Tertiary Education Workers Day in Russia Date in the current year: November 19, 2024

Tertiary Education Workers Day is celebrated on November 19 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mikhail Lomonosov, a renowned Russian polymath and writer, who greatly contributed to science, literature and education. Among other things, he founded the Moscow State University.

Mikhail Lomonosov was born in a small village in the far north of Russia on November 19, 1711. Learning had been his passion since a young age. Upon turning nineteen19, Lomonosov left his native village and went to Moscow on foot, determined to obtain higher education.

To get into the Slavic Greek Latin Academy, he falsely claimed to be a nobleman’s son. The lie was eventually uncovered and nearly got Lomonosov expelled, but he was permitted to continue his studies due to being a model student. In 1734–1735, he allegedly spent several months studying at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, although some biographers doubt this.

Lomonosov graduated from the Slavic Greek Latin Academy in 1736 and was awarded a scholarship at the Saint Petersburg Academy. Later that year, he was sent to study at the University of Marburg in Germany. Lomonosov returned to Russia in 1741 and became a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1745.

Lomonosov’s knowledge spanned a wide range of subjects including physics, chemistry, astronomy, mineralogy, philology, art, history and others. He established the first chemistry laboratory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, discovered the atmosphere of Venus, and demonstrated the conservation of mass in chemical reactions.

One of Lomonosov’s greatest accomplishments that had a significant influence on the development of tertiary education in Russia was the founding of the Moscow State University. Lomonosov promoted the idea of a university in Moscow with the support of his patron Ivan Shuvalov. The Moscow State University was established by Empress Elizabeth’s decree on January 25, 1755. The anniversary of its establishment is celebrated as Students’ Day, and Lomonosov’s birthday is celebrated as Tertiary Education Workers Day.

The president of Russia declared 2021 the Year of Science and Technology. It was because of this that the idea arose of establishing a professional holiday for educators working in tertiary education. It was supported by the public, so Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to formally establish Tertiary Education Workers Day. The inaugural celebration was held on November 19, 2021.

The holiday is designed to enhance the prestige of the profession and to make sure that people teaching at tertiary education establishments feel appreciated. Tertiary Education Workers Day is marked by concerts, awards ceremonies, and other events organized by university administrations and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.