It includes the construction of new dormitories and an educational complex, as well as the implementation of a pilot project to improve the system of higher education in Russia and scaling its results to the whole country.
On Thursday, November 30, the Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University hosted a ceremonial meeting of the Academic Council with the participation of Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Among the guests of honor of the university were also the Governors of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov and the Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Dmitry Afanasiev, the Chairmen of the Boards of Directors of Novatek Alexander Natalenko and Titan Group of Companies Mikhail Sutyaginsky, other prominent politicians and top managers of flagship domestic enterprises.
The meeting was devoted, first of all, to the approval of the University Development Project for the period until 2026. According to Rector Vladimir Litvinenko, the timeframe of this document was determined not by chance. The point is that the decree on the establishment of the Mining University was signed by Empress Catherine II in 1773, and the first graduation took place in 1776. That is, in 2026 it will be 250 years since the birth of the entire national higher technical education.
"Mining University was created to turn the power of knowledge and technical art into a locomotive of economic progress of our Motherland. A quarter of a millennium has passed since then, but we still face the same task, and this is no accident. Raw material resources were, are and will be the foundation on which, without any exaggeration, the sovereignty of any state is based. But in order to transform them from inert natural capital into social, human and natural capital, we need competent personnel," Vladimir Litvinenko addressed the audience.
Valentina Matvienko noted in her speech that "it was not the first time she came to Mining University", but the changes that have taken place in Russia's first technical university in recent years, in preparation for the anniversary, literally shocked her.
"The material base, of course, has changed for the better, has become even more modern and technological. Excellent conditions have been created for teachers and students. If we take into account that all this, for the most part, was built not at the expense of the budget, but at the expense of partner companies, it becomes obvious: the team of like-minded people under the leadership of Vladimir Stefanovich has done a tremendous job. You have met the anniversary in a very worthy manner, directing your efforts not to the preparation of inappropriate for the present time celebrations, but to the development", - the Chairperson of the Federation Council addressed the audience.
She called St. Petersburg Mining University one of the most prestigious not only in Russia, but also in the world, and its rector - "a reliable helmsman and a true statesman, always advocating for a strong and independent Russia". That's why, in her opinion, "not only qualified specialists in demand at work, but also real patriots, which is no less important, come out of the university."
"I am sure that all the initiatives aimed at the further development of Mining University will be realized, and your experience, gained, including during the implementation of the pilot project, will serve as an important reference point for all Russian universities," summed up Valentina Matvienko.
Reducing the shortage of specialists capable of creating, operating and improving the best available technologies is one of the most important tasks facing Russia today. The effectiveness of its solution will largely determine our country's ability to resist the ever-increasing external pressure. That is why this spring President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the launch of a pilot project to improve the system of training qualified personnel to meet the long-term needs of various sectors of the national economy. One of its participants was Mining University, which has already implemented in its educational process many ideas aimed at generating an optimal model of higher education.
"It is symbolic that the implementation of the pilot project, in which we take the most active part, will be completed exactly in three years, when the 250th anniversary of the birth of the entire Russian higher technical education will be celebrated. I expect that our solutions, which have already been partially implemented in the curriculum and supported by employers, the academic community, students and their parents, will be scaled up to the whole country by that time. The goal of this work is to create conditions for the continuity of generations in industry, without which another economic breakthrough and improvement of the quality of life of the entire Russian population is impossible," emphasized Vladimir Litvinenko.
As for infrastructure projects, he named among the priorities, first of all, the construction of new dormitories with a total area of more than 60 thousand square meters and an educational complex (more than 120 thousand square meters), as well as the drilling of two ultra-deep wells for thermodynamic research of hydrocarbon genesis. In addition, over the next three years, Russia's first technical university will host more than 25 large-scale scientific and educational international events. Among them is the International Mining Congress in 2026 with the participation of more than 15 thousand delegates. The nearest forum - "Africa is looking for solutions", within the framework of which the Russian-African Consortium of Technical Higher Education Institutions will be established, will be held on December 12 this year.
Alexander Beglov, Governor of St. Petersburg, said that the role of our country's first technical university in solving such state tasks as technological independence and, even more so, technological leadership, cannot be overestimated. After all, almost all major domestic companies involve Mining University in projects to improve the efficiency of subsoil use or reduce the negative impact on the environment.
"When you walk through the city and see representatives of this higher education institution, you always feel proud. They are fit, they wear uniforms. I have no doubt that despite Western sanctions, Gorny will remain the flagship of engineering education in Russia and the guardian of centuries-old traditions dating back to Peter the Great and Catherine the Great," Alexander Beglov noted.
Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Dmitry Afanasiev also called Gorny a "real leader". And told the high assembly that it is within its walls that the reform, which began this year, is proceeding at the fastest pace.
"95% of first-year students here are already studying under the new curricula, i.e. not on a bachelor's degree. No other domestic university can boast such a rapid transformation of the personnel training process today," the deputy minister emphasized.
It should be noted that at the end of the meeting of the Academic Council of Mining University, a ceremony of presenting state awards to its employees was held. It was conducted by Valentina Matvienko, Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.