ETU “LETI”: LETI Hosts International Discussion on Creating Modern University Spaces
On March 18, at 15:00, an online discussion “Academic Spaces of Future Universities,” dedicated to the 135th anniversary of St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI,” will take place. Proposal of such discussion was made by St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University and supported by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in St. Petersburg and Nuffic Neso, the Netherlands Education Support Office.
During the discussion, experts from Russia, Netherlands, Italy, and Finland will discuss the effective use of public and educational spaces and creating a comfortable, inclusive, and motivating environment in the universities established in the 19th – 20th centuries.
“This year, LETI turns 135 years old. The university opens new laboratories and centers and develops the external and internal, as well as digital environment. All universities established more than 100 years ago face the efficiency challenge. Clearly realizing that the environment is more relevant today than ever before, we decided to organize a discussion on “Academic Spaces of Future Universities,” Anastasia Minina, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of ETU “LETI” comments, “This event is a platform to exchange opinions and views on creating an academic environment of the future, grounded on a very interesting past. It is an opportunity to think about how the LETI campus can change by its 150th anniversary.”
“How do we keep up with the rapidly changing world and make the most of the environment? How can we create a comfortable, inclusive, and motivating environment in a historic campus with an “untouchable” heritage? What spatial solutions are offered for productive studies and research work by modern university innovators? We decided to discuss these and other questions with the best international and Russian professionals, which develop campuses of the Netherlands, Italy, Finland, and Russia.”
Anastasia Minina, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of ETU “LETI”
Lionel Veer, Consul-General of the Netherlands in St. Petersburg, will make a greeting speech.
In an opening speech “LETI future campus as we see it: flexible intellectual space,” Anastasia Minina will talk about the university’s renewal programs aimed at solving the historical heritage preservation problem and reinventing research and learning spaces.
Dara Melnyk, Head of the Research Group at the SKOLKOVO Education Development Centre (SEDeC), will devote her speech to the prospects of higher education after the pandemic lockdown. Pascale Leistra, Senior Architect at Atelier PRO, will answer how historical university buildings can adapt to the education of future generations and become a valuable asset to the urban environment.
Antonella Longo, Associate Professor at the University of Salento (Italy), will talk about the development of virtual labs that allow students to study remotely, diversify research opportunities, and promote internationalization and inclusiveness in engineering education.
Jasper van Winden, Project Manager for Educational Innovations, will share his experience in creating new learning spaces at Utrecht University (Netherlands). Ari Lindeman, Head of Research Projects at the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK), will discuss designing creative learning spaces in historic buildings, using the case of the XAMK campus renovation in Kouvola.
The presentation by Andrey Surovenkov, Head of the Department of Architectural Environment Design at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, will be devoted to the design of the university research, museum, and public complex, performed by the masters of the university.
At the end of the discussion, Anastasia Minina will present the International Contest of Young Architects “LETI: Future Academic Spaces,” scheduled to start in March.