On 3 July, The exhibition “Centenary of Voronezh State University” opened in the State Duma. It was organised with the support of the United Russia party and at the initiative of the deputy of the fraction of the Voronezh region and the university graduate, Andrey Markov.
Among the exhibits were innovative and scientific developments of VSU researchers, university awards for participation in regional and national student’s events, unique archival documents, photographs, and information materials about the university’s activities.
Andrey Markov emphasised that VSU is the crown jewel of the region:
“Voronezh State University has a long-standing history. If you watch the exhibits attentively you can see that in fact VSU is not just 100, it is at the very least 216 years old. Its history starts with Yuriev (Derpt) University which was established in 1802 following a decree by Russian Emperor Alexander I.
Among the visitors of the exhibition was the Leader of the fraction of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Vladimir Zhirinovsky. He said that few universities had been granted with the right to present themselves at the State Duma.
“We always welcome humanitarian exhibitions. It is the first exhibition dedicated to a university in the State Duma. Now, we also feel proud that there is such a wonderful university in Russia,” said Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
Rector Dmitry Endovitsky told the guests about VSU. Our university has a very complicated and tragic history. In 1918, the Major State Commission ordered the university to move from Derpt to Voronezh. During the first world war and the Great Patriotic war, the university went through a lot of trials: evacuation, destruction of university buildings, and book robbery. However, it managed to keep and multiply its research and academic potential.
“We will never forget that VSU is among the few universities in the Soviet Union that was awarded with the Order of Lenin for its outstanding contribution into the development of science and education and training of specialists. There were neither federal, nor national, nor national research universities at that time and the Order of Lenin was the highest award in the Soviet Union,” said the Head of the university.
Among other speakers at the event were the Head of the Department of Education, Science, and Youth Policy of the Voronezh Region, Oleg Mosolov, professor of the Faculty of Physics, the Full Member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Evelina Domashevskaya, and deputies of the State Duma.
The members of the parliament watched the exhibits with great interest, learnt about the university’s activities, research, and innovative developments of the university scientists and its outstanding graduates.
