Irkutsk State University

Russian scientists, statesmen, patrons of art and science, such as Nikolai Yadrintsev, Afanasy Shchapov, P.A. Slovtsov, S.S. Shchukin, Grigory Potanin and others were founders of Irkutsk State University, many of whom were advocates of Siberian regionalism. The University was opened on October 27, 1918. ==Faculties and Institutes==

At present, the University consists of 11 faculties and 8 educational institutions. Over 14500 thousand students, including 880 foreign students from 23 countries, and more than 1155 lecturers (142 Dr. Sc. and 625 Cand. Sc. professors) work there. • International Institute of Economics and Linguistics • Institute of Mathematics and Information Technologies • Institute of Social Sciences • Continuing Education Institute • Pedagogical Institute • Law Institute • Baikal International Business School • Law Institute • Institute of Philology, Foreign Languages and Media Communication • Faculty of Biology and Soil Studies • Faculty of Business and Management • Faculty of Chemistry • Faculty of Geography • Faculty of Geology • Faculty of History • Faculty of Psychology • Faculty of Physics • Faculty of Business-Communications and Computer Science • Preparatory Faculty for Foreign Citizens • Siberian-American Faculty of Management ==Notable faculty members==

• Semyon Novgorodov, creator of a Yakut alphabet • Ivan Naumovich Yazev, astronomer and head of the university's astronomical observatory from 1948 to 1955 ==Notable alumni==

• Valentin Rasputin, writer • Alexander Vampilov, writer • Erdenebalsuren Damdin, judge on the International Criminal Court • Mark Sergeev, poet • Evgeny Chernikin, zoologist and ecologist ==References==