History of Buryat State University (from 1995)
Foundation of Buryat State University
Intellectual society had been planning to establish a classic university in Buryatia for a long time.
At the beginning of 1994 new governing body of Buryat State Pedagogic University were given the task to reorganize the institute into the pedagogical university. The institute's administration raised the problem "Of the pedagogical education concept in the higher educational establishment" at the meeting of the Academic Council, thus pointing out the main directions in which it was possible to reorganize the institution.
The purposeful work of the institute's administration resulted in the foundation of the classic university in Buryatia. On September 30, 1995 the President of Russian Federation B. N. Eltsin signed the decree "About the foundation of Buryat State University in the republic". On November 2, 1995 the prime-minister of Russian Federation V. S. Chernomyrdin signed the decree of Russian Federation Government "About the reorganization of Buryat State Pedagogic University and located in Ulan-Ude the branch of Novosibirsk University and about the foundation of Buryat State University on their basis".
Governing Body of the University
The first Rector of BSU was elected on March 1, 1996 at the meeting of the university's staff. There were three candidates for the position: Doctor of Pedagogy, professor S. V. Kalmykov (acting as the Rector of BSU), Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, professor G.- N. B. Dandaron (ex-director of Novosibirsk University branch) and Corresponding Member of RAE, Doctor of Pedagogy, professor E. R. Radnaev (the Dean of Buryat Philology Department at BSU). According to the results of the secret vote, S. V. Kalmykov was elected the Rector. The Charter of Buryat State University was accepted and the Academic Council including 63 members (26 Doctors of Science and Professors, 27 Candidates of Science and Associate Professors) was founded in March as well.
The composition of the administrative body after the election of the Rector practically did not change: the first Pro-Rector - Pro-Rector on Science - Doctor of Biology, professor Ts. Z. Dorzhiev, Pro-Rector on Academic Affairs - Candidate of Philological Sciences , Associate Professor L. P. Kovalyova, Pro-Rector on Part-Time Education - Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor V. S. Samsonov, Pro-Rector on Social Affairs - Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor A. E. Pavlov, Pro-Rector on Administrative Affairs - A. A. Itygilov. Some changes into the structure of the administration were introduced later.
Formation and growth of the University
Right from the beginning the University aimed at reorganization and development in a short space of time.
Much effort was put into changing the academic process in terms of the University's curricula and syllabi. In order to do this, Academic Part was turned into Academic and Methodological Center (Head - Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor V. I. Antonov). In 2002 the Center was reorganized into Academic and Methodological Department which had broader functions (Head - Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor G. N. Fomitskaya).
Science and Research Office was established (Head - Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor V. V. Nomogoeva). The functions of Post-Graduate Department were expanded (Head - Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor G. I. Rogaleva). The Publishing Office was founded (director - K. A. Batorova) with its two parts - the editing and publishing section (head - I. Kh. Ochirova) and the printery (Head - N. N. Tatarnikova). Editing and Publishing Council of the University was founded (Head - Professor Ts. Z. Dorzhiev). The University's newspaper "Buryat State University" was issued. The International Office was founded (Head - G. B. Khalanova).
There were changes in the Accountancy and the Planning Offices. They were turned into the Department of Accounts Calculation and Financial Control (Head - S. I. Batueva, from 2002 - T. Ts. Rinchinova) and the Department of Planning and Financing (Head - L. V. Khaltueva). Personnel Department (Head - T. O. Darmaeva) gave rise to the independent division of the Students' Personnel Department (Head - T. M. Badmaeva), which in 2002 was reorganized into the Bureau of Students' Affairs (Head - Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor Yu. V. Shibanova, from 2003 - M. V. Badmaeva). The functions of chancellery were expanded and it gave rise to the General Department (Head - C. Ts. Lompoeva). The administrative sphere also underwent some changes: new departments were opened.
In January 1996 Interdepartmental Academic and Research Center (IARC) was founded in order to manage and to control the studies of the second and the fourth-year students of the former Novosibirsk University branch who were still studying according to the curriculum of Novosibirsk University. Two departments were based on the Humanitarian Department of the Novosibirsk branch: in May 1996 - Eastern Department (Dean - Doctor of Philosophy L. E. Yangutov), in June 1996 - the Economics Department (Dean - Candidate of Economics Sciences, Associate Professor I. M. Khabaeva). In September 1996 Economics Department was renamed to Department of Economics and Management. The students majoring in Natural Sciences joined the Departments corresponding to their specializations. Some students of the first two graduations who started their education in the branch of Novosibirsk University were conferred the diplomas of Novosibirsk university.
In January 1996 the Department of Physics and Mathematics and the Industrial-Pedagogical Department gave rise to the Physico-Technical Department (Dean - Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor V. M. Sandakov) and Mathematics Department (Dean - Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor V. V. Kibirev).
In January 1996 two institutes were established to develop the important concepts of the regional science: the Institute of Eastern Studies (director - Doctor of History, N. V. Abaev) and the Institute of Ecology (director - Doctor of Biology, Professor B. B. Namzalov, from 2001 - Candidate of Geographical Sciences, E. Zh. Garmaev). In February 1996 the Institute of Pedagogical Education (IPE) was opened to promote high-quality preparation for the students majoring in Pedagogy and planning to teach at schools (director - Doctor of Pedagogy, Professor N. V. Yazykova).
For further development of mutual contacts with the people of neighboring regions and countries BSU opened several branches: in 1999 - Bokhan (director - Candidate of Historical Sciences, A. V. Damdinov), in 2000 - Ulan-Baatar (director - Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor Yu. P. Shagdurov), in 2004 - Aginskiy (director - Candidate of Historical Sciences, B. V. Zolkhoev). In 2005 the University opened its representative office in Hailar (China) on the basis of Hulunbuirsk University.
The status of classic university set a task for the teachers and administrators to reform the system of students' education and use the curricula and the syllabi of the classic university. Educators and administrators of the university issued a great number of textbooks and tutorials. According to this parameter, in 2001 BSU ranked the 9th among 61 classic universities in Russia.
More than 85% of the staff in BSU at the time was former employees of the Pedagogical Institute. During 1995-1996 a great majority of scientists from Science and Research institutes of Buryat Scientific Center (Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Science) and many other scientific institutions transferred to BSU. On September 1, 1996 there were 655 teachers including 365 (55.7%) with scientific degrees: 78 doctors and professors, 287 candidates of sciences and associate professors.