Greetings to friends, colleagues, students, and everyone else who extends their congratulations to the University on this 213th birthday!

The light of science, first opened here in the 19th century, is still guiding us today. Kazan University is not a place on the map or a number of buildings – it's people. Those people who are with us in Kazan and those who are scattered across the world and are with us in their thoughts.

During more than two centuries, Kazan University has produced thousands of top-notch specialists, many of whom have become prominent researchers, and some – leaders of the global science. I am especially pleased to note that many of them, after attaining fame abroad, then return to alma mater to invest their knowledge and skills in the University's development, in the growth of its research schools, in the creation of new scientific areas and in the preparation of future breakthroughs.

KFU today is a major research and education center with 44 thousand students, 11 thousand employees, educators and the University Clinic staff. 5,200 international students are currently studying here, thus confirming a sizable global awareness of our brand. KFU is one of the successful innovation centers of Russia with expansive business links with over 60 countries.

Kazan University has gone through different periods in its life, and today I can firmly state that anyone who thinks of KFU as their alma mater, who is a hard worker and is eager to discover their talents, has every chance for success. This is helped by our excellent infrastructure and by our rapidly developing ties with local and international partners both in research and in business, including joint departments, labs, production facilities, and small innovative enterprises. However, success is also based on non-material factors, something that we can be proud of as well. It's a spirit of unity, a feeling of teamwork for common results, and a belief that there is nothing beyond our reach.

I congratulate everyone, dear friends, and wish that your every dream becomes reality!

Note: Since 1991, official celebrations are held on November 18th. This is because of the growing shift between Julian and Gregorian calendars (12 days in the 19th century and 13 days today).