VORONEZH STATE UNIVERSITY: A BRIEF HISTORY

1 The foundation of Voronezh University is closely related to the history of Yuriev (Derpt or Dorpat) University, established in 1802 in the City of Derpt (modern name: Tartu, Estonia), following the decree of Alexander 1, the Russian emperor. In 1918 the historical university was relocated to the City of Voronezh, responding to the petition signed by the local authorities and public,

2 Voronezh welcomed 39 professors from Derpt, including experts in medicine N. N. Burdenko, L.V. Georgievski, V.A. Afanasiev, outstanding biologists K.K. Saint-Hilaire, M.S. Tsvet, LL. Schmalhausen and geologists N. N. Bogolubov, V.E. Tarasenko; renowned lawyers V. E. Grabar, L. A. Shalland and philologists N. M. Krasheninnikov, D. N. Kudryavski, historians V. E. Regel, R. A. Yakovenko, A. N. Yasinski, a brilliant philosopher Ya. F. mathematician V. N. Alexeev, meteorologist B.I. Sreznevski and N.R. Leibensohn who was a great authority in geophysics and mathematics. They were accompanied by 45 faculty and 43 staff members, as well as 800 students.

3 On November 12, 1918 the first lectures started at four faculties of the newly born Voronezh University: the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, the Faculty of History and Philology and the Faculty of Law. Professor V. E. Regel, a well-known historian who was also a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was then elected Rector of the University.

4 At first, enrolment into the University was absolutely free and at the beginning of 1919 there were about 10 000 students.

5 in 1921 the Faculty of Pedagogy was established, and in 1925 a research institute in the fields of biology and chemistry was created. In 1921-1923 Voronezh Institute of People's Education joined the University growing further into its Faculty of Pedagogics. Its departments trained teachers in mathematics, physics, chemistry, natural sciences, socio-economic subject for schools, Russian and literature. In 1926 the first postgraduate program was started, and so it became possible to train highly qualified research workers.

6 In 1929 the Faculty of Planned Economy was organized, and in 1930-1931 VSU underwent another radical reorganization. The Faculty of Medicine was transformed into an independent institute, and the Faculties of Pedagogy and Economy developed into Voronezh Pedagogical Institute and the Institute for National Economy Accounting and Reporting. VSU was evolving into a core university for all educational establishments of the region.

In the 30s of the 20th century the Botanical gardens were organized, and the nature reserve "Galichya Gora (Mountain)" also became a part of VSU. During the same period of time, the geological, the soil and the zoological museums were created, and the University library enlarged its collection of books.

7 By June 1941, when the war started, the University counted 6 Faculties. There were 40 departments, four museums, a fundamental library with 400.000 books, 3 research centers, a publishing and printing house.

The following prominent professors of that period of time should be mentioned here: biologists 1. 1. Barabash-Nikiforov and B. M. Kozo-Polyansky, soil scientist P. D. Aderikhin, geographer K. N. Mirotvortsev, geologist A. A. Dubyansky, mathematician A. K. Sushkevitch; physicists A. P. Pospelov and M. A. Levitskaya; chemists A. V. Dumansky and A. D. Bogoyavlensky. The University was steadily growing into the leading research and intellectual centre of the Central Black Soil Region.

8 In the very first days of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, almost all the students as well as more than 60 faculty members went to the front. Rector N. P. Latyshev was one of the organizers of Voronezh Volunteers Regiment. In 1942 the University was evacuated to the Town of Yelabuga in Tatar Autonomous Republic, not returning to Voronezh until 1943.

9 In the late 40s and early 50s the resurrection of the University led to its further rapid development.

The number of faculties in that period increased to 11. Several prominent researchers and their disciples won recognition both in the Soviet Union and abroad. In 1965 the new main building of the University was put into service.

10 In 1961 VSU became one of the leading centres of teaching international students in the USSR. The first international agreement was concluded in 1966. It was between VSU and the University of Halle-Wittenberg (Germany). Now there are more than 700 international students, postgraduates and interns at VSU. The University has signed agreements with 64 Universities and training centres in Europe, America and Asia. The University is recognized internationally, and in 2002 VSU was the eighth Russian university to become a member of the European University Association.

11 The years between the late 60s and early 80s witnessed further growth and development of VSU. New departments were opened, and new teaching technologies introduced. Several research projects conducted by VSU scientists were included into regional and All-Union programmes. In 1971 the University

was awarded the Order of Lenin, and in 1981 VSU received the Order of the Banner of Labour (German Democratic Republic).

12 Basic restructuring processes which started in the 90s of the previous century produced a significant impact upon VSU. The University was able to meet the challenges of a new situation in the economy and social relations. New faculties and departments were established, and new research areas and educational technologies were introduced.

13 Today Voronezh State University has 5 research institutes, the Centre for Industry of Nanosystems and Materials, the Research Park, Technology Commercialization Centre, the Shared Research Equipment Centre, Botanical Gardens, 'Galichya Gora' nature reserve, etc.

14 For the more than 100 years of its existence the University has fostered and trained more than 120,000 professionals, including many talented academics who have left an imprint upon the history of Russian and world science: a Nobel Prize laureate in Physics and a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, P.Α. Cherenkov; winners of the USSR State Prize and the State Prize of the Russian Federation, full and corresponding members of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the Russian Academy of Sciences. Among the University graduates are notable ministers, academics, cultural professionals, famous lawyers and successful businessmen. VSU alumni occupy key positions in economic, scientific, cultural and political life of the Black Soil region. The University scientists deal with various aspects of science and humanities. Their works, being profound in meeting the requirements of the present day, are widely known in our country and abroad.

Today Voronezh State University is one of Russia's largest educational and research centres successfully adapting to the demands of the twenty-first century social, economic and political contexts in Russia.

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