ITMO University (Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics University; ) is a state-supported university in Saint Petersburg and is one of Russia's National Research Universities. ITMO University is one of 15 Russian universities that were selected to participate in Russian Academic Excellence Project 5-100 by the government of the Russian Federation to improve their international standing among the world's research and educational centers.
Research priorities of ITMO University are concentrated in information and photonic technologies. The university consists of four main schools, 14 faculties, and a number of institutes and research centers. As of 2020, the total number of students was over 12,500, with 2,450 being foreign nationals. In 2014, the university employed 1,163 instructors, including over 800 PhDs. Many of its staff members and researchers have received government awards and designations of "honored science worker," the highest in Russia. Vladimir Vasilyev has been the university's Rector since 1996.
History The university's birthday is considered to be 26 March 1900, when a Mechanics, Optics and Watchmaking Department was opened in the Prince Nicholas Vocational School. At the time it was the only school in the Russian Empire that prepared specialists in these areas. The first year, some 65 applications were received for 30 places. Eighteen students were admitted to Watchmaking and 18 to Mechanics and Optics sections.
1917–1941
In 1917 the Mechanics, Optics and Watchmaking Department became its own entity–Petrograd Technical College for Mechanics, Optics and Watchmaking. Norbert Boleslavovich Zavodsky became its headmaster. In 1920, most of its classes were transformed into Petrograd College for Fine Mechanics and Optics (later–Leningrad). The municipalities allocated a building for it in Demidov Pereulok (Pereulok Grivtzova). The colleges' manufacturing facilities made a variety of complex optical and fine mechanics products. The first in USSR group of instrument engineers graduated here in 1931.
In 1930, the college was transformed into Leningrad Training Center, and in 1933, Leningrad Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics (LIFMO) became a separate college. Its first research laboratory was established in the Department of Optical Glass Technologies. Thanks to research here the USSR could get away from importing expensive foreign abrasives.
In 1937, LITMO opened the first in the USSR laboratory for calculating machinery that was later transformed into the Department of Mathematical and Computing Devices. By the autumn of 1939 it became one of the institute's top departments and focused on developing electromechanical computing devices and control devices. By 1940, it had over 1,400 students and employed 27 professors as well as 80 associated professors and PhDs.
1941–1945 With the beginning of the Second World War, 189 students and 85 staff members went to the front lines, while over 450 joined the People's Militia. Classes continued and only at the end of 1942 the students and instructors were evacuated to the town of Cherapanovo by Novosibirsk.
During the Siege of Leningrad, LIFMO continued to operate a military repair facility for the Leningrad front. It fabricated test and measurement instruments for army and navy units. During the Siege, the facility developed improved optical sights, fixed artillery binoculars, gun panoramas, anti-aircraft sighting telescopes, periscopes, machined "cups" for anti-aircraft shells and parts for land and sea mines.
After the Siege was lifted, the re-evacuation document was signed on August 10, 1944. The students and instructors returned to the city, and classes started again that October.
1945–1992
The university began to actively develop after the war. In the fall of 1945 it opened a new faculty–Electrical Instrumentation, which was soon reorganized into Radio Engineering. Here was established Department of Quantum Radio Electronics, which began to train specialists in this field. Engineering Physics Department was established here in 1946. From this department in 1954 graduated Dr. Yuri Denisjuk, a future scientist, author of discoveries in holography, and laureate of the state award.
In 1956, the researchers of the Computing Devices Department began to work on the first calculating machine "LITMO-1" that was finished in 1958. It did binary engineering calculations but the data was entered and the results were presented in the familiar decimal system. A laboratory for laser technologies was opened in the 1960s. The building on Sablinskaya Street, which is now the main campus, was built in the 1970s. The following decade saw the beginning of microprocessor technology research and the opening of the Interdisciplinary Institute of Advanced Studies to train manufacturing professionals in new areas of engineering and technology.
1992–present In 1992, LIFMO became Saint Petersburg Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics, and in 1994 it acquired the university status. The Faculty of Computer Technologies and Controls opened in 1994.
In 1994 the institute was the initiator and key developer of RUNNET, an IP network that unites all large research and education centers in Russia. The work was overseen by Dr. Vasilyev. The institute placed satellite dishes "Russia's Rainbow," rented from the military, on other universities. In 1995, the research center "Computer Optics" was established. In 2003 the institute was renamed into Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics.
Academy of Management Methods and Technologies (LIMTU) was added to the ITMO structure as well as Interdisciplinary Institute of Professional Training in New Areas of Science and Technology and the State Scientific Center of Computer Telecommunication Networks of Higher Education, followed by St. Petersburg College of Marine Instrument Making, St. Petersburg State University of Refrigeration and Biotechnology and St. Petersburg Economic and Technological College of D.I. Mendeleev.
In 2009 the university gained the status of National Research University and was renamed National Research University ITMO in 2011. In 2013 it was selected to join the Project 5–100.
From January 9, 2013, to November 3, 2014, a tribute to Steve Jobs in a form of a giant iPhone graced the courtyard of the university's building on Birzhevaya Linija.
On November 26, 2014, the university opened its representative office in Brussels.
Since 2014, the university holds the name of ITMO University.
Names 1900–1917: Mechanics, Optics and Watchmaking Department of the Prince Nicholas Vocational School 1917–1920: Petrograd Technical College for Mechanics, Optics and Watchmaking. 1920–1930: Petrograd College for Fine Mechanics and Optics 1930–1992: Leningrad Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics 1992–1994: Saint Petersburg Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics 1994–2003: Saint Petersburg University of Fine Mechanics and Optics 2003–2011: Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics 2011–2014: National Research University ITMO Since 2014: ITMO University
Present
The university has a multi-level system of higher education: bachelor–4 years, specialist–5 years, master–2 years, post-graduate–3–4 years.
Since 2013/14 ITMO is partnering with universities in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, France, among others, to participate in "double degree" international educational programs. ITMO graduates of these programs receive a second degree from a partner university.
The university collaborates with large St. Petersburg companies, including Elektropribor, LOMO, Mendeleev Institute for Metrology. The university supports a variety of scholarships: President of the Russian Federation, The Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of St. Petersburg, special scholarships in math, physics, IT, Research Council scholarship, name scholarship by LOMO and other companies. Students and staff carry out research and project activities on their own and as part of programs funded by the state and international contracts, federal and industry targeted programs. The university organizes and hosts competitions, congresses (for example, the annual "Young Scientists Congress"), forums, research conferences, including international ("Sensorica," "Fundamental Problems of Optics," etc.). In 2013, the university was one of the venues for the Russian National Student Forum.
The university has participated in student and instructor exchange programs financed by organizations, including the DAAD. ITMO is a member of the Association of European Universities. It also collaborates with foreign universities, including UCLA and ITESM.
ITMO University is one of two St. Petersburg universities–members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. SCO University offers involved learning where students work based on individual plans, learn about life in a different country and thus add to their education at their "home" university. At graduation, SCO University students receive a regular diploma and a special certificate.
The university is part of the Association of Technical Universities of Russia and China, founded in 2011, and participates in joint educational programs with the leading universities in China. This non-commercial organization unites technical universities of both countries and facilities student and instructor exchange. It was originally established at Harbin Institute of Technology and Bauman Technical University in Moscow.
Several times ITMO University students won "Yandex. Algorithm" programming championship, organized by one of Russia's internet companies. It's not a student competition per se but open to participants over 17. In 2013, it welcomed over 3,000 programmers from 84 countries and several large companies, including Google, Facebook and Vkontakte. That same year ITMO students took gold and silver, and in 2014–gold again, followed by another gold in 2015.
ITMO team also regularly participates in ACM ICPC programming championship under the general sponsorship by IBM since 1997. In 2013, the university hosted the 37th championship and its student won the top prize. ITMO students received medals in this championship since 1999 and from 2004 till 2015 became absolute winners six times. In 2013, after their fifth win, Russia's Ministry of Defense signed a contract with ITMO University to develop software for unmanned airplanes and robotics, to name a few. The same year Minister Sergey Shoygu offered talented students jobs in scientific military units as an alternative to mandatory military service.
ITMO University maintains ties with IT companies. In 2011, Dmitry Grishin, the general director of Mail.Ru, became the head of the department of internet technologies founded by the company. Later it was reorganized. In 2012, Russian programmers working for Facebook held a series of lectures at the leading technical universities in Russia, including ITMO. In 2015, Nobel Prize winner Zhores Alferov opened the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies in St. Petersburg and held an open lecture at the university.
In November 2014, the association of software manufacturers Russoft published a ranking of Russian universities by the level of success in training of the IT specialists. ITMO University placed first. Around the same time the university held a conference together with the association about the advantages of successful performance at international programming competitions.