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Accompanied by Rector Viktor Sadovnichy, the President toured the museum’s display in the MSU Fundamental Library, which was built in 2005 on Lomonosovsky Prospekt to mark the university’s 250^th anniversary.

The President was shown Moscow University’s most treasured memorabilia: the 1755 Decree of Empress Elizabeth on the foundation of the university and the Confirmatory Charter of Alexander I, which approved the university’s first charter in 1804, as well as models of the first university buildings.

The MSU History Museum collection includes 5,500 artefacts, an extensive photo bank, documents, books, maps, paintings and sculptures, as well as personal belongings of famous professors and lecturers.

Today, Lomonosov Moscow State University comprises 40 faculties, 377 departments, 15 research institutes, and 11 engineering institutes of advanced studies. Currently, more than 44,000 undergraduates and more than 4,000 graduate students and residents are enrolled at the university.

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Remarks at the ceremony to award the Order for Valiant Labour to the faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Sadovnichy, friends,

I am sincerely delighted to congratulate the staff of Lomonosov Moscow State University on receiving the Order for Valiant Labour and wish them all the best on the anniversary of Moscow State University, which we will celebrate tomorrow, on January 25.

On this day in 1755, Moscow University was founded at the initiative of Mikhail Lomonosov and Ivan Shuvalov.

From the very first days, it was endowed with a special responsibility to promote the cultural, scientific, and social development of our Motherland. Unsurprisingly, great Russian historian Sergei Solovyov confidently placed the foundation of Moscow University on a par with such momentous events in our thousand-year history as the Baptism of Russia, the Battle of Kulikovo, the foundation of St Petersburg and the establishment of the Academy of Sciences. True, Sergei Solovyov was also the university’s rector, which is probably why he remembered to mention it in this string of historic events.

It is absolutely certain that during the 270 years of its history, Moscow University has been the heart of Russian education and science. It is here that cutting-edge ideas gained strength, and brilliant scientific discoveries were made. It is indicative that half of the Russian Nobel prize winners (Mr Sadovnichy has just showed them to me on the wall in your museum) studied or worked at Moscow State University.

More than that, it strongly encouraged the development of the entire higher education in Russia. The professorial staff of the universities of Kazan, Kharkov, Kiev, and other cities of the Russian Empire was mainly comprised of graduates of Moscow State University, and during the Soviet period, about 60 universities originated from Moscow State University, including the Sechenov University, MGIMO University, and the Moscow University of Physics and Technology.

Today Moscow State University has a leading and backbone role in the entire Russian higher education system. It sets the general development vector for the prosperity of the Fatherland. This is a great honour and even greater responsibility for its faculty, students, graduate students, and alumni.

This is why it is so important to build upon the achievements of the past generations of scientists, professors and alumni, to be demanding of oneself and the work you do, while preserving the best traditions and fundamentals of education and the legacy of forefathers. You must also move forward, progress constantly, being proactive in your achievements and plans, taking into account the fundamental changes that are underway in the world.

MSU must continue to be the leading scientific powerhouse, raise true leaders for domestic science, industry, the education and management system, while also providing an intellectual foundation for the Fatherland to further develop and prosper, to be able to respond to the most difficult challenges that it is facing today.

In this context, I would like to quote the words written in 1855 in the run-up to the university’s 100^th anniversary, during the Crimean War: “Those who envy our strength think that they will harm us with their enmity: No, they will benefit us by making us discover and develop the forces of our land, our immeasurable Fatherland. The task of Russian universities in this endeavour is great, sacred, and inexhaustible.” These words are true and relevant today. I would like to ask you, colleagues, and all your associates in the broad sense of the word, everyone in higher education in Russia, to be guided by them in your daily work.

Friends, once again, accept my sincere congratulations on the high assessment of your work. Please convey my words of gratitude to your colleagues and all the university staff, as well as wishes for further success and new professional victories.

Now let us proceed to the most delightful and responsible part of the celebration: the presentation of the state award.

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