Here is a list of major achievements and events for 2017.
1. Education
Bolgar Islamic Academy. The Academy opened its doors this September, and further cooperation plans were discussed in November. The University serves as the primary educational and research consultant for the Academy.
Center for International Certification in Arabic Language. The much-anticipated Center opened in November. It will oversee the first official international exams in Arabic to be held in Russia.
Islamica Center in Moscow will be based at the Institute of Oriental Studies.
Department of Nuclear Material Science, which officially started its activities on September 1st, is a united effort by KFU and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.
Five medical programs received accreditation from the federal government in October.
The Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics won a grant from the federal Ministry of Education and Science to establish 6 regional mathematical education centers in the next 5-6 years.
10 courses in psychology and teacher education have been launched on iTunes University. Over 150 more courses in teacher education are planned to be available in the next 3 years.
The first program in Russian robotics for high schoolers was presented by the Yelabuga Institute. It has been tested at the KFU IT Lyceum. The partner is Android Technics.
2. Science and Innovation
In July, Sviyazhsk Assumption Cathedral joined the UNESCO World Heritage List. The majority of the effort was made by the KFU World Cultural Heritage Center. There is also an ongoing project to include Russian Silk Road corridors into the list.
Within the Universities as Innovation Centers initiative, KFU will establish three centers – Center for Innovative Development in Translational Medicine, Center for Technological Development in Petroleum Extraction and Refining and Petrochemistry, and Center for Social Development in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
KFU received a Knowledge of the Future Award at Vuzpromexpo 2017 Fair.
KFU won a governmental megagrant and will establish the Eurasian Research and Education Center for Geochronology and Thermochronology.
The University became one of the 27 winners in the contest for further financing of the priority scientific projects in Russia in 2014 – 2020. The sum of 250 million rubles will be distributed across 2017 – 2019.
In cooperation with the Russian Science Foundation, 12 projects in 2017 – 2020 are being financed in the amount of 94 million rubles.
New properties of gamma-ray bursts during observations of GRB 160625B were discovered with KFU’s participation.
KFU, Republican Clinical Cancer Center, and RIKEN are working on a major database of pathogenic mutations related to hereditary cancer predisposition.
KFU astronomers discovered an exoplanet together with Turkish and Japanese colleagues.
Six projects won grants from the Russian Science Foundation for research in neuronal networks, contrast agents for MRI, dry storage of biomaterials, soil decontamination, quantum computing, and antibiotics.
Two press molds for turbine blades were provided for the Kazan Motor-Building Association with the use of laser fusion. This was one of the first steps to introducing additive methods for mass production in Tatarstan.
A grant to develop titanium products with the use of low-temperature plasma was won in cooperation with Zelenodolsk Gorky Plant.
A grant to develop titanium products with the use of vacuum plasma spray coating was won.
3. Infrastructure
Renovations at the former military hospital are underway, with two buildings already in use and the third to be opened in February 2018. All the facilities are intended for the expansion of the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology and the University Clinic.
The Center for Elementary Education Practice and the Center for Master's Programs in Teacher Education were unveiled at the Institute of Psychology and Education.
KFU now holds a major stake in the Regional Chemical Technology Engineering Center and the Regional Engineering Center for Medical Simulators and will serve a research supervisor for these entities.
Several buildings have seen major renovations, including those of the Institute of Psychology and Education, the Yelabuga Institute, the Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental Studies, UNICS, and dormitories.
4. Global rankings
See the latest results here.
5. Interregional and international cooperation
Four regional cooperation agreements have been signed with the subjects of the Volga Federal District – Penza Oblast, Chuvash Republic, Republic of Mari El, and Kirov Oblast.
An international network university is in the works – a joint effort by KFU, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bremen, Goethe Institute Russia, European University Viadrina Frankfurt, and Ruhr University Bochum.
A new research trio was formed in December – KFU, RIKEN, and Kanazawa University.
The University has become a member of the Ambassadors of Russian Language program for student associations. Two visits have been made in 2017 – to Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
Joint projects with Sinopec and PetroChina are being implemented or are under development.
KFU and Zarubezhneft have successfully completed the first stage of a heavy oil refining project for Cupet at Boca de Jaruco field.
6. Work with high schools and kids
A summer Olympiad in mathematics, IT, and natural science was held for 8th – 11th grade pupils.
The IT Lyceum was recognized as one of the 50 best secondary schools in Russia.
The IT Lyceum took the first place among schools of Tatarstan in a contest for ongoing work with talented kids.
The Center for Robotics was opened at the IT Lyceum.
The Republican Contest for Young Inventors was held by the Institute of Engineering in May.
7. International Students
KFU has 5,495 international students as of 25th December 2017. This number is significantly above the plan of 5,200 for this year.
KFU is now a part of the Consortium for Educational Export of Russia with 38 other universities.
International Universities Networking Conferences awarded the University for International Admissions in May.
8. Staff
The first graduation of the KFU Corporate University occurred in September. 123 people have graduated so far, including senior academic staff and administrative officials.
Salary targets for academics in 2017 have been met. Further raises of 7% (for junior academic positions up to associate professors and administrative personnel) and 5% (for senior academics) are planned for 2018.
9. Students' achievements
Nafis Serazetdinov became Student of the Year in Russia 2017 in November.
Dmitry Kasyanov emerged victorious at WorldSkills Hi-Tech in November in Industrial Robotics.
KFU was recognized as the leader in the first national contest in Student Self-Governance and Social Work in Higher Education in December.
The Center for Student Self-Governance of Kazan University was unveiled in November.
10. Notable events
10.1. Regular international events
8th International Schoolteachers Festival
3rd International Forum on Teacher Education
2nd Conference on Physics of Low Temperature Plasma
10.2. Inaugural international events
10.3. Ongoing projects and long-term projects
Lobachevsky Year and Lobachevsky Medal and Prize
Tolstoy Year and Tolstoy Prize (2018)
KFU Engelhardt Observatory submitted for review as a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Museum Complex of Kazan University is undergoing a major reform, including this year’s opening of the Lobachevsky Museum.