A tolerant environment in the Northern Capital is one of the priorities of students

“On September 21, the winners of the competition for student research papers on the issue of creating a tolerant environment in Saint Petersburg in 2023 were awarded at the "Nevskaya Ratusha".

The competition was organized by the Committee on Science and Higher Education of Saint Petersburg with the aim of attracting the attention of students to the problems of mastering universal humanistic values, ideals of democracy, and stimulating research activities of students in the field of creating a tolerant environment in the Northern capital. The Saint Petersburg University of Management and Economics provided organizational and expert support for the competition.

The competition had four categories: psychology, sociology, cultural studies, and pedagogy, among students studying full-time in higher education institutions located in Saint Petersburg. The aim of the competition was to attract students' attention to the problems of mastering universal humanistic values and ideals of democracy, as well as to stimulate their research activities in creating a tolerant environment in the city.

“Dear friends, the award ceremony for the winners of this competition has been held since 2007, and it resonates warmly in our hearts. Very serious and representative people have come to congratulate you today to look at our golden youth”, - Irina Ganus, Acting Chairman of the Committee on Science and Higher Education, addressed the winners of the competition. Irina Ganus reminded that Saint Petersburg is rightfully considered the largest educational center in Russia with a strong scientific potential, in which a lot of attention is paid to supporting of youth, the development of student science: "Since 2007, 590 city government awards have been awarded in this field."

The ceremony was attended by Gennady Bordovsky, the President of the A.I. Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University, Chairman of the competition Council; Alexey Shmatko, Director of the Institute of Regional Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, member of the competition Council; Oleg Smeshko, Rector of the Saint Petersburg University of Management Technologies and Economics; Kirill Plemyashov, Rector of the Saint Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine; Sergey Saiganov, Rector of the I.I. Mechnikov Northwestern State Medical University; Priest Andrey Parafenyuk, The dean of the temples of the universities of the Saint Petersburg Diocese,.

Gennady Bordovsky noted that for a person who takes life seriously, the whole life consists of solving creative tasks. "I am glad for you, those who were not afraid to engage in creative comprehension of one of the most complex concepts of our civilization – "tolerance", - the President of the A. I. Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University thanked the participants of the competition. – This important topic has been dealt with for a long time, but we always find a new look, a new approach in your works."

Alexey Shmatko, Director of the Institute of Regional Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pointed out that this topic unites all those gathered in the hall: "I have been working on these issues for a long time. And I want to tell you that the topic of tolerance towards other people, their views, attempts to understand them, and most importantly – to explain your position correctly, is becoming very important in our time."

Oleg Smeshko, Rector of the Saint Petersburg University of Management Technologies and Economics, also congratulated the contestants and winners. He noted that students of many universities of Saint Petersburg take part in the competition. "You took a risk, well done. The scientific path is very interesting, although sometimes difficult," Oleg Smeshko addressed the students. He also thanked the Committee on Science and Higher Education, the organizers of the competition, the experts who participated in the analysis of scientific papers.

Representatives of the winning students, in turn, also thanked the organizers, experts, and their scientific supervisors for the opportunity to plunge into science. They promised to continue working on this most difficult topic, because for them, as for the older generation, it is important that everyone should live and work comfortably in multinational and multi-confessional Saint Petersburg.