Perm State University

Perm State University was founded on October 14, 1916. Originally the university was opened as a branch of St. Petersburg University. This decision of the Russian government was in tune with the strategy of cultural and geopolitical development of this dynamically developing region because it needed its own research and educational centre. The idea of a higher educational centre in the Urals was very much discussed and found support of D.I. Mendeleyev, A.S. Popov, D.N. Mamin-Sibiryak, A.G. Denisov-Uralsky and other outstanding public figures.

Perm fought for the right of having its own university for a very long time. The Perm public moved forward numerous projects of setting up a university and decisive role was played by a successful businessman Nikolai Meshkov. Thanks to his efforts the city of Perm was able to offer the most favourable financial conditions and the central government made its decision in favour of Perm.

In the making of the University (1916-1922) a special role belongs to a galaxy of talented academics who became the pride of Russian and world culture: historian and culturologist B.L. Bogaevsky, physicist A.A. Fridman, entomologist V.N. Beklemyshev, philologists V.F.GIushkov, K. Buga, L.A. Bulakhovsky, S.P. Obnorsky, physiologist B.F. Verigo, mathematician I.M. Vinogradov, biologist A.G. Genkel, astronomist K.D. Pokrovsky, historians B.D. Grekov and A.P. Dyakonov, histologist A.A. Zavarzin and chemist A.J. Lunyak. These first professors of the University of Perm have become an integral part of the history of Russian science. The University quickly began to develop into the centre of intellectual and spiritual life of Perm Region and the Urals. In the 1920s-30s Perm Agricultural, Medical and Pedagogical Institutes were established оn the basis of the University departments.

At all stages of its history the graduates of the University occupied the key posts in all spheres of economic, scientific, cultural, governmental and political life of the region. Many of them have become notable politicians, statesmen, academics. Academician Yu.M. Polukarov has become director of the Institute of Physical Chemistry. Academicians A.N. OIiferov and A.I. Kostyayev have become famous due to their research publications. V.I. Fyodorov has become the member of the Russian Federation Council, professor T.N. Neshatayeva has become member of the Constitutional Court of Russia and the Court of Arbitration of Russia. Among the University former graduates there are a prominent politician, deputy of the State Duma V.V. Pokhmelkin, a former General Prosecutor of Russia, deputy of the State Duma and Deputy Minister of Natural Resources V.G. Stepankov, the president of Lukoil-Perm company A.R. Kuzyaev.

Such former graduates as L.I. Davydychev and V.I. Radkevich have become classics of the Urals literature. The literary works of the contemporary writers N.V. Gorlanova, A.V. Korolyov and L.A. Yuzefovich are well known to the public.

Nowadays, the University of Perm is one of Russia's largest centres of research and education with constantly developing infrastructure. There are 12 faculties in the University: mechanics and mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, geography, economics, history and political science, philology, law, philosophy and sociology, modern foreign languages and literature. The population of the Northern parts of Perm Region has now got access to higher education at the Berezniki branch of the University. The most advanced and talented schoolchildren are trained as potential students at the University lyceum. There also functions a network of preparatory and specialized courses for school students and the University applicants.

The lectures and tutorials are conducted at 74 departments by 164 professors and 480 associate professors. The entire staff of the University includes 1080 lecturers, among whom there are 5 academicians and corresponding members of the Academy of Sciences of Russia, 15 Honoured Scientists of Russia and 10 Honored Educationalists of Russia. The highly qualified staff of the University academics is engaged in training more than 13,000 students.
The University trains postgraduates for Philisophy Doctor degree (PhD) at 56 departments and at 6 departments for the higher degree. The theses are defended at the sittings of 14 academic councils.

Besides 12 faculties, the University also includes the Natural Science Institute, the Special Design Bureau «Mayak», the Botanical Gardens, the Kama River Biological Research Station, the experimental centre «Preduralye» and the forestry «Troitskoye» in Chelyabinsk Region. The University library is the largest in the city of Perm, with the 1.5 million volumes available. Perm State University Publishing House and the University printing-house provide the students with the necessary academic publications, manuals and text-books.

One of priorities for the University is computerization. More than 1,000 university computers have been incorporated into a network and have direct access to the Internet via satellite. Advanced technologies of education are being actively introduced into the University academic process. Distant education enables the students to learn different subjects.

Before 1989 the city of Perm was closed for foreign visitors. Today the University is actively contacting with the universities and research centres of the world. Long-term agreements and exchange programmes have been signed with the leading universities of Great Britain (Oxford University, Manchester Metropolitan University), France (the Mediterranean University of Marseilles), Germany (the Hanover and Luneburg Universities), Slovenia (Slovenian University, the city of Ljubljana), and some others.

During 1980s-90-s the University faced serious financial problems, but still managed to dynamically develop. The territory of the University has become a real campus with the hostels and an apartment house for professors and tutors, with numerous canteens and cafes. The Students' Recreation Centre and the Sports Club have become popular not only with our students but also with the young people of the city of Perm. Well equipped University dispensary helps the staff and the students to be fit all the year round.

The University of Perm is very optimistic about its future. It finds its own answers to the challenges of life and formulates the key development strategies for the first decade of the 21st century.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-16