Liberal Arts Program at Smolny College in Russia Will End

The Chronicle of Higher Education’s international education column, Latitudes, reports that the liberal-studies program at Smolny College, located at St. Petersburg State University in Russia, will be shuttered two years after its key international partner, Bard College, was barred from working in the country. Bard College is a co-founder of OSUN and until now has granted dual degrees to Smolny graduates. 

In June 2021, the Russian government declared Bard College “undesirable” and because of the blacklisting, Bard officials risked endangering their Smolny colleagues, says Jonathan Becker, Vice Chancellor of OSUN and Executive Vice President of Bard College.

The closure is a product of the Russian government’s crackdown on dissent and growing anti-Western sentiment in the country, as well as opposition to liberal arts education, according to Becker. Becker notes that OSUN continues to offer online courses to Smolny students.

Read the article in The Chronicle of Higher Education

Post Date: 09-20-2023