Saint-Petersburg Mining University

The institute, of course, is a specialized one – it’s brilliant!I think it’s one of the best in the world.The St Petersburg mining institute. It is simply one of the best in the world:In technical terms and in terms of how well it trains specialists.So we have plenty to be proud of. ”

21 October (1 November) 1773 Catherine the Great edited the decree announcing the establishment of the School of Mines. This date is considered as the birthday of the first engineering education institution of the Russian Empire.

Today the University of Mines offers all academic cycles, bachelor’s, master’s and specialist’s profiles for future employees of Russian and International companies engaged in estimation, prospecting, exploitation, exploration and processing of raw materials, oil, gas, diamonds, ores.

Over 5000 teaching staff members have been trained since the implementation of the program Student-Assistant of Professor – Postgraduate –Candidate of Science-Doctor of Science.The Mining Museum is one of the three best museums of Natural science in the world. The collections from 80 countries are exhibited in 22 halls and rooms with the total area of about 2 500 square meters.

The library numbers over 1 2000 000 of books, magazines and journals and rare books of XV – XIХ centuries.The restored church of Saint Macarius the Egyptian is the main temple of the Russian Miners.There are 6 students’ halls and dormitories at the University. Many times the University Sports Center has been estimated as the best one in Saint-Petersburg.

To ensure the quality improvement of academic and research activities in accordance with “Schedule of internal audits” the internal checks are performed. The audit items and due dates the audit items (university QAS processes; departments involved into these processes; monitored items of international standard GOST R ISO:9001:20008) are defined in the schedule. The list of specific items is registered in “The Internal Audit Registry”. The leading specialists of temporary and permanent quality committees, Faculty and departments representatives responsible for quality are involved into process audits.

Based on the audit results the recommended guidelines and corrective actions for quality improvement of the audited process are developed. In accordance with QAS requirements all corrective actions requests and recommendations are documented in pursuance of internal regulations of university QAS. We conduct annual questionnaire survey of lecturers and students. Basing on statistical analysis of questionnaire results and audit findings the lecturers’ performance levels for each work area are determined and corrective actions for individual and department levels are developed.

During audit of research and development departments we monitor the function of R&D activities organization process, following the documented procedures for R&D activities, presence and status of R&D problem solving method, personnel capacity, and status of experimentation facilities and maintaining processes.

Based on the audit results we develop improving proposals for experimental facilities of R&D activities and examine the reasons causing R&D activities quality deviation and develop relevant corrective measures. The monitoring of university key performance indicators through time will enable to do the forecasts and make suggestions for improvement of university quality management system and structure.