On November 27, Humanities and Economics Lyceum hosted an expanded visiting meeting of the SSU research-to-Methodology Council for Pedagogical Education. It was devoted to the 10th anniversary of the Corporate Department of Russian Philology and Media Education.

There gathered the members of the Research-to-Methodology, as well as the directors and deans of the SSU institutes and faculties, the chairs of departments, the teaching staff, and teachers of Humanities and Economics Lyceum and other schools of the city, graduates of the department and students in the Assembly Hall of the lyceum.

The meeting began with the performance by Anton Kirichenko, a fourth-year student of the Institute of Philology and Journalism, and Ivan Lapshin, a pupil of Grade 7 of the lyceum. They greeted the numerous guests who had gathered for the anniversary in poems and noted that the lyceum, which had turned 25 years old, had become a home for students of the department.

Chair of the Department of Russian Philology and Media Education Olga Dmitriyeva was the host of the meeting. She pointed out that this year marked the 10th anniversary of the opening of the first corporate department at the school not only in SSU, but also in Russia, because the SSU department had become the first unit of this kind in the country. ‘Being pioneers, the first decade has passed – it is not much for a university department, but since we have done everything for the first time, then ten years can be considered a good time to summarise the first results and define new opportunities.’

Olga Dmitriyeva conveyed greetings from the Deputy Prime Minister of Saratov Region – Minister of Education of the region Mikhail Orlov. He was the principal of Humanities and Economics Lyceum 10 years ago, pioneered the corporate department, and actively supported this initiative.

Head of Priority Projects and Programmes, SSU, Elena Yelina addressed the audience. She told the audience about the history of the department, how our university had initiated the amendment to the Law on Education and the opportunity of opening corporate departments in schools in this regard. ‘We understood – it is we who should this amendment in life. With the efforts of the university administration, the Education Department of Volga District, and with the huge support and initiative of Lyceum Principal Mikhail Orlov, we began developing a corporate department. The first department was established in HEL. Soon three more corporate departments were opened, which cover the entire educational scale,’ Elena Yelina said.

‘It seems to me that when we established the first corporate department, there were serious changes in our university teaching staff who are directly or indirectly involved in the implementation of pedagogical curricula. Following this, new university projects appeared – the Week of Pedagogical Education, which has merged with the Step into the Profession contest. When we applied for participation in the Priority 2030 programme, along with purely R&D strategic projects, SSU, we ventured to submit the Teachers in the Educational Paradigm project. This initiative was supported. It is aimed at schoolchildren, students, and young teachers. But it all started with this corporate department. For all the decade, it has been showing its need and relevance and is an excellent ideas generator,’ Elena Yelina summed up.

Elena Yelina presented Principal of Humanities and Economics Lyceum Victoria Rezepova with a letter of appreciation from SSU Rector Aleksei Chumachenko to the teaching staff of the lyceum. As a gift from the university, she gave the lyceum the Saratov State University: The Twenty-First Century book.

‘Our lyceum cannot imagine itself without the department – we are united by a long path, which we have walked along hand in hand. I thank Saratov State University for this amazing award,’ Victoria Rezepova replied.

Olga Dmitriyeva noted that the lyceum had always been ready to interact with SSU and provided premises for the department. For students, the lyceum had become home where they had internships here, stayed after classes to discuss lessons with their peers and mentors.

Head of the Education Department of Volga District administration Larisa Toporkova said how she had observed all stages of the department development. She thanked the SSU administration for their trust.

The meeting members discussed the work of the department with students of the Institute of Philology and Journalism taking the pedagogical courses, conducting pedagogical internships not only in HEL, but also in other schools of the city.

Director of the Institute of Philology and Journalism Lyudmila Borisova expressed gratitude to the teachers of literature for the joint training of future teachers with the department. ‘The course in philological education is very popular, many people are interested in the profession of a teacher of Russian language and literature. A lot of applicants enter for the master's degree course entitled Teacher – Student – Lesson at School Work of Russian Language and Literature Teachers. But the theory will not make sense until the students receive practical skills from school mentors. Honour and praise to the teachers of not only HEL, but also all the schools of the city. Thank you for finding the time, energy, and desire to work with students and share your experience to a new generation.’

Lyudmila Borisova presented the letters of appreciation from the Director’s Office of Teachers Institute to Galina Muravyova, Larisa Kuleshova, Natalia Shevtsova, Ekaterina Shchedrina, Natalia Glushchenko, and Elena Mayorshina for long-term assistance in conducting pedagogical internships and systematic highly professional methodological support.

A pleasant gift for the guests of the holiday was a video message from a graduate of the Institute of Philology and Journalism and a postgraduate student of the department, the winner of the 2023 Teacher of the Year of Russia All-Russian contest Oleg Yankovskii. He admitted that his studying at university was the best time in his life. ‘You saw not only my, but also other students’ potential. Valuable theory and invaluable practice inspire confidence, so far, your wise advice still accompany me on the pedagogical path!’ Oleg Yankovski said.

Senior Lecturer of the department, Head of the Step into the Profession student contest Marina Kabanova commented on the competitive and creative work with students. ‘Next year, the Step into the Profession contest will be held for the 20th time. In 2004, I became one of its first winners. Today, it is a great venue for cooperation with partner schools. Children are always very impressed by the lessons that students conduct.’

On the screen, Marina Kabanova showed the photos from the archive of the Step into the Profession contest and commented how it had changed and adjusted to new, promising forms. In the Year of Teachers and Mentors, a distinctive feature of the contest was the joint performance of teachers and students. This year's winners were Associate Professor of the Corporate Department of Russian Philology and Media Education Larisa Zimina and Sophia Bulygina.

Working with schoolchildren is also among the priorities of the corporate department. One of its main parts is holding Department Day at the lyceum. This was told by Associate Professor of the Corporate Department of Russian Philology and Media Education Olga Lapshina.

Associate Professor of the corporate department Alexandra Rayeva in her speech spoke about how to help teachers awaken students' interest in in-depth study of the subject, research, and participation in olympiads.

Olga Dmitriyeva reported on the results of work with teachers – another major part of affairs of the department. The university teaching staff help teachers in solving difficult issues of modern education. The university conducts advanced training courses for teachers in the Institute of Continuing Professional Education and meetings of research-to-methodology seminars and conferences, as well as organises discussion venues.

The participants of the council got acquainted with the project of the department for the writing of the IntoHighSchool.ru book, developed with the support of a member of the Russian Union of Journalists Natalia Degtyaryova. It was recognised as the best work about the future profession at the 2023 Time to Write Books literary and creative contest.

Natalia Degtyaryova received a letter of appreciation from Director of the Institute of Philology and Journalism Lyudmila Borisova for active cooperation with the department on developing students' project skills.

At the end of the meeting, the students of the Institute of Philology and Journalism about their future profession from the IntoHighSchool.ru book. ‘I want to become the best friend for my pupils, and not just make them remember how many this or that writer lived,’ Margarita Sedova admitted. ‘I' am a little afraid of difficulties, but they always appear. Through hardships to the stars!’ Arina Balandina shared her expectations.

Each participant of the meeting received a booklet, which had the main milestones in the history of the department and the memories of its organisers.