On December 1, the celebrations dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Balashov Institute, SSU, took place. The teaching staff and students, the representatives of the district administration, the trade union organisation, the diocese, and graduates gathered in the assembly hall. The students and alumni of the institute performed for the audience.
The celebration was attended by the Vice-rector for Administrative Work and Humna Resources Management Andrei Stalmakhov and Head of Priority Projects and Programmes Elena Yelina.
On the stage, Andrei Stalmakhov introduced the audience to the congratulations of SSU Rector Alexei Chumachenko. ‘The history of your institute is a whole epoch, a change of times and generations, years of labour, transformations, bright destinies of the teaching staff and students with their achievements and victories. During this time, the institute has undergone many changes, but has remained faithful to its main mission – to train modern school teachers. All these years, the institute has continued moving forward. The main source of this movement was and remains the enormous work and dedication of the scientific and pedagogical staff, young enthusiasm, and a desire for new things. The results of your work have been embodied in modern curricula, teaching and upbringing methods, and in the training of highly qualified specialists dedicated to their work.’
Elena Yelina emphasized the role of Balashov Institute in higher education in the country and in Saratov State University. ‘The institute provides high-quality higher education, because excellent teaching staff are working here. The methodological component of education is always taken seriously here. For many years, the institute has been training school teachers for the region. In the Year of Teachers and Mentors, many events have been held with teachers and schoolchildren. The institute always keeps its mark both on the recruitment of applicants and on improving the quality of graduate training. Balashov Institute today is a very significant part of Saratov State University.’
She thanked Director of Balashov Institute, SSU, Alla Shatilova and all the teachers who had been working daily for the benefit of science and education, training new generations of teachers.
Andrei Stalmakhov and Elena Yelina awarded the staff of Balashov Institute, SSU, with certificates of honour and letters of appreciation received from the Russian Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the Government of Saratov Region, and the SSU rector.
The awarding of the Honourary Worker of Education of the Russian Federation title by Chair of the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics Elena Sukhorukova was celebrated in a solemn atmosphere.
Director of Balashov Institute Alla Shatilova in her congratulation speech, commented on the important mission of the higher school. ‘Surely, it is too early to put an end to our anniversary book. I think that, today, we have finished only the first volume of the history of the institute, and, tomorrow, we will start writing its continuation. Helping to overcome the shortage of teaching staff in the region, many of our students begin their work while still studying at the institute. We train specialists for whom the education and upbringing of the younger generation becomes a matter of a lifetime. Over the years, the institute has actually become a “family” educational institution for many pedagogical dynasties of the region.’
For the last 25 years, Balashov Institute has been a part of Saratov State University. Alla Shatilova noted that without the support of the SSU leadership and Rector Alexei Chumachenko, it would be difficult for the institute to respond independently to all the requirements and challenges of the time. The university helps solve issues related to digital transformation, the development of an electronic educational environment, professional development of teachers and staff, and many other.
Today, Balashov Institute is a large, dynamically developing unit of Saratov State University. The branch consists of three faculties and seven departments. About 1,300 people, including 250 international citizens, are studying at BI, SSU.
