"Moscow University" a Moscow Travel Page by arabian10

Moscow University professors, students and staff were evacuated during the war first to Ashkhabad, Turkmenia, then to Sverdlovsk, returning to Moscow in 1943, after the German troops were defeated near the capital. During the war over 3000 specialists were trained at the University; the University scientists continued their research; their contributions to applied science allowed improvements in aircraft development, in the accuracy of artillery fire etc. New explosives were invented, a study of uranium was carried out, a preparation causing blood coagulation was introduced into practice; University geologists discovered a tungsten deposit in Central Asia and new oil wells, University geographers supplied the Red Army with maps and charts. University scholars popularized the ideas patriotism, and University lawyers made their contribution during the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials.

Over 5000 University students, instructors, professors and staff fought in the war, over 1000 were decorated for their heroism, seven became heroes of the Soviet Union. In 1975 a memorial was erected on campus to honor over 3000 people Moscow University lost during the war.

During the post-war period the leading role of Moscow University in the restoration and further development of the country was fully recognized. There was fivefold increase in the state funding, the new University campus was built on Vorobievy Gory (Sparrow Hills), where all the lecture halls and laboratories had the latest equipment available at the time.

Starting from the Thaw period that followed Stalin's death the country became more open for contacts, which, together with better funding, allowed to widen the scope of research work conducted by the University scientists.

In June 1992 the President of the Russian Federation issued a decree, which established the status of Moscow University as a self-governing institution of higher education. In November 1998, after a wide-ranging discussion, the Charter of Moscow University was approved.

The Charter proclaims democracy, openness and self-government to be the main principles in the life of Moscow University; the mean goal is freedom to teach and to study as well as to develop oneself as a personality. The basic division within the University is a department (laboratory) whose professors, instructors and staff make decisions collectively.

MSU is a center of research science famous for its major scientific schools. There have been 11 Nobel Prize winners among its professors and alumni, out of 18 Russians who have received prestigious prize so far.

Among those who teach at MSU there are 2,500 higher doctoral degree holders and almost 6,000 holders of doctoral degrees, almost 1,000 full professors and 2,000 associate professors. The total number of full members and correspondent members of the Russian Academy of Sciences is about 300. About 5,000 scientists and scholars are currently involved in 310 research projects in various fields.

Moscow State University comprises 29 faculties and over 350 departments, 15 research institutes, 4 museums, the Science Park, the Botanical Gardens, The Library, the University Publishing House and printing shop, a recreational center and boarding school for talented children. 9 faculties have been recently established, along with 47 new departments and 22 research laboratories. Research has recently started in 30 new interdisciplinary areas. At the moment the University Computer Center represents more computing power that any other educational institution in Russia. There have been major changes in the curricula, with over 200 new academic programs added.

The first Russian Science Park appeared at MSU 10 years ago; now it unites about 2,000 scientists who work to make scientific achievements into technological innovations.

From the engineering and operational point of view Moscow University campus, with its 1,000 buildings and structures, 8 dormitories and 300 km of utility lines, is an extremely complex system. Nevertheless, this system is being modernized and developed. According to the plan, approved by the government, a number of new buildings are to be erected in the area adjacent to the campus on Vorobievy Gory. There will be new blocks for a few faculties and research laboratories, a library, a swimming pool, a stadium, a recreation center, some services. The University clinic and the main Library Building are being built at the moment, the latter will be opened in January, 2005.

As a center learning, MSU publishes a wide range of scientific literature, references books, popular science editions, up to 400 titles and 3,000,000 copies a year, on various aspects of philosophy, psychology, history, economics, law, politics, philology, journalism, mathematics, physics and astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology and geography. The books, published under the title "University Library" include works of well-known philosopher and historians, both ancient and modern, memories, classical Russian and European authors. The books published under the title "Physics: ideas, achievements, prospects" are for specialists and for any one interested in the field. The latest findings of MSU historians are presented in the series "the French Revolution". There is a special series including the works of outstanding Russian philosophers and historians.

MSU library is one of the largest in Russia, with its 9,000,000 books, and the average number of readers 55,000, using 5,500,000 books a year.

MSU collaborates with the International Associations of Universities and has links with about 60 educational institutions, centers and unions in Europe, the USA, Japan, China and some other Asian countries, in Australia, Latin America, Arab countries.

All the history of the University is the evidence of the outstanding role, its alumni have played promoting the ideas of freedom, common good, humanity, and truth.