ITMO University


ITMO University is a large state university in Saint Petersburg and is one of Russia's National Research Universities. ITMO University is one of 15 Russian universities that were selected to participate in Russian Academic Excellence Project 5-100 by the government of the Russian Federation to improve their international competitiveness among the world's leading research and educational centers.
Research priorities of ITMO University are concentrated in information and photonic technologies.
The university consists of 18 departments, 7 research institutes and one academy, with a total of 119 chairs. As of April 1, 2014, the total number of students is 13,890, with over 900 being foreign nationals. The university employs 1,163 instructors, including over 800 PhDs. Many of its staff members and researchers have received government awards and designations of “honored science worker,” the highest in Russia.
Vladimir Vasilyev has been the university's Rector since 1996.

History

The University's birthday is considered to be 26 March 1900, when a Mechanics, Optics and Watchmaking Department was opened in the Prince Nicholas Vocational School. At the time it was the only school in the Russian Empire that prepared specialists in these areas. The first year, some 65 applications were received for 30 places. Eighteen students were admitted to Watchmaking and 18 to Mechanics and Optics sections.

1917 – 1941

In 1917 the Mechanics, Optics and Watchmaking Department became its own entity - Petrograd Technical College for Mechanics, Optics and Watchmaking. Norbert Boleslavovich Zavodsky became its headmaster. In 1920, most of its classes were transformed into Petrograd College for Fine Mechanics and Optics. The municipalities allocated a building for it in Demidov Pereulok. The colleges’ manufacturing facilities made a variety of complex optical and fine mechanics products. The first in USSR group of instrument engineers graduated here in 1931.
In 1930, the college was transformed into Leningrad Training Center, and in 1933, Leningrad Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics became a separate college. Its first research laboratory was established in the Department of Optical Glass Technologies. Thanks to research here the USSR could get away from importing expensive foreign abrasives.
In 1937, LITMO opened the first in the USSR laboratory for calculating machinery that was later transformed into the Department of Mathematical and Computing Devices. By the autumn of 1939 it became one of the institute's top departments and focused on developing electromechanical computing devices and control devices. By 1940, it had over 1,400 students and employed 27 professors as well as 80 associated professors and PhDs.

1941 – 1945

With the beginning of the Second World War, 189 students and 85 staff members went to the front lines, while over 450 joined the People's Militia. Classes continued and only at the end of 1942 the students and instructors were evacuated to the town of Cherapanovo by Novosibirsk.
During the Siege of Leningrad, LIFMO continued to operate a military repair facility for the Leningrad front. It was established in the first days of war and it fabricated test and measurement instruments for army and navy units. During the Siege, the facility developed improved optical sights, fixed artillery binoculars, gun panoramas, anti-aircraft sighting telescopes, periscopes, machined “cups” for anti-aircraft shells and parts for land and sea mines.
After the Siege was lifted, the re-evacuation document was signed on August 10, 1944. The students and instructors returned to the city, and classes started again that October.

1945 – 1992

The university began to actively develop after the war. In the fall of 1945 it opened a new faculty – Electrical Instrumentation, which was soon reorganized into Radio Engineering. Here was established one of the first in the country Department of Quantum Radio Electronics, which began to train specialists in this field. It became an important milestone in the development of lasers in the USSR. Engineering Physics Department was established here in 1946 on the initiative of the president and several members of the USSR Academy of Sciences. From this department in 1954 graduated Dr. Yuri Denisjuk, a future renowned scientist, author of several discoveries in holography, and laureate of the state award.
In 1956, the researchers of the Computing Devices Department began to work on the first calculating machine “LITMO-1” that was finished in 1958. It did binary engineering calculations but the data was entered and the results were presented in the familiar decimal system.
A laboratory for laser technologies was opened in the 1960s. The building on :ru: Саблинская улица |Sablinskaya Street, which is now the main campus, was built in the 1970s. The following decade saw the beginning of microprocessor technology research and the opening of the Interdisciplinary Institute of Advanced Studies to train manufacturing professionals in new areas of engineering and technology.

1992 - Present day

In 1992, LIFMO became Saint Petersburg Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics, and in 1994 it acquired the university status. The Faculty of Computer Technologies and Controls, the largest at the university, opened in 1994.
In 1994 the institute was the initiator and key developer of RUNNET, an IP network that unites all large research and education centers in Russia. The work was overseen by Dr. Vasilyev. The institute placed satellite dishes “Russia’ Rainbow,” rented from the military, on other universities. In 1995, the research center “Computer Optics” was established.
In 2003 the institute was renamed into Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics.
Over the last decade Academy of Management Methods and Technologies was added to the ITMO structure as well as Interdisciplinary Institute of Professional Training in New Areas of Science and Technology and the State Scientific Center of Computer Telecommunication Networks of Higher Education, followed by St. Petersburg College of Marine Instrument Making, St. Petersburg State University of Refrigeration and Biotechnology and St. Petersburg Economic and Technological College of D.I. Mendeleev.
In 2009 the university gained the status of National Research University and was renamed National Research University ITMO in 2011. In 2013 it was selected to join the Project 5-100.
Since 2014 the university holds the name of ITMO University.

Chronology of Names

The university has a multi-level system of higher education: bachelor – 4 years, specialist – 5 years, master – 2 years, post-graduate – 3–4 years.
Since 2013/14 ITMO is partnering with universities in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, France, among others, to participate in “double degree” international educational programs. ITMO graduates of these programs receive a second degree from a partner university.
The university collaborates with large St. Petersburg companies, including :ru: Электроприбор |Elektropribor, LOMO, :ru: Всероссийский научно-исследовательский институт метрологии имени Д. И. Менделеева|Mendeleev Institute for Metrology, where students can get internships and seek future employment.
The university supports a variety of scholarships: President of the Russian Federation, The Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of St. Petersburg, special scholarships in math, physics, IT, Research Council scholarship, name scholarship by LOMO and other companies.
Students and staff carry out research and project activities on their own and as part of programs funded by the state and international contracts, federal and industry targeted programs research grants, etc.
The university organizes and hosts competitions, congresses, forums, research conferences, including international. It also collaborates with several foreign universities, including UCLA and ITESM.
ITMO University is one of two St. Petersburg universities - members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. SCO University offers involved learning where students work based on individual plans, learn about life in a different country and thus add to their education at their “home” university. At graduation, SCO University students receive a regular diploma and a special certificate.
The university is part of the Association of Technical Universities of Russia and China, founded in 2011, and participates in joint educational programs with the leading universities in China. This non-commercial organization unites technical universities of both countries and facilities student and instructor exchange. It was originally established at Harbin Institute of Technology and Bauman Technical University in Moscow.
Several times ITMO University students won “Yandex. Algorithm” programming championship, organized by one of Russia's top internet companies. It's not a student competition per se but open to participants over 17. In 2013, it welcomed over 3,000 programmers from 84 countries and several large companies, including Google, Facebook and Vkontakte. That same year ITMO students took gold and silver, and in 2014 – gold again, followed by another gold in 2015.
ITMO team also regularly participates in ACM ICPC programming championship under the general sponsorship by IBM since 1997. In 2013, the university hosted the 37th championship and its student won the top prize. ITMO students received medals in this championship since 1999 and from 2004 till 2015 became absolute winners six times.
In 2013, after their fifth win, Russia's Ministry of Defense signed a contract with ITMO University to develop software for unmanned airplanes and robotics, to name a few. The same year Minister Sergey Shoygu offered talented students jobs in scientific military units as an alternative to mandatory military service.
ITMO University maintains ties with the leading IT companies. In 2011, Dmitry Grishin, the general director of Mail.Ru, became the head of the department of internet technologies founded by the company. Later it was reorganized. In 2012, Russian programmers working for Facebook held a series of lectures at the leading technical universities in Russia, including ITMO. In 2015, Nobel Prize winner Zhores Alferov opened the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies in St. Petersburg and held an open lecture at the university.
From January 9, 2013 to November 3, 2014, a tribute to Steve Jobs in a form of a giant iPhone graced the courtyard of the university's building on :ru: Биржевая линия|Birzhevaya Linija.
In November 2014, the association of software manufacturers Russoft published a ranking of Russian universities by the level of success in training of the IT specialists. ITMO University placed first. Around the same time the university held a conference together with the association about the advantages of successful performance at international programming competitions.
On November 26, 2014, the university opened its representative office in Brussels.
In 2015, the Ministry of Education offered several universities, including ITMO to participate in the “National Platform for Open Education” Association and develop a pilot for online education with an opportunity to graduate at the completion of the courses. Currently this project still requires changes when it comes to licenses and university accreditations. Every participating university has to present no fewer than four online courses by September 2015.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the team of ITMO University with its sixth victory in ACM ICPC programming championship at the plenary session during the second day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in May 2015.

University Rankings

ITMO University is one of the 15 universities-participants of the Russian Academic Excellence Project 5-100, aimed at maximizing the competitive position of a group of leading Russian universities in the global research and education market. It was launched in 2013. The success of the project will be measured by performance in the two of the most authoritative rankings – QS and Times Higher Education. In March 2015 ITMO became one of the top four leaders of the Project. The Ministry of Science and Education plans to increase the subsidies to the leading schools up to 1 billion rubles.
Ranking / Year of publication2011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Times Higher Education: World351-400501-600501-600401-500
Times Higher Education: Computer Science56767174
Times Higher Education: Engineering & Technology301-400301-400201-250
Times Higher Education: Physical Sciences401-500301-400251-300
Times Higher Education: Emerging Economies
27
27
575335
QS World University Ranking601-650511-520436360
QS: Computer Science & Information Systems351-400251-300101-150101-150
QS: Engineering - Electrical & Electronic351-400201-250201-250
QS: Physics & Astronomy351-400351-400251-300201-250
QS: Materials Science301-350251-300
QS: Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering351-400301-350
QS: Mathematics351-400
QS: Chemistry451-500
QS: Art & Design151-200
QS University Ranking: EECA91-1009081665646
QS University Ranking: 111-12099101-1107564no longer
published
Academic Ranking of World Universities 801-900801-900
ARWU: Automation & Control76-10076-100
ARWU: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology201-300201-300201-300
ARWU: Materials Science & Engineering301-400301-400401-500
ARWU: Electrical & Electronic Engineering401-500301-400301-400
ARWU: Computer Science & Engineering401-500
ARWU: Management301-400
ARWU: Telecommunication Engineering151-200
Webometrics: World1399/985
1049/1019
996/864
836/831
783/1367
652/692
723
Webometrics: BRICS139166/135
100/97
61/118
100/221
83/90
98
Webometrics: Russia13/8
9/6
7/6
6/6
6/11
4/5
6
Round University Ranking: World587485475495445360
Round University Ranking: Technical Sciences34028719015916892
Round University Ranking: Natural Sciences413346382432393413
Round University Ranking: Life Sciences538394299427
Round University Ranking: Social Sciences371292399
Round University Ranking: Humanities442258
Round University Ranking: Countries Ranking 14891096
Interfax: 27-2918-2217171512799-10
RAEX 232322221919151413

Structure. University Institutes and Departments

Since 1996, the Rector of the university is the Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Council of Rectors of St. Petersburg, vice-president of the Russian Union of Rectors, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Education, corresponding member Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Vladimir Vasilyev.

Research and Partnerships

ITMO University collaborates on research and innovations projects with several large Russian companies, including LOMO, D.I. Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology, “Techpribor,” “Elektropribor,” etc. The university has signed an agreement to create the Northwestern Center for Technology Transfer that will become one of 12 nano-centers around Russia. Originally it was supposed to be in the town of Gatchina. In 2015 it was opened in St. Petersburg on :ru: Малоохтинский проспект|Malookhtenskii Prospect. Another joint project with Rusnano is “Innograd of Science and Technologies.” It is expected to open by 2019 in the satellite city “Yuzhni”. Rusnano is investing 690 million rubles in its equipment. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2015 in the town of Pushkin, near St. Petersburg.
In 2012, a “Skolkovo” communications center was supposed to open on the campus of the former Institute of Refrigeration and Biotechnologies of ITMO, but the plans were altered. That same year the university signed a memorandum with RSV Venture Partners Foundation to establish a $6 million fund for IT startups. In 2013, Internet Initiatives Development Fund offered ITMO University to collaborate in opening regional accelerators to support commercially promising internet startups. ITMO University is also a venture partner of Russian Venture Company since 2013.
University's list of international partners over the years includes General Motors Corp., PPG, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Nokia and others.
Research and development work is carried out in the university's own research departments: Research Institute of Nanophotonics and Optical Information Technology, Research Institute of High-Tech Computer Technology, Institute of Laser Physics, Research Institute of Testing and Monitoring in Scientific and Technical Centers, "Optical Information Technologies and Systems" and "Information Optical Technologies", as well as in the educational, scientific and production center" Russar "and others. By 2014, the university has 49 international research centers.
Research Institute “Information and Control Systems” participated in several international seminars and conferences in 2014, including:
Students and staff members of over 80 departments participate in research. Many of them are working in “small innovative enterprises,” or startups, located at ITMO Technopark on Birzhevaya Liniya, offering access to high-tech equipment.
As part of the Project 5-100, Technopark opened a coworking space called FabLab in 2015, which also offers facilities and resources, including a 3D printer, a laser engraver, a milling machine, etc. The equipment is offered free of charge to the ITMO University specialists and students.

National Research University Program

In 2009, the university was granted the status of National Research University. It implies carrying out research in areas considered key to the development of Russia's economy, including IT, photonics, optoinformatics, and urban science.

International Research Centers

As part of the Project 5-100, the university created international research centers to carry out joint research between scientists at ITMO and their peers at foreign research and education centers. By 2014 the university had established 49 such entities with co-heads from USA, UK, Germany, Australia, China, etc.
In order to strengthen governmental support for the development of science and innovations in higher education and to improve the quality of higher education, on April 9, 2010, the Government of the Russian Federation instituted monetary grants that are made available on a competitive basis to support of scientific research projects implemented by the world's leading scientists at Russian institutions of higher learning. From some 507 applications, 39 were awarded funding, including two from ITMO University. In 2013 ITMO University won two more mega-grants from the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia Federation.
YearCountryLeading scientistField of scienceResearch field
2010Prof. Yuri S. KivsharPhysicsMetamaterials
2010Prof. Peter SlootInformation Technologies and Computational SciencePromising Computational Science
2013Prof. Romeo OrtegaComputational and Information SciencesRobust and adaptive control system, communication and computing
2013Prof Yurii Gun'koNanotechnologiesAnisotropic and optically active nanostrucutres
2016Prof. Anvar ZakhidovNanotechnologies, MetamaterialsOrganic-inorganic materials with integrated nanophotonic structures
2016Prof. Morris SkolnickQuantum MechanicsHybrid light-matter states in low-dimensional quantum materials

Small Innovative Enterprises (Start-ups)

Since 15 August 2009 Russian universities are able to form small innovative enterprises according to Federal Law No.217 of August 2, 2009 N 217-FZ "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation on the establishment of budget scientific and educational institutions, business entities for the purpose of practical application of the results of intellectual activity".
By 2015 ITMO University has become the Launchpad for 43 small innovative enterprises.
A special department is designated to helping them find funding, offers legal support for registering, partner search, placement in university's Technopark and business incubator. Other types of support include education initiatives: , fundraising school FundIT, soft skill training, lectures in marketing and management, interdisciplinary seminars Brainexplain, as well as lectures by guest experts.
The university holds an annual international forum where its partners and business stakeholders discuss issues in technology transfer and development of innovations ecosystem. Other events are festival of , a competition of socially valuable projects “People need you!”, and a business game “Innovations marketing”».
ITMO University is developing a network of startup accelerators in Russia’s regions as part of the program for development of research and entrepreneurship potential of Russian universities “EURECA” and in partnership with the U.S. Russia Foundation and University of California, Los Angeles. To promote building an innovation ecosystem from the ground up, ITMO partnered with "Xmas Ventures" and St. Petersburg Polytechnic University to establish a in St. Petersburg, the only one in Russia.
German company SAP SE has also been instrumental in supporting the university's startups. What started with joint business incubator events and accelerator programs in 2013 has grown into a close partnership.

Accelerators

In spring of 2015, ITMO University launched Future Technologies accelerator for startups in instrumentation, robotics, optics and photonics, biotechnologies and energy efficiency. In the future, the organizers are also hoping to attract companies working in new materials and alternative energy. The participants receive a three-month training course as well as free office space, supplies and consultations with experts in research and business. On top of that, they can apply for a 300,000 ruble grant that covers expenses for research and development. In the first session, 10 companies were selected to participate out of 70 that applied. At the end of June, the startups presented their projects at the international conference Russia-EU Startup Match-making Event in Brussels.
SUMIT startup accelerator takes place at the university every six months since 2012. The top ten teams from the previous sessions from Russia, Finland, France and USA secured funding from $20,000 to $200,000 and several have settled in the startup accelerator iDealMachine. The total number of mentors and experts at SUMIT exceeds 50. In 2015, SUMIT participated in a global research of university incubators and accelerators UBI Global Benchmark among over 500 incubators from 73 countries. For most criteria SUMIT placed in the 50 to 42 range.

World Programming Championship

In 2004, ITMO University scored its first victory in the International Collegiate Programming Contest ACM-ICPC, and by 2017 it became the first in history seven-time winner of the competition.
In 2013, ITMO University was the first Russian university to host the ACM-ICPC Finals. Some 120 teams representing 2,322 universities from 36 countries participated in selection rounds. Russia was represented by 15 student teams. ITMO University scored a victory in the finals.
YearVenue of the finalsVenueTeamTrainer
2019, Porto17th placeStanislav Naumov, Roman Korobkov, Ilya PoduremennykhAndrey Stankevich
2018, Beijing9th place, Bronze medalIlya Zban, Ivan Belonogov, Mikhail PutilinAndrey Stankevich
2017, Rapid City1st place, Gold medalVladimir Smykalov, Ivan Belonogov, Ilya ZbanAndrey Stankevich
2016, Phuket7th place, Silver medalAnton Kovsharov, Vladimir Smykalov, Adam BardashevichAndrey Stankevich
2015, Marrakesh1st place, Gold medalGennady Korotkevich, Boris Minaev, Artem Vasil'evAndrey Stankevich
2014, YekaterinburgBronze medalBoris Minaev, Artem Vasil'ev, Adam BardashevichAndrey Stankevich
2013, St. Petersburg1st place, Gold medalMihail Kever, Gennady Korotkevich, Niyaz NigmatullinAndrey Stankevich
2012, Warsaw1st place, Gold medalEvgenii Kapun, Mihail Kever, Niyaz NigmatullinAndrey Stankevich
2009, Stockholm1st place, Gold medalVladislav Isenbaev, Maksim Buzdalov, Evgenii KapunAndrey Stankevich
2008, Banff1st place, Gold medalDmitrii Abdrashitov, Dmitrii Paraschenko, Fedor TsarevAndrey Stankevich
2007, Tokyo3rd place, Gold medalIskander Akishev, Mikhail Dvorkin, Roman Satyukov
2005, Shanghai3rd place, Gold medalPavel Mavrin, Sergei Orshanskii, Dmitrii PavlovAndrey Stankevich
2004, Prague1st place, Gold medalDmitrii Pavlov, Pavel Mavrin, Sergei OrshanskiiAndrey Stankevich
2003, Beverly Hills3rd place, Gold medalTimofei Borodin, Aleksandr Shtuchkin, Evgenii Yujakov
2001, Vancouver3rd place, Gold medalGeorgii Korneev, Denis Kuznecov, Andrey Stankevich
2000, OrlandoSilver medalGeorgii Korneev, Denis Kuznecov, Andrey Stankevich
1999, Eindhoven3rd place, Gold medalAleksandr Volkov, Matvei Kazakov, Vladimir Levkin

Publishing, Library, Museum

Publishing

Along with training aids, ITMO University produces a variety of publications. To celebrate the university's 100 anniversary in 2000 it launched two series of books: “National Research University ITMO: Years and People,” and monographs “Outstanding People of ITMO University.”
The official newspaper “ITMO University” has been in print since 1931. Launched as “New Talent,” it has changed its name several times over the eras: “For Precise Instrumentation,” “Instrument Builder,” “New Talent for Instrumentation.” In 1956 it was halted due to budget cuts and reemerged in 1994 as “Technical University ITMO” but wasn’t produced on a regular basis. In 2013, it came out twice a year. Since 2015 it became a monthly, with the exception of summer months, and offers an extended version online.
The university is a member of the Library Association of Russia, St. Petersburg Library Society, National Electronic Information Consortium, and the Association of Regional Library Consortiums.
The ITMO University library offers access to Russian and foreign full-text and reference electronic resources, including Web of Science, Conference Proceedings Citation, Journal Citation Reports, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Springer, ACM, OSA, SPIE, eLibrary, etc.
The year 1900 is considered the library's foundation year. By 1925, it contained 2,600 books and by 1945 – over 90,000. Initially the library was situated in a building on Pereulok Grivtzova. During the WWII it was evacuated to Cherepanovo and returned with re-evacuation. In 1970 it got a dedicated space in the University's main building on Ulitza Sablina.
In 1998 the library created a department for computerization of library processes and adopted “Irbis” library information system. In 2002 the university got a grant from the National Fund for Personnel Development for “Improving management of library resources and forming an open educational environment of the university.” The library is currently working on forming an electronic catalogue.
The library of the Faculty of Associate Level Education became a department of the main library in 2003 and contains the books from the former Mechanical College #1 that merged with the university that same year. The readers who had been in Leningrad during the Siege of the WWII donated the first books to the college in 1945. By 2000, it contained over 44,000 books and grew to 56,000 by 2008 with the addition of the library of the Marine Instrumentation College.
In 2005 the library absorbed the collection from the library of the State Optical Institute, which dates back to 1918. In 1974 the State Optical Institute library was granted a status of a collection on optics and optical instrumentation of state importance and became a resource for several university libraries as well as industry.
In 2006 the library received over 10,000 books from the Academy of Management that also became part of the university. In 2011 it also got the books from the library of the Institute of Refrigeration and Food Processing that dates back to 1931, survived the Siege and by 1980 contained over 550,000 books and over a million by the time of merger.

Museums

ITMO University has three museums. “Museum of ITMO University History” is located in the building on Pereulok Grivtzova.
The Museum of Optics was established in 2006 and is located on the first floor of the :ru: Елисеев, Григорий Григорьевич|Eliseev House on Birzhevaya Linia. With support from the Hellenic Institute of Holography, ITMO University opened an exhibition “Magic of Light” in July 2015. The Eliseev House was selected for the exhibition because it used to house the office of Prof. Denisuk, the founder of image holography. It features over 200 holograms, including OptoClones of Imperial Fabergé eggs, Oculus Rift virtual reality glasses and much more. The inner courtyard houses Lux Aeterna Laser Theater.
The Museum of the Institute of Refrigeration and Biotechnologies, dating back to 1936, is located in a historic building on Lomonosova Street.
In 2012 the university won a competition by a Committee on Investments to come up with a concept of an interactive museum of science and technology that will be built on the grounds of the former tram park on Vasilyevsky Island.
In Lakhta Center, ITMO University is building one of the largest children's science museums in the country, around 7,000 sq. m., with support of Saint Petersburg government.

Student life

The university has a variety of student organizations: student unions, including those for foreign students, student clubs, a student orchestra, student radio, a student scientific society, volunteer center and others.
Many of these organizations get together in coworking spaces around the campus. The students can use these spaces for their own projects, but some, such as SumIT, require a prior interview.
The university has two assembly halls that can hold up to 500 people each. Other activity spaces include a soundproof room for singing lessons, an audio recording studio, a studio for “Megabyte” internet radio and editorial office of “NewTone” magazine.

Accommodations

The university offers accommodations in six dorms. Depending on a student's individual circumstances, accommodation may also be provided at the Inter-university student campus on :ru: Новоизмайловский проспект|Novoizmailovskii Prospect, 16.

ITMO University Main Building

; University Campus and Dorms
The university has its own sporting infrastructure. Sports clubs are located on Vjazemsky Pereulok and Lomonosova Street, and there's also a sportsground by the main building. The university also owns a recreational facility :ru: Ягодное |“Yagodnoe” located by the Berestovoe Lake, in the suburb of Saint Petersburg. There students can do windsurfing, kayaking, biking and rock climbing.
One of student organizations is “Kronverksky Leopards” sports club. It offers 21 activities, including basketball, volleyball, mountain skiing, tennis, swimming, cheerleading and others. The university also rents “Petrogradetz” sports club, swimming pools, ice rinks and gyms.
The university's mini football team got a silver medal at 2013 “Golden League” championship and took bronze in 2015.
In July 2015, university's rector Vladimir Vasilyev led several bike rides on Elagin Island.

Building Collapse

On Saturday, February 16, 2019, multiple news sources reported a building collapse at the St. Petersburg University of Low Temperatures and Food Technology. This after an announcement by the Russian Ministry of Emergency. Initial reports indicated that four floors of the building -- floors two through five -- collapsed. 80 people were evacuated and emergency crews were on the scene. Other news outlets initially reported that the collapse occurred as the result of construction work happening in the building.

Honored Doctors

; Scientists
; Political leaders
; Musicians
; Athletes
; Special Services