Discussion of the university’s accomplishments, its main priorities and objectives for the future, as well as its development programme and management of its endowment.
The Prime Minister is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of St Petersburg State University.
Dmitry Medvedvev’s introductory remarks:
Meeting of St Petersburg State University's Supervisory Board
Good afternoon, colleagues, members of the St Petersburg State University Supervisory Board.
First, I would like to thank all of you for your attention to one of our leading universities. We have two universities operating under special regulations, and St Petersburg State University is one of them. Frankly speaking, I am very pleased to once again visit the university and the room where I gave lectures some time ago. Of course, the point of this visit is not reminiscence, but providing for the sustainable development of one of Russia’s top universities.
I will elaborate on the current situation. For the past three years, from 2010 through 2012, since the special law came into effect in 2010, the programme for the development of St Petersburg State University was implemented, with a total of five billion roubles allocated from the budget. I would like to note that despite all current difficulties, while drawing up the budget for 2014, 2015 and 2016, we have managed to find additional resources for financing certain efforts regarding St Petersburg State University and Moscow State University.
It is obvious that St Petersburg State University, regardless of various rankings and ratings, is among the elite of European university education. The university boasts some 300 partnership agreements with the world’s top universities in over 70 countries. But it is also clear that development is possible only under certain conditions and with constant exchange of opinions and academic achievements, with the involvement of education leaders. They are known to everyone. Our aim – and I have already mentioned it – is to see our leading universities make it onto the list of the world’s education leaders, and I am certain that this goal is realistic.
Dmitry Medvedev: St Petersburg State University is among the elite of European university education. The university boasts some 300 partnership agreements with the world’s top universities in over 70 countries.
We have certain aims – but they are not the point. The point is maintaining a certain position. I am not speaking of blind imitation of foreign models, even if they are excellent. There are world-renowned educational institutions, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, and other large institutions. Yet we should not try to adjust to the patterns of top world universities, but rather, should create our own educational programmes with due consideration of the best international and university practices while properly adapting them to our conditions.
St Petersburg State University is one of the first in Russia to start issuing its own standard diplomas. So far, we have only two such universities in Russia, and this is due to the fact we are certain of the high quality of education provided there.
The university pays much attention to scientific activities. I hope that new principles for formation of thesis defence boards will make their contribution as well. The thesis defence procedures have become completely public, with thesis materials now forwarded to the world’s leading universities.
The university is the first one in Russia to have started broadcasting thesis defence sessions online and conferring its own academic degrees. How many such degrees have been conferred, Mr Kropachyov? (addressing Nikolai Kropachyov, St Petersburg State University rector)
Nikolai Kropachyov: Six.
Dmitry Medvedev: And how do the recipients feel about it?
Rector of St Petersburg State University Nikolai Kropachev and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov
Nikolai Kropachyov: They feel proud. The main thing is that there are people who wish to receive our degree abroad, for instance at the department led by Valery Gergiyev.
Dmitry Medvedev: Maybe they are simply driven by their admiration for the maestro? But anyway, this is a real global trend. I believe it will be good if we properly handle the procedure of conferring our own academic degrees. But we have to handle it in a differentiated way, depending on actual accomplishments by different universities.
The scientific and research efforts are focused on the priorities defined by the university itself, and they are implemented on an open tender basis. An international expert commission is engaged in supervisory activities. Since 2013, the university has held its own grant competition for top researchers to create laboratories here. Last year, 15,000 rouble scholarships were introduced for promising researchers who are studying for a master’s degree or taking postgraduate studies.
Meeting of St Petersburg State University's Supervisory Board
I think that our meeting, as well as such vast public attention to the university’s Supervisory Board, are taking place due to the fact that your university serves as a model for other universities in Russia. Speaking about St Petersburg State University's issues means we also speak about issues of higher education development as a whole. The university boasts a long and wonderful history that spans almost 300 years, and of course, it is impossible to live on what was created by our predecessors. We live in a global world with its different economic conditions and trends, and we have to create such conditions for the university which will allow its development, even under an unfavourable economic situation. The university should take the most active part in this competition for a place in the sun, for students and skilled and qualified instructors. It should boost its academic and education potential to stand out in this competition.
I believe it is very important to maintain relations with future employers, which is vital for any university, and to attract foreign teachers. Efforts should also be made to attract foreign students, and this serves as an indicator of the quality of education: students do not choose bad universities at which to pay and study. This is an assessment criterion for our university as well. The goal to increase the university’s competitiveness is the most important one. Our efforts should include providing adequate work conditions for university personnel and study conditions for all students of various departments and courses.
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Students at St Petersburg State University
After the meeting of the Supervisory Board, Dmitry Medvedev spoke with the students at St Petersburg State University.
