Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Every year on November 19, Russia celebrates Higher Education Teachers' Day. This professional holiday is dedicated to those whose work is connected with science and the training of new generations of specialists. The date itself coincides with the birthday of the founder of the Russian academic system, a great figure of the Age of Enlightenment, Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov.
In 1696, a decree by Tsar Peter I ordered the invitation of foreign scholars to the empire and the sending of the most talented Russian students abroad. This document laid the foundation for the creation of the Academy of Sciences, which officially opened in 1724, after the death of the emperor. Saint Petersburg State University, founded that same year, became the oldest university in the country.
According to various sources—from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science to the media service portal Rambler—Russia's modern higher education system comprises over 1,000 universities, home to nearly 250,000 professors and over 4.2 million undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to scientific and educational achievements, our universities also hold records. Many of our leading universities stand out for their scale. For example, over 50,000 of our compatriots and foreign students are studying at Lomonosov Moscow State University, and our university has over 10,000 students this year. At the other extreme is the Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, with 560 students. Here, the traditions of the medieval individual approach are preserved, when deans had no more than ten students, and everyone lived and studied as a single commune. MGIMO (U) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation holds a Guinness World Record for studying the largest number of foreign languages—55, including Swahili and Farsi. And the Ural State University of Physical Education offers a bachelor's degree in eSports coaching—one of the few such programs offered at the federal level.
The success of our domestic university community is unsurprising, as we boast some of the best higher education professors in the world. Judge for yourself:
Knowledge. The majority of Russian teachers hold academic degrees: 14.4% are doctors of science, 56.6% are candidates of science, and every other teacher holds an academic title: 8.7% are professors, 37.6% are associate professors. Wisdom. Teachers are predominantly over 50 years old: 19% are over 65, 30% are aged 50–64, 14.2% are aged 45–49, and 6.8% are young teachers under 30. Broader outlook. Each Russian university teacher teaches, on average, six courses, and at leading universities, the teaching load is five courses per teacher. Fundamentalism. The foundation of our academic teaching is a special form of scientific activity that explores the patterns of development of human society and all aspects influencing it. This is why 25.6% of the disciplines taught are in the social sciences. 20% are professional disciplines, 15.6% are technical sciences, 13.8% are mathematics and programming, 12.1% are humanities, 11.4% are natural sciences, 7.8% are foreign languages.
The State University of Management occupies a special place in the structure of Russian higher education—it was the first university in the country to begin training highly professional managers for the national economy. Our alma mater, dating back to 1885, has graduated over 200,000 highly qualified specialists, many of whom today shape the development of key sectors of the economy and public administration. SUM's ongoing participation in state research and educational programs confirms the university's status as a modern academic center, preserving its proud traditions in training future leaders.
On this festive day, the entire university community—students, alumni, and colleagues—heartily congratulates our esteemed faculty! Your wisdom, patience, and boundless dedication ignite an insatiable thirst for knowledge in the hearts of our students and postgraduates. Your daily work is our most valuable contribution to the future of Russia.
Thank you for every lecture, every piece of smart advice, and the warmth of your soul that you give to your students.
Happy Higher Education Teacher's Day!
I wish you good health, inexhaustible inspiration, talented students, and loyal disciples—not only on this holiday, but every day!
Vivat Academy! Vivant professors! Semper sin in flore!
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: November 19, 2025.
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