Pedagogical practice is an obligatory part of the training of highly qualified specialists at all universities and institutes of St. Petersburg. Therefore, it can be argued that most of the universities of St. Petersburg are pedagogical to a certain extent. However, the Russian State Pedagogical University named after A. I. Herzen, which is one of the best universities in the country, ranking 45th in the all-Russian ranking of universities.
History of teacher education in St. Petersburg
In 1770 in St. Petersburg, on the Moscow model, the educator Ian Betsky established the St. Petersburg Orphanage. In 1797, this institution was taken under the guardianship of Empress Maria Feodorovna, who significantly expanded the activities of the House and increased the number of orphans living and studying there.
Herzen University considers itself the successor of the ideas of that institution, therefore, 1797 is indicated as the date of foundation. A distinctive feature is the fact that in this institution they gavenot only a haven, but also professional skills. It was on 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 existed until 1903, when the Higher Women's Pedagogical Institute was founded on its basis, renamed the Imperial Institute in 1913.
After the revolution, the Women's Pedagogical Institute was transformed into the Third Petrograd Pedagogical Institute, which was supposed to train teachers 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 fell, because the state took responsibility for eliminating 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 lands, an extensive network of educational institutions of various levels was required. In turn, for teaching in new schools, technical schools, institutes and colleges, highly qualified personnel were required. So Herzen University became one of the main forges for the training of specialists in the field of education throughout the Soviet Union, and later in Russia.
The current state of the university
Today Herzen University is one of the largest pedagogical universities in St. Petersburg and the country. More than twenty faculties and one hundred departments are actively working and developing in its composition.
To the structure of the universityincluded the institute of pre-university training, as well as the institute for 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 Kazanskaya street and the embankment of the Moika River. On the campus there are forty-eight buildings and structures built in a variety of styles: from baroque to late classicism and empire.
However, the main university building, the Razumovsky Palace, whose façade overlooks the Moika Embankment, is considered to be the true gem of the ensemble. It was in this historical building that the St. Petersburg Orphanage was located. Now the main building houses only administrative services and halls for celebrations and scientific conferences.
The inner territory of the university, which is entered with electronic passes, is decorated with a garden, and the fence, which is part of the architectural ensemble of Kazanskaya Square, was designed by Voronikhin.
Institutes for Special Education
Except for the statePedagogical University, in St. Petersburg there is also a private Institute of Special Pedagogy and Psychology, founded in 1993 by a non-profit organization.
The Institute has a faculty of additional education, consisting of two departments: special psychology and special pedagogy. The institute has a school and a kindergarten, there is a library.
Pedagogical universities in St. Petersburg are also engaged in the retraining of personnel from other regions, regularly hold conferences and seminars for practicing teachers and promote the exchange of professional experience among teachers from all over the country.
Special mention deserves the direction of Special Defectology Education, the training of specialists in which is carried out on the basis of St. Petersburg State Pediatric University. Without this department, education for children with special needs would be extremely difficult.
Physical education teachers and sports coaches are trained at P. F. Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sports and He alth.
