Tomsk State University

PART II

In a beautiful old park in the centre of Tomsk one can see a three-storey impressive building. It is the main building of Tomsk University. It was founded under the pressure of progressive public opinion in 1878 and opened in 1888. That is why you can see the two dates on the facade of the building. The newly-born University was the ninth in Russia and the first in Siberia.

Originally, it had only one faculty – that of medicine. The second faculty – law – was opened ten years later and two more: the faculty of physics and mathematics and the faculty of history, phylology and philosophy were opened only in 1917, the year of October Revolution.

In 1934 the University was named after V.V. Kuybishev, an outstanding revolutionary who became a law student of this University in 1909, and was one of the most active leaders of the students’ revolutionary life in Tomsk in 1909 – 1910.

At present the University has 22 faculties: physics, chemistry, mathematics and mechanics, applied mathematics and cybernetics, radiophysics, technical physics, geology and geography, biology and soil, computer science, history and international relations, psychology, foreign languages, philosophy, culture studies, military training, international department of agriculture and ecology, international management department, High school of business, law, economics, philology and journalism. Now the student body is over 17500.

The University also carries on the scientific supervision of postgraduates within the frame of most faculties.

Tomsk University is both the academic and research centre of Siberia for it comprises three reseach institutes, a lot of research laboratories, the Botanical garden founded by professor P.M. Krylov, the Herbarium and museums of paleontology, mineralogy, zoology, archeology and ethnography which are rich in various exhibits.

The University library deserves special attention because it is well known not only in Siberia but in other parts of the country as well. Its book depository numbers over 4 million volumes and the new building of the library offers fine reading-halls to the students, teachers and researchers of the University. All in all there are about 20 reading-halls at the disposal of the University people.

The University is actively involved in international programs, has signed agreements of cooperation with a number of foreign universitites, conduct student and scholar exchange, collaborates in joint educational programs.

In 2003 the University celebrated its 125th anniversary, which was the great date both for the teaching staff and the students.

Дата добавления: 2015-01-03