Irkutsk State University

Irkutsk State University was founded in October 1918 in Irkutsk. Nowadays Irkutsk State University is a large scientific and educational institution training students in humanities, natural, technical and applied sciences. ISU facilities include 7 educational institutions, 10 faculties, 1 branch in Bratsk, the scientific library that is one of the largest University libraries in Russia. ISU offers bachelor, master, post-graduate programs for more than 18000 students that have opportunity to specialize under the supervision of world-known scientists. Among other facilities Irkutsk State University has the Center for Advanced Training and Retraining, 3 research institutes, Interregional Institute of Social Sciences, Center for New Information Technologies, Baikal Research and Education Center, department for post-graduate and doctoral courses, scientific libraries, astronomical observatory and botanic garden.

The University faculties and institutions are located in 9 educational buildings in Irkutsk and in Bratsk. The majority of these buildings are of great historical and architectural value. They date back to the 18th-19th centuries. Senior students of all the faculties have specialized courses and internship in laboratories and scientific research institutions of ISU and Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. For decades, Irkutsk University has trained more than 80 thousand highly qualified specialists, famous scientists, teachers, writers, and statesmen, including State Prize winners and famous talented writers V. Rasputin, A. Vampilov, and M. Sergeev.Irkutsk State University is engaged into research projects that among other things contribute to Baikal Siberia’s potential development, innovative economy advance, and forming the international tourist and recreation complex in Irkutsk region.

ISU’s mission:

• To advance knowledge and train students in humanities, scientific and technological spheres for them
• To be decent individuals in the region and country in the XXI century;
• To preserve unique natural resources of Baikal Siberia;
• To generate and put into practice new ideas;
• To combine personal responsibility and integrity with intellectual involvement in and commitment To great deeds.

ISU’s Strategic Objectives:

• Strengthening its leadership as the center for the integration of regional scientific and educational area and social consolidation of regional community taking into account human resources potential and unique natural resources of the region
• Developing sustainable partnership with both Russian and international institutions
• Graduating students capable of adjusting to changing economic and social environment
• Contributing to science and education integration: promoting the principle “education via science”;
• Taking advantage of unique natural resources of the region, above alllakeBaikal, to advance interdisciplinary scientific and educational activities, international cooperation and innovation programs;
• Developing links with Asian countries through diverse connections with scientific and educational intuitions ofJapan,Korea,Chinaand other countries;
• Support educational, scientific and cultural mobility of lecturers and students.
• Maintaining leading scientific schools and stations at ISU;
• Shaping mechanisms of innovative development through institutional modernization and start-up project support;
• Working out new educational programs to promote progressive thinking based on profound learning and principle “education via science”.