Kazan Federal UniversityKazan Federal UniversityA Path Two Centuries LongA Path Two Centuries Long

On November 5, 1804 Emperor Alexander I signed a decree founding Kazan ImperialUniversity and its Charter. This date became the birthday of one of Russia's oldest uni-versities, one which would play a prominent historical role in developing Russian sci-ence, education and culture. Since its foundation the University became the center ofKazan's Educational District including the Volga Region, the Urals, Siberia, theCaucasus, as well as Vyatka, Perm, Orenburg, Penza and Tambov provinces. KazanUniversity was charged with responsibility and control over the work of all secular aca-demic institutions located in this vast territory.

In 1996, by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Kazan Universitywas included into the State Register of high-value objects of Russia’s cultural heritage.

After a two-century long path was completed, the world renowned centre of learninggained the new status. On October 21, 2009 the President of the Russian Federationsigned a decree on setting up Volga Region Federal University on the basis of KazanState University. According to its Development Program, Tatar State University ofHumanities and Education, Kazan State Finance and Economics Institute and ElabugaState Pedagogical University joined Kazan Federal University on April 8, 2010. Thus,the University today is called to overcome challenges of science, education and industryintegration, working towards staff and economy development in the Volga Region withfoundation on quality knowledge and high technologies.

The Birth of One of the Russia's Oldest Universities

The University was housed in a large and beautiful building of the Imperial School con-structed in 1796. Later, three neighboring houses were purchased. This brought about avision of this block as a future campus. In the 1820s architect P.Pyatnitskiy built the pres-ent-looking main building. The classical 75-sazhen long facade with three stately porticossurvives with no changes. During the rectorship of N.Lobachevskiy, architect M.Korinfskiycompleted the original plan. Strictly along the axis of the main building he located ananatomical theater so that this new structure stands due south of the main building andsymmetrically facing its centre, with a chemistry laboratory and library standing either sideto create a new East-West parallel. An astronomical laboratory standing out with the refine-ment of its lines and a three-storey clinic were built during this period, too.

In the 20th century the campus could not but spread over its original territory. Thus, onthe other side of Astronomicheskaya street a building of the Faculty of Chemistry was com-pleted in 1953. The Faculty of Geology occupies the building of a former theological sem-inary, an architectural monument of the 18th century. Starting in 1967, in about ten years,two high-rise blocks with a total space of 30,000 sq.m. were constructed to the north andwest of the main building. The last major building - a cultural and sports complex wasopened in 1989. In 2003 the eastern wing of the main building was completed, thus imple-menting a project by Mufke of 1904. Only the western wing was constructed for theUniversity's 100th anniversary. The walls of the University, its architectural ensembletogether with the richest library and museum stocks, are a material element of historicaland cultural heritage.

Architectural Appearance

Kazan University

M. Korinfskiy

M. Nuzhin, like N. Lobachevskiy, is called aRector-Constructor. He headed the Universityat the time of constructing the two high-risers

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1. The main building 2. Astronomical Observatory3. A. Butlerov ChemicalInstitute 4. Institute of Geology and Oiland Gas Technologies5. Prof. M. Nuzhin, the University Rector from1954 to 1979 6. Building № 7. A. Butlerov memorial study 8. Institute of Physics

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The University's history abounds with the names of prominent people. First of all, theseare scholars who have worked here and created numerous scientific schools of interna-tional acclaim. Over the last 80 years over 50 KFU professors and alumni have beenelected to the Soviet Union and Russian Academies of Science. Gifted scholars and bril-liant research organizers have headed the most prestigious scientific institutions under theSU Academy of Science.

The University takes pride in its alumni, including some world-renowned scholars,polit icians and cultural experts, such as writers S.Aksakov, L.Tolstoy, P.Melnikov-Pechorskiy, V.Khlebnikov, composer M.Balakirev, artist V.Jakobi and others.

The following academicians started their scientific careers here: D.Perevoshchikov(astronomer and mathematician), M.Lavrentiev (mathematician), M.Nechkina (histori-an), V.Parin (physiologist and physician), A.Bayev (biologist and physician),A.Trofimchuk (petroleum geologist), K.Valiev (physicist) and others.

Such statesmen as V.Ulianov-Lenin and A.Rykov were University students.

University Alumniin Science, Culture and Politics

Kazan University

V. Ulianov A. RykovS. Aksakov V. Khlebnikov M. BalakirevL. Tolstoy

1. M. Nechkina 2. V. Parin3. A. Bayev4. A. Trofimchuk5. K. Valiev

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Mathematics

Forming scientific schools

P. Kotelnikov

N. Lobachevskiy

A. Vasiliev

The genius of N.Lobachevskiy, a founder of non-Euclidean geometry, towers over othermathematicians of the 19th century. He was almost half a century ahead of his time,and his contemporaries did not understand him. The following people greatly contributedto developing and disseminating his ideas: Prof. F.Suvorov, a researcher of Riemannspaces, A.Vasiliev, D.Sintsov, and A.Kotelnikov (who laid the foundations of Mechanicsin non-Euclidean spaces and studied relations between Lobachevskiy Geometry and rel-ativity theory). Later, Prof. P. Shirokov, a prominent contributor to the Kazan Schoolof Geometry and a teacher of well-known scientists, worked successfully in the area ofnon-Euclidean geometry and was one of the first geometricians to master the method oftensor calculus. One of his students was Prof. A.Petrov who proved the theorem of theexistence of Einstein's three types of spaces, which brought him world acclaim.

Prof. A.Norden, a researcher of generalized space theory, also played a great role in theUniversity's mathematical life. Similarly, the Kazan School of Algebra brought a widerepute to the University. It was founded by Prof. N.Chebotarev, a researcher of theGalois theory, Lie group theory and resolvent theory. His numerous students included atalented algebraist V.Morozov.

The careers of the following mechanical engineers are characterized by substantialachievement: P.Kotelnikov, I.Gromeka, Ye.Bolotov, N.Parfentiev, D.Seliger and his fol-lower N.Chetayev, the founder of the Kazan School of Stability Theory. A new area inthe theory of analytical functions, the theory of inverse boundary-value problems, wassuccessfully developing in the second part of the 20th century. Finally, KFU scholarshave contributed greatly to developing nonlinear stability theory.

1. P. Shirokov 2. A. Norden and A. Petrov3. V. Morozov 4. N. Chetayev and N. Chebotarev5. Yu. Konoplev, Head of Department ofTheoretical Mechanics, the UniversityRector in 1990 –20013

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In 1810 Prof. I.Littrow founded the Department of Astronomy. His student, Prof.I.Simonov succeeded in opening a new observatory in 1837 and organizing perma-nent observations. Simonov became known worldwide through his participation in thefamous navigation by Bellingshausen and Lazarev that discovered the sixth continent,Antarctica, in 1820. Simonov's successor at the Department of Astronomy was Prof.M.Kovalskiy who was studying stellar motions and who was the first to forecast therotation of our Galaxy.

Since 1884 the Department of Astronomy and Observatory were headed by Prof.D.Dubyago who raised a whole generation of talented astronomers-observers. It wasthrough Dubyago and his friend V.Engelgardt (who donated his entire Dresden lab-oratory to Kazan University) that a suburban observatory was constructed in 1901named after Engelgardt. His followers continued astronomic observations, Moonlibration and gravitational expeditions investigating the Earth's shape. New sphereswere opened through astrophysical investigations, particularly, the spectral study ofeclipsing variable stars (A.Yakovkin, A.Dubyago, D.Martynov, W.Kratt, etc.)

In 1976 University astronomers launched a mountain observatory in Karachaevo-Circassia (Caucasus). Since 1987 observations are also taken at a KFU's 1.5-meteroptical telescope built in the mountains of Turkey.

Astronomy

Forming scientific schools

I. Littrow I. Simonov M. Kovalskiy D. Dubyago

1. Simonov's telescope 2. D. Martynov3. A. Dubyago4. W. Engelgardt Astronomical Observatory 5,6. TUBITAC National Observatory (Turkey),Russian-Turkish telescope of Kazan University

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Physics and Meteorology

Forming scientific schools

F. Bronner A. Kupfer D. Goldhammer

After the Charter of 1804 the University had a unified Department of Physics andPhysical Geography. Developments in physics were based on the unity of theory and exper-iment. Meteorological observations were conducted from the very beginning, first, under thesupervision of Prof. of Physics I.Zapolskiy, and, then, by F.Bronner. Prof. E.Knorr playeda great role in developing meteorological observations. Prof. A.Kupfer started geomagneticresearch creating at Kazan University one of the first magnetic observatories in the nation.The turn of the 19th and 20th century is the period of prominent Russian scholarsD.Goldhammer and V.Ulianin. Their main works lie in the area of Meteorology and elec-tromagnetic light theory. During the first years after the Bolshevik revolution, Prof.P.Smolyakov, first, and N.Kolobov, later, arranged modern meteorological services and for-mulated several valuable conclusions about the Climate in the Middle Volga region.

Developments in physics in the 20th century were revolutionized by the greatest discovery madeat Kazan University in 1944 by Prof. Ye.Zavoiskiy. After numerous persistent experimentsZavoiskiy discovered the phenomenon of electric paramagnetic resonance. This discovery pro-vided scholars with a universal method for investigating the microstructure of any substancesat the electron level. Later, Prof. S.Altschuler and B.Kozyrev formed strong young researchteams. Problem laboratories of magnet radio spectroscopy and quantum electronics were organ-ized together for the generation of experimental data. Prof. Altschuler's discovery opened a newdirection in Physical and Quantum Acoustics. By the 1970s Physics had become the biggestSchool in the University. In 2003 the Faculty incorporates the following departments:Theoretical Physics, Magnet Radio Spectroscopy and Quantum Electronics as well asLaboratories of Molecular Physics, Solid-State Physics and General Physics.

1. V. Ulianin2. Diploma for Zavoiskiy's discovery 3. Diploma for Altschuler's discovery4. Zavoiskiy's magnet 5. S. Altschuler, Ye. Zavoiskiy, B. Kozyrev

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Kazan School of Chemistry

Forming scientific schools

N. ZininK. Klaus A. Butlerov A. Zaitsev

The first successes of chemists from Kazan University date back to the first part of the 19thcentury. In 1842 Prof. N. Zinin developed a method of obtaining aniline from nitrobenzeneopening a fundamental opportunity for industrial organic synthesis. Two years later Prof. K.Klausdiscovered a new chemical element and called it "Ruthenium" ("Russian" in Latin). Zinin andKlaus's follower, Prof. A. Butlerov, started a revolution in science. He developed a theory of thechemical struc¬ture of organic matter which allowed defining of the structure of any organiccompounds and to finding ways for their synthesis. Butlerov's students were Prof. V.Markovnikov, a founder of the School of Chemistry at Moscow University; Prof. F. Flavitskiyand A. Zaitsev, the latter applied Butlerov's theory using his own methods to synthesize newclasses of organic compounds. He, in turn, trained numerous scholars, including Prof. A.Arbuzovwho created and headed the Kazan School of Chemistry in the 20th century.

A. Nesmeyanov, the President of the SU Academy of Science called Prof. A.Arbuzov "thefounder of the third chemistry" meaning elementorganic chemistry, which received its birth inthe works of A.Arbuzov and his followers. Here are the names of but a few of them:B.Arbuzov, G.Kamay, A.Pudovik, A.Konovalov (Rector in 1979-1990), O.Sinyashin,I.Antipin. Hundreds of chemists in Kazan and Tatarstan work at KFU, Kazan StateTechnological University (Kazan State Institute of Chemical Technology), The ResearchInstitute of Organic and Physical Chemistry under the Russian Academy of Science, andother branch institutes and laboratories of major chemical enterprises. All of them come fromthe Arbuzov school, since the Arbuzov era in chemistry is also a synthesis of research andindustry.

V. Markovnikov

1. Aniline obtained by N. Zinin2. Ruthenium discovered by K. Klaus3. Old chemical laboratory4. A. Arbuzov5. G. Kamay6. A. Pudovik, B. Arbuzov and A. Konovalov 7. I. Antipin with a graduate student 8. Modern student laboratory

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Geology

Forming scientific schools

P. KrotovN. Golovkinskiy A. Stuckenberg

The Department of Natural History where Prof. K. Fuchs taught a course on min-eralogy was founded in 1805. Since 1824 the Department was headed by Prof.A. Kupfer who opened here a mineralogical room. Prof. P. Wagner supervised thecreation of "geognostic" maps of the regions from 1840. The first professor ofgeology, N. Golovkinskiy, a founder of the phase doctrine, studied the stratigraphy ofPermian sediments in the Volga-Kama region. His successor, Prof. A. Stuckenberg con-ducted the first geological survey of the vast territory of the Middle Volga, Urals, Kamaand Pechora Basins. Stuckenberg's school of geology acquired a wide acclaim in the sci-entific world. The most distinguished representatives of this school in the 20th centurywere M.Noinskiy, M.Yanishevskiy, V.Cherdintsev, Ye.Tikhvinskaya. They achieved sig-nificant results using the traditional historic-geological method. Together with Kupfer,other areas of mineralogy, petrography and crystallography were developing in the 19thcentury culminating in a new discipline. The Physics of Minerals emerged from thisdirection in the 20th century. Using new research methods (radiospectroscopic, optical,roentgen, etc.) it provides for creating quantum conceptions of internal mineral structure.

Kazan geologists played a great role in searching and prospecting oil deposits in the Volga-Ural oil and gas region. Geophysical search methods developed by Prof. J.Dickhof andhis followers opened wide opportunities in precise projection of new mineral deposits.

1. M. Noinskiy2. Ye. Tikhvinskaya3. L. Miropolskiy

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In the very beginning of the 19th century Zoology, Botany and Mineralogy were notdifferentiated and constituted the single Natural History. Prof. K. Fuchs was an initia-tor of natural sciences at Kazan University. His wide interests and knowledge stand outeven when compared with those of the encyclopedists of the 18th century. Naturalistsback then had a huge and almost untouched material for their studies, i.e. Russia'sunbounded East. Travels and expeditions were the main business of the first generationsof Kazan University's natural historians.

General Natural History was differentiated gradually. Thus, Prof. E. Eichwald,E.Eversmann and N. Wagner laid the foundations of the School of Zoology. Prof. A.Kovalevskiy and V. Zalenskiy (later academicians) of the Department of Zoology startedcomparative embryology. Traditions of N. Wagner, the first consistent Darwinist, were con-tinued in the 20th century through traditional research directions. As a consequence Prof.M. Ruzskiy, A. Ostroumov, and N. Livanov achieved much success in developing problemsof wildlife evolution. Prof. S. Korzhinskiy founded Kazan Geobotanical School.Generalizing the experience of numerous expeditions he substantiated new approaches in florastudies and formulated the principles of phytocenology. His follower A. Gordyagin workedin this direction in the 20th century. Later M. Markov spread these principles to ploughedfields, starting a new discipline - agrophytocenology. Prof. V. Baranov studied ancient flora,particularly that of the tertiary period. In 1932 the Department of Plant Physiology wasestablished. It was headed by Prof. A. Alexeyev who studied the aquatic order of plants.Alexeyev's follower, Prof. I. Tarchevskiy, who headed the newDepartment of Biochemistry and later, the Institute of Biology underthe Academy of Science, showed the interaction between the aquaticorder of plants and photosynthesis chemism. Microbiological researchstarted in the 1960s was headed by Prof. M. Belyaeva.

A first department of nature protection in the USSR was started hereat the Faculty of Biology in 1969. This Department was the basisfor the first Faculty of Ecology in the nation founded in 1989. Thiswas very much due to the efforts of Prof. V.Popov who laid thefoundations for ecological education within the classical universitycurriculum.

Biology

Forming scientific schools

K. Fuchs

E. Ewersmann S. Korzhinskiy A. Gordyagin

1. N. Livanov 2. V. Baranov in expedition 3. Collection of V. Baranov

4. M. Markov 5. A. Alexeyev6. I. Tarchevskiy7. V. Popov

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Kazan University had had a Faculty of Medicine before 1930. K. Fuchs was oneof the first professors of Medicine. Some prominent scholars worked at theDepartment of Anatomy, including Prof. Ye. Aristov, P. Leshaft, and V. Tonkov.Several of Russia's largest schools were started at this Faculty: Neurohistology (K.Arnstein), Ophthalmology (Ye. Adamyuk), Neurosurgery (Razumovskiy), etc.The largest contribution to Russian medical science and practice was made by thesurgeon A. Vishnevskiy who created a local anesthetic method with Novocain. Thisbrought him world acclaim.

The Kazan School of Physiology founded by Prof. F. Ovsyannikov and N. Kovalevskiyalso received a wide recognition. In the 1880s Prof. V. Bekhterev, an outstandingphysiologist, neuropathologist, psychiatrist and psychologist, started at the University oneof the Europe's first psychophysiological laboratories for research into Anatomy,Physiology and Experimental Psychology. Here he also completes the first edition of hisbook entitled "Conduction Tracts of the Brain".

The founder and head of the Kazan Electrophysiological School, Prof. A.Samoilovwas the first in Russia to take an electrocardiogram (1906), and one of the first toapply a string galvanometer for the study of the central nervous system. In the 20thcentury Prof. V. Engelgardt made a world-level discovery: the process of oxidizingphosphorylation which is a basis for vital functions of aerobic organisms.

Medicine and Physiology

Forming scientific schools

F. Erdmann P. Leshaft N. Vinogradov V. Gruzdev N. Kovalevskiy N. Mislavskiy

Ye. Adamyuk V. Bekhterev

1. A. Samoilov2. String galvanometer3. Model of Conduction Tracts of the Brain4. A.Vishnevskiy

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As Europe's easternmost University KSU had the most advantageous location for studying theculture of Oriental countries and nations. This was clear to German oriental scientists H. Frahn and F. Erdmann who moved to Kazan and laid the foundation of Oriental Scienceat the University. During Lobachevskiy's rectorship a renowned Oriental Unit of KazanUniversity was formed based within the following Departments: Arabic-Persian, Turkish-Tatar,Mongol, Chinese-Manchurian Philology, Sanskrit and Armenian Language. In their travels tothe East A. Kazem-Bek, O. Kovalevskiy, I. Berezin, V. Vasiliev and others collected a hugequantity of materials for regional studies creating the richest stock of Oriental manuscripts.They were also the authors of numerous textbooks and dictionaries and translations of east-ern authors. Also, archeological, ethnographic and culturological activity was undertaken.

In 1854 the Oriental Unit was transferred to Saint Petersburg University together with its pro-fessors, collections of material monuments and over two thousand Oriental books and man-uscripts. In the late 19th - early 20th centuries Oriental Studies in Kazan were narrowed toTurkic Studies and are connected with Prof. N.Katanov. The Unit of Tatar Philology wasstarted at Kazan University in 1944. In the 1960s-80s Oriental Science underwent a newstage in its development: historical and archeological research was resumed, and theses onproblems of the language, folklore and ethnography of the Tatar people were produced.

The present-day stage of Kazan Oriental Science is characterized by the revival of teachingOriental languages, establishing the Faculty of Tatar Philology, History and Oriental lan-guages and creating the Institute of Oriental Studies in 2000.

The Kazan School of Slavic Studies is also quite well known. It was foundedby talented scholar V. Grigorovich who worked at Kazan University from 1838until 1864. Grigorovich's followers were Prof. I. Smirnov, A. Alexandrov, andM. Petrovskiy. In the 20th century traditions of the School of Slavic Studieswere continued by Prof. N. Petrovskiy, E. Budde, and A. Selishev.

The Linguistic School of Kazan University owes its appearance to the promi-nent scholar I. Baudouin de Courtenay. His theory of phonemes and phonet-ic interchanges proved to be daring and original. Prof. N. Krushevskiy and V.Bogorodskiy succeeded I. Baudouin de Courtenay. Even into the 21st centuryKazan linguists work under the beneficial influence of this school.

Oriental Science and Philology

Forming scientific schools

H. Frahn O. Kovalevskiy V. Vasiliev..

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À. Kazem-Bek N. KatanovI. Berezin

Baudouin de Courtenay N. Bulich V. Grigorovich

1. V. Bogorodskiy inPhonetics laboratory 2. E. Budde

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Since the very beginning University scholars have shown a great interest in the historicalmonuments of this region. Prof. S. Shpilevskiy fruitfully studied the local history andarcheology in the late 1800s. Regular archeological expeditions started in the middle of the20th century under the supervision of Prof. N. Kalinin and his follower A. Khalikov whoactually created a holistic ancient history of the region and highlighted the most complexquestions of the ethnogeny of nations living in the Middle Volga and Ural regions.

The first ethnographic studies were initiated in the early 1800s. Ethnographyat the University was greatly contributed to by Prof. B. Adler who created theDepartment of Geography and Ethnography in 1913. Since the 1940s Universityethnographers (Ye. Busygin and his colleagues under the supervision of Prof.N. Vorobiev) concentrated their attention on investigating the Russians of theMiddle Volga Area. Annual expeditions yielded an extensive array of materials pre-sented today at the University's Ethnographic Museum.

Legal subjects were taught since the very first years of the University at the Departmentof Moral and Political Science. The Law Faculty, which opened in 1837, contributedto Russian legal science through the works of the following scholars: D. Meier, aprominent Russian specialist in civil law, A.Piontkovskiy, a major expert in criminallaw, N. Zagoskin and G.Shershenevich - history and theory of law, A.Stanislavskiy -history of law philosophy, and D.Feldman - international law.

HistoryEthnographyLaw

Forming scientific schools

A. Shchapov D. Korsakov F. Mishchenko M. Khvostov

1. D. Feldman2. B. Adler 3. N. Vorobiev, Ye. Busygin4. Archeological expedition undersupervision of A. Khalikov

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D. Meier A. Piontkovskiy A. Stanislavskiy N. Zagoskin

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The role of Kazan University in developing education and culture in the region cannotbe overestimated. First of all, we should mention achievements of the University pub-lishing house, especially its Asian output. It was publishing books in Tatar and otherOriental languages in the Arabic fonts. Later, University press craftsmen disseminatedbook production with the Bashkirs, Kazakhs and nations of Middle Asia.

On April 19, 1811 University professors published the first issue of Kazanskie Izvestia (KazanNews), the Russia's first provincial newspaper. They also were publishing Kazanskiy Vestnik(Kazan Herald) and the magazine Zavolzhskiy Muravey (Trans-Volga Ant).

N.Lobachevskiy Scientific Library, one of the richest libraries in the nation, is a gem ofthe University. The Library started with the book collection of Prince Potyomkin andKazan bibliophile V. Polyanskiy which had been donated to Kazan school in the firstyears of the 19th century. The Library boasts priceless ancient manuscripts in differentlanguages, including oriental, first printed books and other rarities. Today its stocks exceed5 bln. volumes. The Library has 14 reading halls, an Internet center and the InformationCentre of the European Union. Up-to-date information technologies also serve the needsof today's readers.

There are eight specialized museums at the University, including geological (founded inearly 1800s), archeological, zoological, ethnographic and botanical, all with unique col-lections made up of objects brought back from expeditions by University scholars at var-ious times.

The Museum of the Kazan School of Chemistry was started in the middle of the 19thcentury. It has a chemical laboratory, called the "cradle of Russian organic chemistry", A. Butlerov's classroom and the A. Butlerov memorial study.

The Museum of University History was founded in 1979. Its exhibits tell the story ofone of Russia's oldest universities with the prominent advances in research and namesof its great scholars and alumni. A physical laboratory where Prof. Ye.Zavoiskiy dis-covered electric paramagnetic resonance is also a part of the Museum.

Cultural and Scientific Heritage

Kazan University

It was at the University that the first theater, musical performances and art startedin Kazan. The University atmosphere of creative search and sway of imagination hasalways positively affected an aesthetic flair and propensity to artistic creativity. Artmasters have considered it an honor to perform at the University's historical AssemblyHall with its superb acoustics.

Student performance teams stage music, singing and dance. Classical and Tatar folkchoirs have become quite well known. A yearly festival Student Spring demonstratesan exuberant creative fantasy of the young, inexhaustible humor and, rather often,a high performance level.

Cultural Traditions

Kazan University

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1. Ye. Yevtushenko performs at KFU's Assembly Hall 2. Kazan State Chamber Orchestra "La Primavera",Art Director and Conductor – R. Abyazov 3. KFU Folk Choir, Art Director – V. Levanov 4. KFU Tatar Folk Choir, Art Director – I. Rakhimullin

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Faculty of Biology and SoilFaculty of EconomicsFaculty of Journalism and SociologyFaculty of LawFaculty of PhilologyFaculty of PhilosophyFaculty of PsychologyFaculty of Tatar Philology and HistoryA.Butlerov Chemical InstituteInstitute of Computer Mathematics and Information TechnologiesInstitute of continuous studyingInstitute of Ecology and GeographyInstitute of Geology and Oil and Gas TechnologiesInstitute of HistoryInstitute of Oriental StudiesInstitute of PhysicsLanguage InstituteN.Chebotarev Research Institute of Mechanics and MathematicsN.Lobachevskiy Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics

The University has three branches in Naberezhnie Chelny, Zelenodolsk and Yelabuga.

Around 40,000 students study in 100 different specialties covering the entire scope offundamental sciences. Numerous specializations provide for the individualization of experttraining in new scientific directions and at points of scientific collaboration. Total numberof teaching staff is about 3,500 people, over 550 doctors of science and 2,000 candi-dates of science are involved in research and development.

Kazan University is a present-day model of a classical university where the most fundamentalprinciple is the synthesis of research and education. For this reason, KFU can boast severalresearch units, including V.Engelgardt Astronomical Observatory, N.Chebotarev ResearchInstitute of Mechanics and Mathematics, the Botanical Garden, the Centre for InformationTechnologies as well as problem-solving laboratories and interdepartmental research groups.

The University Today

Kazan University

KFU Rector Prof. I. Gafurov at the ceremony of award-ing diplomas with honors

On October 21, 2009, President of Russia Dmitri Medvedev signed a Decree “Oncreating federal universities in North-West, Volga Region, Urals and Far-East FederalDistricts”. According to this Decree, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University was tobe created on the basis of Kazan State University. The mission of the university inits new status is in its support of the innovative development of the community andcountry, on the whole, through providing high-quality education, research and tech-nological developments. The strategic objective of the university is training of staff forthe emerging innovative economy of the community, producing internationally com-petitive knowledge and technologies. It is also responsible for providing scientific, tech-nical and technological solutions of complex tasks related to the regional developmentand implementing major programs of social and economic development.

In January 2011 Kazan Federal University merged with Tatar State University ofHumanities and Education, Kazan State Finance and Economics Institute, YelabugaState University of Education. At the moment the united University is undergoinglarge-scale modernization of educational process, research and development, and innovative activities.

Change with Continuity

1. Kazan Federal University2. Kazan State Finance and Economics Institute 3. Tatar State University of Humanities and Education4. Yelabuga State University of Education

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is a ‘classical university,’ which in the Russian context means adhering to the besttraditions in all the main disciplines of higher learning. At the same time, it is amodern and dynamic institution, attracting the best representatives of the younger gen-eration, reinvigorating its research and reorganizing curricula according to contempo-rary principles of innovation, internationalization and interdisciplinary integration.

Kazan University is a structurally complex and functionally universal body, a pres-ent-day model of the classical university where the community of scholars and stu-dents is engaged in the joint search for truth. And if Kazan University stays classi-cal up to now, this is because it relies on the richest spiritual experience and tradi-tions produced by history.

Kazan University

DECREEOF THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIANFEDERATIONIn order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the peoples

of the Russian Federation, I herewith decree: to include Kazan State

University into the State List of the most valuable objects of the cultural

heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation.

B. Yeltsin

President of the Russian Federation

Moscow, Kremlin July 30, 1996 №1112

DECREEOF THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

on establishment of federal universities in North-West,

Volga Region, Urals and Far-East Federal Districts

Based on Point 2.1, Article 10 of the Federal Law #125-ФЗ “On higher and post-university

professional education” dated August 22, 1996, I, herewith, decree:

1. To the Government of the Russian Federation:

a) To establish within three months:

– In the North-West Federal District – Northern (Arctic) Federal University on the basis of

Archangelsk State Technical University

– In the Volga Federal District – Volga Region Federal University on the basis of Kazan State

University named after V.I.Ulyanov-Lenin

– In the Urals Federal District – Urals Federal University on the basis of Urals State Technical University

– In the Far-East Federal District – Far-East Federal University on the basis of Far-East State

University and North-East Federal University on the basis of Yakutsk State University

b) To approve within six months Development Programs of Northern (Arctic), Volga Region,

Urals, Far-East and North-East Federal Universities arranging for, among others, incorporation to

the above of other Russian Federation educational institutions, federal research centers, state acade-

mies of science and their branches.

c) To provide state support to the established Federal Universities together with other executive bod-

ies of Russian Federation subjects taking into account the approved Development Programs.

d) To include Volga Region Federal University into the State Register of the Most Valuable Objects

of Cultural Heritage of Peoples of the Russian Federation within six months and exclude Kazan State

University named after V.I.Ulyanov-Lenin from this Register.

2. This Decree comes into effect since it is signed.

Dmitri Medvedev

President of the Russian Federation

Moscow, Kremlin, October 21, 2009 №1172

1. 2. 3. 4.

Authors V. Korolev, S. Pisareva

Design L. Sirazieva

Photographer V. Pavlov, A. Galimullina

© «ROOT», 2011

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