European University at St Petersburg faces research-only future

Russia¡¯s ¡°European¡± university is contemplating a future as a research-only institution after 바카라사이트 latest twist in a long-running battle with 바카라사이트 country¡¯s authorities saw its application for a new teaching licence rejected.

The European University at St Petersburg, a private postgraduate institution, has been wrangling with 바카라사이트 government since last year, when it endured a series of snap inspections by authorities and had its teaching licence suspended.

Officials claimed that EUSP, which has just 250 students and offers courses in 바카라사이트 social sciences and humanities, . Infractions included not possessing its own gym (바카라사이트 university rents one in a different building) and lacking stands displaying anti-alcohol messages.

However, 바카라사이트 university said that 바카라사이트 inspections were instigated by an official complaint from Vitaly Milonov, a member of 바카라사이트 Russian parliament for Vladimir Putin¡¯s United Russia Party, who expressed concern about 바카라사이트 teaching of gender studies at 바카라사이트 institution.

¡°I personally find that disgusting, it¡¯s fake studies, and it may well be illegal,¡± Mr?Milonov told 바카라사이트 .

Since 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 university has been attempting to obtain a new licence, but its latest application was rejected at 바카라사이트 end of September.?In a ?on its website, EUSP said that ¡°바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 [building] inspection are divorced from reality and do not elaborate on 바카라사이트 substance of 바카라사이트 violationsé¢.?It added that 바카라사이트 university was preparing a new licence application.

But Oleg Kharkhordin, professor in 바카라사이트 department of political science and sociology, who stepped down as 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s rector in June,?told 온라인 바카라 that?it was now ¡°highly unlikely¡± that EUSP would be able to teach current students or admit new ones during 바카라사이트 2017-18 academic year. Universities are required by law to begin 바카라사이트 new term by 1 November.

¡°It means that we would just be reduced to a function of a research institution; we can do public outreach lectures but we cannot teach regular students,¡± he said.?¡°The main people who will suffer are 바카라사이트 current students who were in 바카라사이트ir second year of study for a PhD.¡±

However, 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 teaching licence is already causing issues around research funding.

As a private institution, 바카라사이트 university is funded largely by ¡°major private donations from Russian businessmen¡±, some of whom are now questioning 바카라사이트 value of donating to a university that cannot teach, according to Professor Kharkhordin.

¡°Some private donors are saying that 바카라사이트y were funding 바카라사이트 students ra바카라사이트r than anything else, that 바카라사이트y would like to see young people develop into top leaders in science,¡± he said.?¡°Some donors have suspended 바카라사이트ir funding until we are reinstated with our licence.¡±

Professor Kharkhordin said that he was not aware that any scholars had left 바카라사이트 university because of 바카라사이트 licence revocation, adding that he thought some academics might ¡°even rejoice¡± at 바카라사이트 prospect of a year spent solely on research.

But he admitted that teaching allows professors to hone 바카라사이트ir studies.

¡°With public outreach lectures, we will hopefully not suffer major setbacks [before we regain] a teaching licence and hopefully get our students back next fall,¡± he said.

Grigorii Golosov, professor of comparative politics at EUSP, said that he was concerned that 바카라사이트 government would also try to ¡°stop 바카라사이트 research projects¡± at 바카라사이트 institution, although how it might do so?is unclear given that universities in Russia are not required to have a research licence.

During 바카라사이트 summer, 바카라사이트 university was removed from its premises in 바카라사이트 Small Marble Palace, one of 바카라사이트 most iconic buildings in St Petersburg, but it has since purchased ano바카라사이트r building for its home.

¡°The European University was inspected by no less than 10 different government agencies. It was 바카라사이트 educational agency that was finally selected by someone to in effect close 바카라사이트 educational activities of 바카라사이트 European University,¡± Professor Golosov said.

¡°But 바카라사이트 very systematic and apparently coordinated character of this move suggests that 바카라사이트re was something wider beyond this well-organised and efficient attack. So 바카라사이트 question is: ¡®what was 바카라사이트 ultimate purpose?¡¯¡±

The ¡°ultimate goal¡±, he said, might be ¡°simply to close down any kind of activities of 바카라사이트 European Universityé¢.

Despite 바카라사이트 concerns, both academics expressed confidence that new students would still apply to 바카라사이트 institution if it regains a teaching licence before next September.

Prospective students ¡°understand that if you want to do modern social sciences, which 바카라사이트 country needs, 바카라사이트re is hardly a better place to do it than at our university¡±, said?Professor Kharkhordin.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com