The Rector emphasized that educational centers and university dormitories function in accordance with all instructions and recommendations of Rospotrebnadzor.
On Saturday, November 14, an online meeting of students, their parents and employees of St. Petersburg Mining University with Rector Vladimir Litvinenko took place. He told about the measures taken by the management of the university to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection within the frame of execution of the order of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia Valery Falkov dated 11.11.2020.
During his speech, Vladimir Litvinenko noted that the university has already been working for more than two months in a special mode designed to prevent the expansion of COVID-19. In particular, restrictions have been imposed on holding mass events with their transfer to an electronic platform; mandatory thermal and pyrometric control of the body temperature of employees and students at the entrance has been organized; medical masks have been purchased, which can be obtained free of charge; a social distance is observed.
At the same time, a full-fledged learning process involves not only the generation of theoretical knowledge, but also the acquisition of practical skills, which is impossible in the transition to an individual schedule, with separation from face-to-face classes. The analysis of competencies acquired by students in spring, during quarantine, confirms this opinion. Unfortunately, the level of education during this period has decreased significantly, which in the future may have a most negative impact on the quality of personnel coming to work in the raw materials sector, which is the cornerstone for the progressive social and economic development of Russia.
In this regard, Vladimir Litvinenko urged students to understand the full extent of responsibility in the event of a decision to move to an individual curriculum. He announced the development of a package of social and economic support for those young people who will stay in St. Petersburg and continue their education with all the restrictions that help prevent the spread of coronavirus infection.
The rector noted that today 266 places have been created at the university for self-isolation of sick students. Another 157 beds are in reserve and will be used for their intended purpose if necessary. At the moment, 22 people are in the observatory; all of them get free three meals a day and feel good.
Students asked Vladimir Litvinenko, in particular, whether the university plans to compensate those who will switch to an individual study schedule and go to their home country for the money paid for living in the dormitory. The rector said that today this question is being worked out.
Young people who intend to stay in St. Petersburg were also interested in compensation of their expenses. For example, those that may arise if the St. Petersburg authorities will block student travel passes. As noted by the rector, we are talking, first of all, about those who live in the Inter-university campus, because all the dormitories of Mining University are located on Vasilyevsky Island, in the immediate vicinity of educational and scientific centers.
"In order that they could comfortably get from place of residence to place of study, we propose to make use of 4 buses, which the university employs to transport students to places of on-the-job practical training and international internships," explained Litvinenko.
He also specified that the university does not plan to return the funds paid by students or their parents for studying on a paid basis, as it considers this area of work not as a commercial activity, but as an opportunity for self-realization of those who could not enter the budget places. Costs of the university in recalculation for one student amount from 500 to 800 thousand rubles per year, and the funds paid for training under the contract only partially cover these costs.
