The passage of pedagogical practice is an obligatory part of the training of highly qualified specialists in all universities and institutes of St. Petersburg. Therefore, it can be argued that most universities in St. Petersburg are to some extent pedagogical. However, the Russian State Pedagogical University named after A.I. Herzen, who is one of the best universities in the country, occupying the 45th line in the all-Russian ranking of universities.
The history of teacher education in St. Petersburg
In 1770, in St. Petersburg, according to the Moscow model, the educator Ian Betsky established the St. Petersburg Educational House. In 1797, this institution was taken under guardianship by Empress Maria Fedorovna, which significantly expanded the activities of the House and increased the number of orphans living and studying there.
Herzen University considers itself to be the receiver of the ideas of that institution, so it is precisely the year 1797 that is indicated as the date of foundation. A distinctive feature is that in this institution they gave not only shelter, but also professional skills. It was at the courses in the Orphanage that the first women began to receive education, who after graduation became governesses, educators, nannies.
In this form, the House lasted until 1903, when the Higher Female Pedagogical Institute was founded on its basis, in 1913 renamed the Imperial.
After the revolution, the Women's Pedagogical Institute was transformed into the Third Petrograd Pedagogical Institute, which was to prepare teaching staff for the newly opened numerous schools. It was during the years of Soviet power that the active, most dynamic period in the history of the university came, because the state took responsibility for the elimination of illiteracy among the entire population, and knowledge became the most important treasure of a person that made his life useful and meaningful.
In order to bring the light of knowledge to the most remote regions, an extensive network of educational institutions at various levels was required. In turn, for teaching in new schools, technical schools, institutes and schools required highly qualified personnel. So Herzen University became one of the main forges for training specialists in the field of education throughout the Soviet Union, and later in Russia.
The current position of the university
Today Herzen University is one of the largest pedagogical universities of St. Petersburg and the country. More than twenty faculties and one hundred departments are actively working and developing in its composition.
The university structure includes the institute of pre-university training, as well as the institute of advanced training and retraining of personnel. The university is actively involved not only in improving the quality of teaching throughout the country with the help of a special distance center, but also cooperates with foreign universities and educational centers. Students of St. Petersburg Pedagogical University regularly undergo internships abroad, and foreign guests come to St. Petersburg to study the Russian language at one of the leading pedagogical universities in St. Petersburg.
The modern university occupies a spacious quarter in the very center of St. Petersburg between Kazan street and the Moika embankment. On the campus there are forty-eight buildings and structures built in various styles: from Baroque to late classicism and Empire style.
However, the main university building, the Razumovsky Palace, whose facade faces the Moika Embankment, is considered to be the real pearl of the ensemble. It was in this historical structure that the Petersburg educational house was located. Now in the main building there are only administrative services and halls for celebrations and scientific conferences.
The internal territory of the university, access to which is via electronic passes, is decorated with a garden, and the fence, which is part of the architectural ensemble of Kazan Square, was designed by Voronikhin.
Institutes of Special Education
In addition to the state pedagogical university, a private institute of special pedagogy and psychology, founded in 1993 by a non-profit organization, also operates in St. Petersburg.
The Institute has a faculty of continuing education, consisting of two departments: special psychology and special pedagogy. There are a school and a kindergarten at the institute, there is a library.
Pedagogical universities of St. Petersburg are also engaged in retraining of personnel from other regions, regularly hold conferences and seminars for practicing teachers and facilitate the exchange of professional experience among teachers from all over the country.
Special mention is made in the area of Special Defectological Education, the training of specialists in which is carried out on the basis of the St. Petersburg State Pediatric University. Without this department, getting education with children with special needs would be extremely difficult.
Physical education teachers and sports trainers are trained at the NSU Physical Education, Sports and Health named after P.F. Lesgaft.