The education system on the territory of the Penza Region started its formation on the border-line of the XVIII-XIX centuries. The project of rural men’s obligatory education was developed in 1770, and the first school memoranda were adopted in 1786 and 1803. Religious educational establishments were amid the first ones to be opened: the Orthodox Seminary in the Kazan Monastery nearby Nizhny Lomov (1780) and the Penza Orthodox Seminary (1800). In 1786 the Main People’s School (a classic school since 1804) was opened in Penza. 

The system of vocational training started in 1820, when one of the oldest Russian vocational educational establishments – the School of Gardeners – was opened in three kilometers from Penza. In 1868 the School of Medical Assistants at the Penza Regional Hospital was opened. In 1874 the Women’s Crafting School named after L.A. Tatishcheva was opened, followed by the Land Gauging School in 1875 and the Railroad School in 1880, the Crafting School named after F.E. Shvetsov in 1884 and quite a number of other vocational educational establishments. The first Higher Educational Establishment in Penza was The Penza Teachers’ Institute (nowadays – The Penza State Pedagogic University named after V. G. Belinsky) opened in 1939. In 1943 The Penza Industrial Institute (PII) was opened on the basis of the Industrial Institute evacuated from Odessa. In 1958 the PII was reorganized into The Penza Polytechnic Institute (nowadays – The Penza State University). One of its faculties singled out into a separate establishment – The Penza Engineer-Construction Institute (nowadays – The Penza State Architectural-Construction University). In 1951 The Penza Agricultural Institute was opened on the basis of the Penza Forestry College, and in 1995 it got the status of an academy. 

And now the education system including the whole variety of present time types & kinds of educational establishments which carry out the teaching programs of various level and targets has been formed and works successfully in the Penza Oblast. The system of primary vocational training incorporates 39 educational establishments (including nine vocational leiceums) with a total number of day-time students up to 13500 people. About 1600 pedagogues work in vocational schools and leiceums. 

Picture : The University campus

The system of the secondary vocational training includes 34 state educational establishments which differentiate on vocational directions into industrial, agricultural, educational, artistic, medical, constructing, economic and juridical ones, and those of the railroad transport. The higher vocational education is represented with 12 state establishments including three universities, one academy, eight affiliates of state institutions, as well as with three affiliates of non-state establishments. Up to 43 faculties & departments function in them, and each of them offers education on various specialties. The total contingent of students makes up to 46000 people. The army of students is annually added with 11000 leavers of high schools secondary special educational establishments and the establishments of primary vocational training. Up to 180 doctors and over 1050 candidates of sciences execute their scientific & teaching activities in the state higher educational establishments. 

Penza State University was formed as Penza Industrial Institute,which was reorganized into Penza Polytechnic institute in 1958.In 1993, Penza Polytechnic institute became Penza State Technical University. In january 22, 1998 it was awarded the full status of Penza State University. Nowadays Penza State University is the greatest higher school in the region. The University comprises 16 faculties and the Institute of State Service and Management. 11000 students and listeners take courses of different departments. More than 700 teachers are on its staff, more than a hundred of them are professors and 400 are associate professors. The University trains specialists in 65 directions and specialities. The students and specialists of the University are allowed to get supplementary and second higher education. The University maintains practical links with goreign educational establishments. The most capable students can apply for post-graduate courses and courses for PhD Degree. At present 316 post-graduates and 25 candidates of Sciences working for Doctorate in the university. 5 scientific Council consider doctor theses, and 2 Councils consider candidate theses in 17 scientific specialities. 

The University possesses up-to-date material resources meeting the educational requirements. Being the greatest regional information centre, the university possesses the largest information network among other institution and enterprises of the city. It encompasses more than 1000 personal cpmputers, 200 common terminal systems, the Internal office centre that provides communication with state, regional and international informationa computer networks. In the university there are 10 educational buildings, a library with reading halls, 5 hostels,a sport complex, a stadium, several canteens, a free Internet centre (only for students), a television centre, a students club, an after-work sanatorium and first-aid post, a country rest home, some shops, workshops and service buildings. Student's rooms (for double occupancy) are supplied with all modern conveniences. All these structures are in the one large campus. 

There are five hostels in the university which can accommodate 4000 students.Three of them are flat type i.e. with attached bathroom, toilet and kitchen, in one of the hostel there are television, referigerator in each and every room.The hostels are centrally heated (air-conditioned). Hostels are fully furnished. Separate arrangements for boys and girls.The basic system is two students in one room,in case of desire to live alone in one room,student has to pay for other bed also.Students are provided with full bedings and kitchen articles.Bed linen is changed once in a week and hostel is cleaned once everyday. All the hostels are well guarded with police security. (magnolia) tree.

Penza State University is increasingly developing. It is quick to open new specialities and state of the improve professional standards under the conditions of the changeable state of market. Penza State University should be called the intellectual base of the city as well as the region. It trains highly qualified specialists in different specialities: Medical, Farmacy, Engineers, Managers, Industrial workers, Enterprises, Lawyers, Economics. Highly priority is given to the International links development. At present students from India, Pakistan, China, Norwey, Syria, Vietnam, Yeman are studying here. The Faculty of International Education provides education facilities for foreign students. The disciplines taught including the Russian language enable the students to continue their study at any higher school of Russia in accordance with the speciality required (Medical, Engineering, Management etc.) Rector Proff. Vladimir Ivanovich Volochkhin was awarded by "The Rector of the year 2003",Russia 

Penza State University

Penza
City area
 282, 89 sq. km

Oblast area
43,200 sq.km. (16,680 sq. miles)

City Population
534,600 (1996 estimate)

Oblast population
1,562,000 (1996 estimate)

Sura River
river in west-central Russia, a tributary of the Volga River.

Region
Povolzhie (middle Volga region) in central European Russia

Vegetation
forest-steppe, pine or oak forest

City telephone code
8412

Time Zone
Moscow time (GMT + 03:00) 

check Penza local time
Location - 53°14'N - 45°02'E

Distance from Moscow
 - 600 km. (about 400 miles)

Map



Rector Proff. Vladimir Ivanovich Volochkhin.