Among the most urgent issues are the terms and method of the session, the need to conclude additional agreements to the contracts for educational services, further research and a number of others.
On Thursday, December 3, an extraordinary session of the Academic Council took place at Saint-Petersburg Mining University, where explanations were given about the completion, starting from December 5, of educational and consulting activities and full transfer of students to individual study plans. Vladimir Litvinenko, in particular, noted that the final decision on terms of session and the procedure of its carrying out (in person or remotely) is not accepted yet. It will be announced within the next two weeks.
“Various options are being considered, including the extension of the academic year,” said Litvinenko.
He also urged the audience to be more responsive to students and their parents, as not all young people, especially freshmen, have the opportunity to fully adapt to the new reality. Openness to dialogue and the ability to adequately answer the questions raised are now one of the main advantages of teachers and staff of the university. In connection with the abovementioned, the Rector suggested to all heads of structural subdivisions to hold general meetings at faculties and departments in order to remind all subordinates, from laboratory assistants to professors.
"The main thing in the current situation is to remain human, not to be indifferent, to show a basic human attitude to those who come to us for advice," said the head of the oldest technical university of Russia.
He emphasized that every student should be provided with teaching and learning materials, not only for the current semester but also for the next semester, no matter what the procedure is. At the same time, Mining University will make every effort to return to the full format of teaching knowledge and skills, in order not to reduce the motivation and interest of young people to obtain higher education.
Those guys who decide to stay in dormitories, will receive free meals on weekdays. Appropriate benefits for faculty and university staff whose stay in their jobs is critical are also maintained.
When asked whether the passage to Mining University will remain open for postgraduate students, Vladimir Litvinenko said that quarantine in St. Petersburg has not been introduced. Therefore, those of them who take part in the research will be allowed to stay on the premises of the university, in particular, those who work in laboratories and research centers.
The first vice-rector Natalia Pashkevich has informed that each student who passes on an individual plan of study, should arrive in the dean's office within two nearest days and sign the additional agreement to the contract on rendering educational services. It will include, among other things, the address of stay of young people up to February 6 and contact phone number.
Let us remind that the day before, December 2, Vladimir Litvinenko demanded from the heads of departments and deans, to stick to the order of the Minister of Education and Science Valery Falkov № 1402 from 11.11.2020 and his order № 1596 from 13.11.2020 and to strengthen measures to counter the pandemic. In this connection, starting from 0 o'clock on December 5, Mining University prohibits educational and consulting activities related to the stay of students in the territory of educational buildings.
