigrades are micro-invertebrates renowned by their extreme stress tolerance and adaptability. Additionally, the scientists have managed to find three other tardigrade species new to Russia, previously only found in other countries. The research findings are published in the scientific journal "Invertebrate zoology".

    Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates — the largest adults may reach a body length of 1.5 mm. They were named Tardigrada, which means "slow walkers", for their slow movement (2 to 3 mm per minute). These micro-invertebrates are able to adapt to living in almost all terrestrial and aquatic environments, from the ocean depths to highest mountains ranges. Moreover, the tardigrade has been the first terrestrial microorganism that can survive in the cold, irradiated vacuum of outer space.

    The zoologists have conducted a unique study — the first in Russia and second worldwide — a targeted faunistic investigation of tardigrade fauna using the method of DNA barcoding. Despite the small amount of studied samples from relatively small geographic region the research findings show that the real species richness of tardigrades has been largely underestimated (St Petersburg University zoologists discover four new species of micro-invertebrates).

    St Petersburg University mathematicians prove the existence of hidden attractors in an electrical circuit

    Scientists from St Petersburg University and the Kotelnikov Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IRE RAS), together with Professor Leon Chua from the University of California, Berkeley, have demonstrated experimentally the existence of hidden attractors — points in the basins of attraction in a simple electrical circuit. The research findings are published in the scientific journal Nonlinear Dynamics.

    An attractor in a dynamical system is a set of states toward which the system tends to evolve over time. One of the examples of systems with trivial attractors is a roly-poly toy. The attractor here will be an upright position, the so-called state of rest. Another example is a swinging pendulum, for which the attractor will be the pendulum’s equilibrium position when it hangs vertically.

    To explain and demonstrate these states, the scientists use the Chua circuit as a reference model illustrating the principles in electrodynamics. The Chua circuit is a simple nonlinear circuit that exhibits a range of limiting chaotic oscillations. It was invented in 1983 by an American electrical engineer and computer scientist Leon Chua for studying and generating dynamical chaos. Since then, many different forms of chaotic oscillations have been identified in the Chua circuit. All of them, however, were self-excited attractors that could be observed when the circuit is switched on at the zero initial data, corresponding to the zero equilibrium state. Hence, a conjecture was that the chaotic behaviour is possible only in the case of unstable zero equilibrium.

    Later, Professor Nikolay Kuznetsov, Head of the Department of Applied Cybernetics at St Petersburg University, explained the existence of hidden attractors. Back in 2009, he mathematically proved the existence of hidden chaotic attractors in the Chua circuit. According to Professor Kuznetsov, the discovery is important not only for fundamental science. It makes possible many practical applications. For example, the chaotic oscillations generated in the Chua circuit can be used as a random number generator in encryption systems for covert data transmission and in many other applications (St Petersburg University mathematicians prove the existence of hidden attractors in an electrical circuit).

    Books by St Petersburg University researchers are included in the list of the best works on the popularisation of science

    At the end of 2022, the results of the competition for the award of the Russian Academy of Sciences for the best works in the popularisation of science were summed up. Two books are the winners in the nomination "The best popular science book about the life of scientists and the logic of the development of science". Among them is ‘Essays on the history of medicine. Biographical essays’ by Professor Leonid Churilov, Professor Iurii Stroev, and Professor Vladimir Utekhin. The other winner is a book "Iurii Filipchenko and his entourage. To the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Department of Genetics and Experimental Zoology at Petrograd University". It is prepared by: Sergei Fokin, Leading Research Associate at St Petersburg University; and Ilya Zakharov-Gezekhus, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The book was published by the St Petersburg University Publishing House.

    In this nomination at the 2022 competition, there were popular science books in Russian published in 2019–2022. These books focus on outstanding researchers and their research. In total, 35 applications were submitted in this nomination. Six books were recognised as winners.

    The monograph ‘Essays on the history of medicine’ is historical and biographical essays on the life and work of prominent doctors and scientists from Russia and other countries who worked in the field of metabolic pathology and endocrinology. Among the doctors and scientists are lecturers at St Petersburg University. Among them are: Paul Langerhans, Leonid Sobolev, Oskar Minkowski, and Nicolae Paulescu who worked on the discovery of insulin; and William Gull, Karl Adolph von Basedow and Henry Stanley Plummer who studied the thyroid gland to name just a few. The monograph also reveals the life stories of brilliant Russian and Soviet doctors. Among them are: Sergei Lukianov; Sergei Abramov; Nikolai Goriaev; and other researchers who made a significant contribution to medicine worldwide (The book by St Petersburg University scientists is included in the list of the best works on the popularisation of science).

    The monograph on the life and research of Yuri Filipchenko, who was a founder and first head of the Department of Genetics and Experimental Zoology at Petrograd University, and his entourage focuses on the life and professional activities of biologists involved in the organisation and formation of the Department of Genetics and Experimental Zoology at Petrograd University. It was the first department of this type in Russian higher education. It was founded in 1919 (The book about the life of the founder and first head of the Department of Genetics and Experimental Zoology at Petrograd University wins the prize of the competition of the Russian Academy of Sciences).

    Opening of the Department of Technology of High-Performance Materials and Products

    St Petersburg University has opened the Department of Technology of High-Performance Materials and Products. It is headed by Mikhail Podviaznikov, General Director of the Joint Stock Company North Western Regional Centre of Almaz Antey Concern — Obukhov State Plant. Professor Mikhail Podviaznikov is Doctor of Technical Sciences. The Department will prepare specialists for the chemical industry and conduct research in the field of production of nanomaterials to improve and reduce the cost of the technologies.

    The joint project of St Petersburg University and Almaz-Antey aims to fill the gap in preparing chemists-technologists who conduct research in the field of materials science of high-performance materials. St Petersburg University has always prepared high-calibre specialists. St Petersburg University graduates will now receive a broader range of competencies. Among them are both fundamental and engineering competences. They are also expected to be engaged in the development and operation of products. The Department of Technology of High-Performance Materials and Products will focus on the practical application of the developments of St Petersburg University’s experts and the results of fundamental research in the field of chemistry conducted by scietists, students and early-career researchers at the University.

    According to Sergey Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research at St Petersburg University, cooperation between scientists and companies will enable us to conduct research and avoid the customer-executor relationship scheme. This approach enables scientists to make adjustments in the course of the research to achieve the results in the most cost-efficient and timely manner possible and avoid dead-ends of the development process.

    Students are planned to be prepared as part of the master’s programme "High-Tech Materials". It is one of the few engineering programmes at the University that prepares specialists in the development of methods for the synthesis of new materials; the study of physical and chemical properties of the materials; and their application (St Petersburg University to prepare unique specialists in chemical technology).

    The Rector instructed Irina Balova, Director of the Institute of Chemistry, to discuss the issues of cooperation in the implementation of the new master’s programme "High-Tech Materials" with the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes, Dean of the Faculty of Physics, and other deans.

    St Petersburg University scientists win the highest awards of the Russian Academy of Sciences

    At the meeting of the Praesidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Academy awarded the highest awards of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Yuri Natochin, Professor at St Petersburg University, and Igor Tikhonovich, Professor at St Petersburg University, received gold medals.

    The Lomonosov Gold Medal was awarded to Yuri Natochin. The Medal was in the nomination "Physiology for studying the mechanism of water-salt metabolism in astronauts and ways to normalise it in the ischemic stroke. Yuri Natochin is a doctor; Doctor of Biology; Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; and Honorary Professor at St Petersburg University. He initiated the creation of the Faculty of Medicine at the University and has been its first dean. He proposed a method for normalising water-salt metabolism in ischemic stroke to reduce mortality by almost half. The method of adapting a person to a long stay in space is used in space medicine. Yuri Natochin discovered a way how to solve the problem. In 1965, the world’s first article was published on the results of the survey of water-salt metabolism in astronauts. In 1991, Yuri Natochin was elected Academician of the International Academy of Astronautics. For these works, he was awarded the government prize in the field of science. In 2010, the Federation of Cosmonautics of the Russian Federation awarded him the title of Veteran of Cosmonautics.

    The 2022 Vavilov Gold Medal was awarded to Igor Tikhonovich. He is Dean of the Faculty of Biology at St Petersburg University; Scientific Supervisor of the All-Russian Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, and Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He received the medal for the cycle of works "Symbiogenetics of plant-microbial interactions". Igor Tikhonovich is an outstanding scientist in the field of molecular genetic mechanisms of microbial-plant interactions. He is a globally recognised scientist.

    This area of research is much-in-demand today. It is mainly concerned with the development of ways to mobilise the planet’s genetic resources to create modern farming technologies. He formulated the basic principle of complementarity of genomes during interspecies interaction, i.e. the formation of a single genetic system of pro- and eukaryotes to ensure the emergence of new traits in the microbial-plant system, many of which did not exist in partners before the interaction.

    Igor Tikhonovich is one of the first in the world to study the host plant genome in the system with the genomes of its symbiotic environment. As a result, it was possible to lay the foundation for a new branch of ecological genetics, i.e. symbiogenetics. The scientist devoted 40 years to the development of symbiogenetics.

    For the research achievements, Igor Tikhonovich was given the highest awards. He is also the president of the Vavilov Society of Geneticists and Breeders and a member of a number of interdepartmental committees. He is engaged in the expert councils of the Russian Science Foundation and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research. He also runs the world-class research centre "Agrotechnologies of the Future" at St Petersburg University (St Petersburg University scientists win the highest awards of the Russian Academy of Sciences).

    Colleagues congratulated Professors Yuri Natochin and Igor Tikhonovich on the awards.

    Irina Novikova, Professor at St Petersburg University, awarded the Golden Lion Prize

    There was the 6th solemn ceremony of presenting the Golden Lion Prize in the field of international and interregional cooperation of the Committee for Foreign Relations of St Petersburg. The awards are given annually based on the decision of the expert council. They are presented in ten categories. The competition is held among individuals and organisations that have provided significant assistance in developing cooperation between St Petersburg with foreign partners and regions of the Russian Federation, for promoting the interests of the city.

    Among the 11 winners of the 2022 Golden Lion Prize is Professor Irina Novikova, Dean of the School of International Relations at St Petersburg University. She received the prize in the nomination "For active work to preserve the memory of the exploits of Russians and Petersburgers abroad and in the regions of Russia" (Irina Novikova, Professor of St Petersburg University, awarded the Golden Lion Prize).

    Colleagues congratulated Professor Irina Novikova on the award.

    Results of the 2022 competition for the awards of the Government of St Petersburg in the field of research and pedagogical activities

    The Committee for Science and Higher Education of St Petersburg summed up the results of the 2022 competition for the awards of the Government of St Petersburg in the field of research and pedagogical activities. The competition is set to identify and encourage the best representatives of the professionally oriented young people of St Petersburg to motivate their professional growth; the reproduction of research and pedagogical personnel; and the improvement of research and methodological support for the activities of the professional education system in St Petersburg. The educational and methodological materials prepared by the contestants (textbooks, teaching aids, online courses, and syllabi) were evaluated.

    As Vladimir Eremeev, Vice-Rector for Human Resources at St Petersburg University, said, the competition is held for the following types of people:

    • postgraduate students, military doctoral students, clinical residency students, full-time assistant trainees, and employees of higher educational institutions, industry and academic institutions located in St Petersburg who do not have a scientific degree
    • doctoral students and employees of higher educational institutions, industry and academic institutions located in St Petersburg who have a degree of Candidate of Sciences
    • employees of higher educational institutions, industry and academic institutions located in St Petersburg who have a scientific degree of Doctor of Sciences

    St Petersburg University was represented only by the employees belonging to the category "Doctoral students and employees of higher educational institutions, industry and academic institutions located in St Petersburg who have a degree of Candidate of Sciences". In the category "Doctoral students and employees of higher educational institutions, industry and academic institutions located in St Petersburg who have a degree of Candidate of Sciences", four out of the 40 winners of the competition are employees of St Petersburg University. Among them are:

    • Olga Osmolovskaya, Associate Professor in the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry; an award for the syllabi of the discipline "Practical Aspects of Nanochemistry"
    • Irina Timofeeva, Associate Professor in the Department of Analytical Chemistry; an award for lecture notes in the discipline "Analytical Chemistry for Non-Chemical Areas of Study"
    • Maria Toikka, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics; an award for the course of video lectures "Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Complex Physical and Chemical Systems"
    • Maria Khokhlova, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Linguistics; an award for the teaching guide "Computer Statistical Analysis of Language Data"

    Vladimir Eremeev said that the largest number of prizes (ten prizes) in this category were awarded to representatives of St Petersburg Mining University, while the second place was taken by Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University (six prizes).

    2nd Congress of Young Scientists

    On 1 to 3 December 2022, the 2nd Congress of Young Scientists was held on the federal territory ‘Sirius’. It brought together more than 4,000 participants from 40 countries. Among them were: the Arab Republic of Egypt; India; China; the Republic of Belarus; the Republic of Kazakhstan; the Republic of Uzbekistan; and the Syrian Arab Republic to name just a few. The organisers of the Congress for the second year are: the Coordinating Council for Youth Affairs in the Scientific and Educational Spheres of the Council for Science and Education under the President of the Russian Federation; the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education; the Roscongress Foundation; and the National Priorities Project that is an operator of the Decade of Science and Technology in the Russian Federation.

    The work of the congress was divided into seven thematic tracks, said Viktor Titov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics, member of the Coordinating Council for Youth Affairs in the Scientific and Educational Spheres of the Council for Science and Education under the President of the Russian Federation. Among them are: "Great challenges and priorities for scientific and technological development"; "Initiatives of the Decade of Science and Technology of Russia"; "Components of scientific and technological sovereignty"; "New space for international scientific and technical cooperation"; "Science and society: environment of trust"; "Lectures and workshops by leading scientists"; and "School of the Russian Science Foundation". The programme included about 150 events. The congress discussed the implementation of a number of initiatives. Among them are: "Region as a qualified customer: satellite events of the Congress of Young Scientists"; "Platforms for the interaction of science, business, government and society"; "Solutions and services for the professional community"; and "Development of popular science tourism: first results and prospects" to name just a few.

    The key event of the congress was the meeting of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin with the participants. They discussed the proposals for the development of science and technology; a programme to support scientists; issues relating to transition to a new technological era; and integration of new territories into the Russian "scientific family". Before the start of the plenary session "Russian science in the era of international rivalry", a ceremony was organised to award the President of the Russian Federation Prize in the field of science and innovation for young scientists. Among the winners, as previously reported at the Rector’s meeting, is Leonid Skripnikov, Associate Professor at St Petersburg University.

    The University took part in both the business and exhibition parts of the congress. The University was represented by members of various academic and research subdivisions. Among them are: the Faculty of Biology; the Institute of History; the Institute of Chemistry; the Faculty of Medicine; the Faculty of Political Science; the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes; the Faculty of Physics; and the Faculty of Economics to name just a few. Young scientists made presentations on research carried out in various research fields. Among them are: "Development of intelligent tools for optimising multimodal flow distribution systems in loaded multi-product networks"; "Multimodal plasmon labels for bioimaging and therapeutic hyperthermia"; and "Crimea in search of national and confessional harmony (1783 —1920)" to name just a few. They also joined the sessions, lectures, and business games. At the session "Fair healthcare for future generations: the view of the young people", Lidiia Soprun, Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Health Organisation and Medical Law at St Petersburg University, delivered a report that was highly appreciated. She told the participants about the project carried out at the Centre for the Study of Autoimmune Diseases and the Effects of the New Coronavirus Disease at St Petersburg University.

    At the congress, the final meeting of the coordinating committee of the Decade of Science and Technology in the Russian Federation was held. Andrei Fursenko, a co-chair of the congress and Advisor to the President of Russia, and Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister, presented information on the main results of the implementation of the plan for the first year of the Decade of Science and Technology in the Russian Federation.

    International activities

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

    Events at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain

    On 10 January, the University’s Representative Office in Spain hosted an online lecture on natural and artificial intelligence delivered by Professor Tatiana Chernigovskaya, Director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies at St Petersburg University. On 12 January, Nina Shcherbak, Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology and Cultural Linguistics of St Petersburg University, delivered an online lecture on Jerome Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and post-traumatic stress disorder.

    Collaboration with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (the State of Qatar)

    A cooperation agreement between St Petersburg University and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (the State of Qatar) was signed as part of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on 2 June 2021. The agreement was followed by a series of discussions on the development of academic cooperation involving representatives of both universities. The parties considered possibilities of: joint development and implementation of non-degree programmes and online courses in English and/or Arabic; implementation of exchange programmes; and other issues. The Qatari side also informed of its readiness to start discussing the issue of concluding agreements to organise scientific interaction within specific fields of study.

    In the autumn and winter of 2022, video conferences were held with university representatives in the following areas: healthcare; mathematics; applied mathematics; science; and engineering. In order to identify promising forms of scientific cooperation, the sides exchanged information on ongoing scientific initiatives.

    On 12 January, another video conference was held between representatives of St Petersburg University and Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Among the participants from St Petersburg University were: Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs; Veronika Koytova, Head of the International Academic Cooperation Department; and Tatiana Ryazantseva, Acting Head of the International Research Support Department. Agreements have been reached on cooperation in mathematics, science, and engineering. Specific topics have also been agreed upon. In future, joint work on projects in the field of healthcare and the environment will be carried out.

    International agreements

    St Petersburg University has signed agreements with Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages (the Republic of Uzbekistan) and Urgench State University (the Republic of Uzbekistan) to conduct testing in Russian as a foreign language. The text of the agreements can be found on the St Petersburg University portal in the list of Partner Universities in the International Cooperation section.

    St Petersburg University entered the list of leaders in the university rankings in the area of "Psychology"

    St Petersburg University is the second Russian university according to the experimental rankings of academic programmes of higher education in the area of "Psychology" (Experimental rankings of universities in the area of "Psychology"). The study was conducted by Interfax. It included more than 30 universities.

    The compilers of the rankings studied the indicators of higher educational institutions that implement academic programmes in the area of "Psychology". These included both classical universities and specialised universities. Positions in the rankings were determined according to the following criteria: stability of the student body; the variety of the academic programmes; the number of author’s textbooks in psychology; the citation index of research publications; and the presence and number of online psychology courses that are in the public domain. They pay special attention to the degree of participation of graduates in the development of the university; the relationship of their current job with the degree received at the university; and a number of other indicators.

    To compile a ranked list, the authors of the rankings interviewed lecturers and researchers of the university, senior students, and graduates. They also took into account statistical data on ongoing academic programmes and research performance.

    St Petersburg University is ranked second, while Lomonosov Moscow State University is ranked first (St Petersburg University enters the list of leaders in the rankings of universities in the area of "Psychology").

    At the Rector’s meeting, Alla Shaboltas, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at St Petersburg University, said that the compilers of the rankings proposed a new model as an experiment. It combines the criteria of international university rankings and professional accreditations. In her opinion, the underestimation of the objective indicators of the activities of universities is noticeable. For example, the criteria do not include international accreditations. St Petersburg University has international accreditation of academic programmes in the area of psychology. St Petersburg University is the only university in Russia that has international accreditation in psychology: St Petersburg University programmes in psychology obtain international accreditation.

    Following the discussion, the Rector instructed the Director of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University and other directors and deans to present assessments of the criteria used in various university rankings, including the opinion of employers.

    Academic programmes in the field of medicine to be taught in English

    Taking into account the heightened interest of applicants and students from foreign countries in receiving a medical education in the Russian Federation, St Petersburg University has organised the development of degree programmes in the field of medicine taught in English.

    According to Elvira Zeletdinova, Vice-Rector for Teaching Methods, previously medical education at St Petersburg University was provided in Russian and English. These degree programmes were not taught entirely in English at the University.

    The following degree programmes in English have been developed for admission in 2023:

    • the bachelor’s programme "Nursing (in English)" in the main field of study 34.03.01 "Nursing"
    • "General Medicine (in English)" in the main field of study 31.05.01 "General Medicine"
    • "Dental Medicine (in English)" in the main field of study 31.05.03 "Dental Medicine"

    Information on admission to these programmes is published on the St Petersburg University website in the "Admission" section.

    Organisation of the teaching and learning process

    Over the first week of 2023, 15 enquiries were addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. The majority of enquiries relate to preparation of documents on studies and the procedures for granting an academic leave.

    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. Interim assessment is held according to the timetable 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. Over the past period, meetings on the organisation of the teaching and learning process were held with the heads of: the Faculty of Foreign Languages; the Faculty of Political Science (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication); the Faculty of Physics; the Faculty of Philology; and the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology (the minutes of the meeting were not formalised and not submitted for publication).

    Ensuring the employment of students and graduates of St Petersburg University

    In order to improve the work aimed at facilitating the employment of students and graduates of St Petersburg University, in May 2022, the Career Centre was established as part of the Academic Affairs Department of St Petersburg University (Order № 5243/1 dated 5 May 2022). Mariia Dorokhina, Head of the Placement and Career Services, was appointed the Head of the Career Centre. The main activities of the Career Centre include:

    • support for professional self-determination of students at the University, mastering students’ skills for career development and soft skills
    • intensification of cooperation with St Petersburg University staff partners, expansion of the circle of staff partners; and
    • development of the system of career events

    Svetlana Medvedeva, Acting Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, said that, despite the high demand for graduates from St Petersburg University in the labour market, an analysis of data on their employment shows that graduates of a number of programmes needed additional support.

    The Career Centre has already organised a number of events. Among them were the following:

    • In June 2022, the Career Intensive Course was held online. It focused on how to ensure support to students graduating from St Petersburg University in 2022. More than 400 graduates registered for four workshops on career development. About 50 people received individual career advice from the experts of the Employment Centre at St Petersburg; Kelly Services; and the Career Centre at St Petersburg University
    • In the autumn semester of the 2022/2023 academic year, employer organisations held a set of career events for students of the University. Among employer organisations were: Alfa-Bank; Gazprombank; B1 Group; Business Solutions and Technologies; Sber; Yakov & Partners; and Schlumberge to name just a few. To support the professional development of physicists, the first Career Day at the Faculty of Physics was organised on 2 September 2022. It brought together 15 employer companies and more than 160 students
    • In September 2022, St Petersburg University entered the student employment support programme (Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation № 409 "On the implementation of certain measures aimed at reducing tensions in the labour market in 2022" dated 18 March 2022). Thirty students at the University who are doing internships at the St Petersburg University clinics have been hired by the University
    • 14th St Petersburg University Autumn Career Day was held in the Twelve Collegia building. It brought together more than 1,500 students and graduates of St Petersburg University. It also brought together 30 Russian and international organisations. Among them were: BIOCAD; VTB; Gazprombank; Rosatom; Lukoil; St Petersburg Power Supply Company; Sber; and Skoltech to name just a few. The programme of the autumn Career Day included 18 events. Among them were: presentations; workshops; and business games from business and government experts. Students could take a career guidance test to participate in the programme of the youth personnel pool of St Petersburg
    • In November-December, the #Livecareer programme was implemented for students. It included webinars on career building; workshops; and individual career consultations
    • In the autumn semester, the University became one of the seven partner universities of the case championship of the Centre for Strategic Research. Six teams from St Petersburg University took part in three tracks of the competition: "Development plan for an urban agglomeration or territory"; "Development of small and medium-sized businesses"; and "Technology and innovation". As part of the track "Development of small and medium-sized businesses", the team of St Petersburg University ‘FII’ won the final round of the competition

    In the scope of responsibilities of the Career Centre is also the formation of an information career environment at the University. The Career Centre has its page on the St Petersburg University website and VKontakte group (more than 1,300 followers). As part of the organisation of work by universities aimed to ensure the employment of students and graduates, the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education recommended the use of the Facultetus platform, i.e. a digital career environment for universities, students, and employers.

    To raise the awareness of St Petersburg University students, graduates, and representatives of employers, about the possibilities of the platform, a corresponding roadmap has been developed. As of 12 January 2023, the following are registered on the platform:

    • 381 students and graduates of St Petersburg University
    • 260 recruitment partners (organisations that indicated the University as a recruitment partner during registration on the platform); and
    • more than 1,000 vacancies from recruitment partners

    Svetlana Medvedeva noted that today the platform provides information about vacancies; forms the necessary selections; and conducts various online events (testing and others). Yet in future, it will provide statistical information on the employment of university students that is synchronised with the data of the Social Fund.

    The heads of the academic and research subdivisions were instructed to ensure the registration on the platform of St Petersburg University students and graduates, and employers-partners of the University.

    Following the discussion, the Rector instructed the directors and deans to submit proposals from employers who are members of the councils of academic programmes and state assessment committees on the issues relating to how to improve work aimed at facilitating the employment of students and graduates of St Petersburg University.

    Telephone surveys

    The St Petersburg University Virtual Reception receives enquiries from citizens about telephone surveys. On behalf of St Petersburg University, Maiia Rusakova, Acting Director of the resource centre "Centre for Sociological and Internet Research", informed that the resource centre "Centre for Sociological and Internet Research" operates as part of the sociological research programme at the University. Polls are conducted at different levels: Russia-wide, regional, or city. A single telephone number is used to conduct surveys: +7 (812) 322-53-18.

    Action plan for the implementation of the programme to support creative youth at St Petersburg University (2022–2024)

    St Petersburg University Order № 13755/1 dated 20 December 2022 approved the Action plan for the implementation of the programme to support creative youth at St Petersburg University for the period 2022–2024. The plan was developed on the basis of the experience gained in working with young personnel in a number of academic and research subdivisions, including the Institute of Chemistry and the Faculty of Physics to name just a few. When preparing the plan, proposals submitted by the heads of all academic and research subdivisions at St Petersburg University were taken into account.

    According to Vladimir Eremeev, Vice-Rector for Human Resources, the core concept of the document is to form a personnel pool in all academic and research subdivisions. It will consist of the most talented, promising, inclined to teaching and (or) to research bachelor’s students, master’s students, young lecturers, and researchers. For persons who will be included in the personnel pool, the University provides conditions for career growth.

    The plan is aimed to attract the University graduates to teaching and (or) research at St Petersburg University; young professionals from other universities and research institutions; and young professionals with experience in various fields of practical activity.

    The plan is designed for two years. Then, it will be possible to: sum up the interim results of work on the formation of a personnel pool; summarise the gained experience; and outline further steps to strengthen the human resources potential at St Petersburg University.

    Results of consideration of the student’s enquiry by the Ethics Committee

    The Ethics Committee considered an enquiry submitted by the student V A Markov. He pointed out the inadmissibility of the actions committed by Associate Professor Ekaterina Spiridonova during the exam in the discipline "Business Valuation". He asked "to consider and evaluate the behaviour of the lecturer by the Ethics Committee".

    The enquiry also mentioned the publication by Ekaterina Spiridonova that was posted on the Internet. The publication was related to the individual circumstances of how V A Markov had passed an interim assessment in the discipline taught by Ekaterina Spiridonova. In confirmation, corresponding screenshots were attached.

    The Ethics Committee noted that checking compliance by St Petersburg University employees with the established procedure for conducting interim assessment was not within its scope of responsibilities. Yet, the actions of Ekaterina Spiridonova regarding posting information relating to V A Markov on the Internet are not admissible. The decision of the Ethics Committee can be found on the St Petersburg University website.

    Igor Tikhonovich, Dean of the Faculty of Biology at St Petersburg University, enquired what exactly Ekaterina Spiridonova had posted on the Internet: the student’s grades or some other aspects. Vladimir Eremeev, Vice-Rector for Human Resources at St Petersburg University, explained that the lecturer had written about rude characteristics of the student, including about profanity.

    On 16 November 2022, the labour agreement with Associate Professor Ekaterina Spiridonova was terminated.

    Cultural events at St Petersburg University from 16 to 22 January

    Elena Lebedkina, Head of the Main Department for Exhibitions, Museum, Library and Publishing Activities, presented a digest of cultural events at the University from 16 to 22 January.

    Open lecture "Heroes of the past and projects of the future in the books of sieged Leningrad"

    At 5pm on 18 January, there is an open lecture ‘Heroes of the past and projects of the future in the books of sieged Leningrad’. It will be held in the reading room of the M Gorky Scientific Library (7/9 Universitetskaya Embankment). 80 years ago, on 18 January 1943, as a result of Operation Iskra, the siege of Leningrad was broken. An important component of the history of the siege of Leningrad is the history of book publishing in the sieged and blockaded city. Blockade publications are numerous, diverse in topics and genres. How did the authors of blockade books imagine the past and what plans did they make for the future? Are the heroes of the past years the same for them and for us? What projects that were initiated in sieged Leningrad are still relevant? These are the topics discussed in the open lecture by the chief bibliographer Evgenii Nastoiashchev.

    Open lecture "Chemical properties of the elements as a key to understanding their behaviour"

    At 1pm on 18 January, there is an open lecture ‘Chemical properties of the elements as a key to understanding their behaviour’ by Artem Oganov, Professor at the Russian Academy of Sciences. It will be held at the Dmitri Mendeleev Museum and Archives. Today, 118 chemical elements have been discovered. They differ in reactivity and in forms how they are in nature. These differences can be explained using the fundamental properties of atoms. The lecture will present information about the latest achievements in this area. You should register by telephone +7 (812) 328-97-44.

    Exhibition to mark the Day of Russian Science "The 20th century begins"

    At 6pm on 20 January, there will be opened an exhibition "The 20th century begins". It marks the Day of Russian Science. The exhibition will be held at the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University. It will feature civil and field telephone sets manufactured at the factories of the world’s leading manufacturers in St Petersburg in the early 20th century. Among these companies are: Geisler, Siemens, and Ericsson. It will also present devices from Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Germany, the USA, France, Sweden, and Japan. The earliest copy of these devices dates back to 1902. The exhibition is supplemented with the-then household items and technical innovations.

    Botanical models by Brendel

    On 20 January, there will be launched a new page of the online exhibition "Brendel’s botanical models. Nature and art" — "The conducting system of plants". The conducting system forms a continuous branched network in the body of the plant and connects all its organs into a single system: from the thinnest roots to young shoots, buds and leaf tips. It carries a stream of dissolved nutrients. There will be models illustrating how this system works.

    Open lecture "Essays on the history of North Korea"

    At 5pm on 20 January, there is an open lecture "Essays on the history of North Korea". It will be held at the bookstore of St Petersburg University "Dom Universitetskoi Knigi" (University Book House) at 5 Mendeleevskaya Line. How does one of the most closed countries live? What has been written about this country? How did the ROKS Cheonan sinking affect North-South relations? Why was 2002 a breakthrough year for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)? What did the "mobile revolution" bring? How has the course of the DPRK changed over the past few years? Sergei Kurbanov, Professor at St Petersburg University, will answer these and many other questions.

    Appointment of Acting Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences

    Andrei Astvatsaturov is appointed Acting Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The decision was made after discussion with the heads of the departments of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Andrei Astvatsaturov is Head of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies in the Field of Languages and Literature; Professor in the Department of the History of Foreign Literatures; and Director of the Vladimir Nabokov Museum at St Petersburg University. Vladimir Khotiakov, Candidate of Engineering, Assistant Professor in the Department of Problems of Interdisciplinary Synthesis in the Field of Social Sciences and Humanities, was appointed the Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences.