Kazan Federal University

The main bulding of the university, 19th century

Kazan State University is located in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia. It was founded in 1804. The famous Russian mathematician Lobachevski was its rector from 1827 till 1846. The current rector is Myakzyum Salakhov (Mäğzüm Säläxev).

Kazan University is also known as "the birthplace of organic chemistry" due to works of Aleksandr Butlerov, Vladimir Markovnikov, Aleksandr Arbuzov, and others.

Location

Kazan State University is located in the city of Kazan. Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, located in the center of the European part of Russia on the banks of the Volga and Kama Rivers. Kazan is situated 800 kilometers east of Moscow on the left bank of the Volga River and on both banks of the Kazanka River. The time zone is the same as in Moscow (i.e. London plus 3 hours). The population of Kazan is 1.1 million. Nearly half are Russian and the other half Tatar. Both Tatar and Russian languages are used in town and taught in school. Kazan is an important historical and cultural centre. The people of Kazan take pride in having one of the best and oldest universities of Russia and twelve higher educational institutions.

The city abounds in places of culture and the Arts. Museums, exhibition halls, theatres, the Philharmonic society, circuses, concert halls and movie theatres offer a wide range of cultural and recreational programs.

From History of the University Founded in 1804, Kazan State University is one of the largest and oldest institutions of higher education in Russia. The Founding Charter and the Regulations of the University were signed by the Emperor Alexander I on November 5 (November 17 according to the new calendar), 1804.

By the Edict of the President of the Russian Federation signed on July 30, 1996, Kazan State University was included in the list of the most valuable objects of the cultural heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation.

Scientific schools and directions

There have been many highly-regarded scientists, public figures, teachers, educators, writers, artists and actors during the history of Kazan University. Several outstanding scientific schools and areas started here were widely recognized, not only in Russia, but in the whole world.

One of the greatest discoveries of the 19th century, Non-Euclidean geometry, was made at Kazan University. The Russian mathematician-genius N.I.Lobachevsky, who made this discovery, played the most significant role in the development of Kazan University. He was Rector of the University from 1827 to 1846 and chairman of the construction committee supervising campus development, one of the best in the country. Lobachevsky's activity marks the peak of research and education for this easternmost educational institution in Russia.

At Kazan University, Professor N.N.Zinin made an important discovery in chemistry. He obtained aniline from nitrobenzene which had a great effect towards the development of the chemical industry. Another chemist from Kazan, K.K.Klaus, discovered a new element which he named Ruthenium, after Russia. Their follower, A.M.Butlerov, created the theory of organic structure which is the foundation of present-day chemistry.

Research by Orientalists of Kazan University made it one of the centres of European Oriental Studies. I.A.Boduen de Curtene, who founded the Kazan Linguistic School, contributed most to its successful findings.

Another great scientist, astronomer I.M.Simonov, was the only scholar who participated in the circumnavigation expedition of 1819-1821, led by F.F.Belinsgausen and M.P.Lazarev, that discovered the Antarctic. Research by Simonov during this trip laid the foundation for the scientific study of the Antarctic.

During the hard times of WWII, one of the most important discoveries of contemporary physics was made at Kazan University: the phenomenon of electric paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was discovered by Prof. Zavoisky. Prof. Zavoisky later became an academician and received the prestigious Lenin Award. This discovery was later furthered by Zavoisky's colleagues, corresponding members of the Academy of Science of the USSR: S.A.Altshuler and B.M.Kozirev.

KSU - the regional centre for science, education and culture

The University plays an important role as the centre for culture and enlightenment of the vast region between the Volga and the Urals. In the 19th century, when Kazan University was the only scientific centre in the East of Russia, it played the most significant role in the development of culture and enlightenment. The University was involved in the first publishing of books and periodicals in the region, starting the society of experts in Russian Philology, the first theatrical experiences, and the development of music culture and art.

The University was the cradle of numerous higher institutions in Kazan. Agricultural, pedagogical, medical, chemical-technological, financial-economic and aircraft institutes were founded on its basis.

KSU is a monument of architecture Numerous guests of Kazan including foreign and official delegations consider it as a must to visit Kazan University. The University attracts them not only as the oldest academic institution but also as a wonderful monument of architecture. The campus that appeared at the top of a high Kazan hill in the first part of 19th century constructed in the style of Russian classicism that was the most common one at this time in Russia is one of the most harmonious and beautiful architectural ensembles.

Students and Faculty

Students. There are 579 postgraduate and post-doctoral students, 9,572 undergraduate students including 140 foreign students from 27 different countries. 784 under- and post-graduate students study here on a contract basis.

Faculty. Teaching is provided by highly-qualified personnel. There are 1,075 professors including 562 candidates and 192 doctors of science and 172 researchers on staff (154 candidates, 18 doctors of science) that work at 86 departments. About 100 of them have awards of honorary professors and culture experts of Russia and Tatarstan.

University Library

The N.Lobachevsky Scientific Library is one of the largest and oldest libraries in Russia. It was founded in 1804 together with Kazan University.

The University has about 5 million volumes.

The Library has research, educational, social-political literature and fiction in different world languages. It possesses one of the best collections of books and periodicals in Russian including the first Russian printed book (by I.Fedorov, 1564). It also has the biggest collection of Tatar literature in Russia. One of the most valuable Library collections is that containing books, magazines and newspapers published in Kazan (in 19th - beginning of 20th century Kazan was one of the leaders in the area of publishing in Russia; the Publishing House of Kazan University was one of the biggest in this country).

The Library has 14 incunabula (books printed before 1501) and over 200 paleotypes (those published at the first part of 16th century). There are also books issued by famous West European publishers such as Alds, Etiennes, Planten and Elsiviers.

Besides published pieces the Library has manuscripts of 10-20th centuries in Russian, West European, Arabic, Persian, Tatar and other Oriental (primarily Turkic) languages.

The Library possesses the system of classified files and bibliographic cards both alphabetically and systematically, which fully shows the variety of its collections. The computer files have been constantly updated since 1992 for all new books and since 1994 for all new articles. There is a functioning telecommunication network integrated into the information and computing network of Kazan University and the Internet.

Ranking

Kazan University is in the list of the ten top Russian classical universities:

• 1998 4-5 Ref. "Career" Magazine, #2, 1998
• 1999 4 Ref. "Poisk" Newspaper, #1, 2000
• 2000 7 Ref. "Career" Magazine, #3, 2001
• 2002 7 Ref. "Poisk" Newspaper, #23-24, 2002
• 2003 9-10 Ref. "Poisk" Newspaper, #24, 2004
• 2004 9-10 Economics and Education
• 2005 7 Economics and Education

Famous faculty and alumni

• Aleksandr Arbuzov
• Mily Balakirev
• Aleksandr Butlerov
• Vladmir Illych Ulyanov (expelled)
• Ilya Ulyanov
• Nikolay Lobachevski
• Vladimir Markovnikov
• Leo Tolstoy
• Nikolay Beketov
• Afanasy Shchapov
• Vladimir Galkin

See also

• List of Kazan State University's rectors

External links

• Kazan State University Official Site
• Museum of History of Kazan University