The three-day All-Russian Forum "Family - the Fourth Mission of the University" has started at the Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin. Its goals are to preserve and popularize family values among young people, and to enhance the role of the family in society. The event was attended by 200 students of higher education institutions from 36 regions of the Russian Federation: Altai Krai, the Komi Republic, the Republic of Crimea, Belgorod Oblast, Volgograd Oblast, Rostov Oblast, Ryazan Oblast, Samara Oblast, Saratov Oblast, Smolensk Oblast, Tambov Oblast, Moscow, St. Petersburg and others. The participants also included 28 student families, some of them with children.
– Universities are social institutions responsible for the reproduction of society. Pronatalist tasks are natural for them. That is why they cannot but have their own demographic program. Starting from 2024, almost 60% of Russian school graduates will be able to receive free higher education. Meanwhile, the impact of the higher education system on the demographic strategies of the population in modern developed societies can be considered a depressor in relation to the birth rate. What to do? The situation can be corrected by giving universities a new – fourth – mission, no less important than the three traditional missions – educational, scientific and social, – says Pavel Moiseev, Rector of Derzhavin University. – The fourth mission is a mechanism for adjusting students' demographic attitudes regarding the birth of their first child. This mechanism is based on the formation of objective conditions for starting a family and having their first child during their studies without taking academic leave and interrupting their career development. At the request of the Mendeleev Institute, we created and launched a corporate university demographic standard that provides significant support measures for student families with children. In 2024, the university became the operator of the "Help Mom Study" competition. It is aimed at creating conditions for young families with children to study at universities. That is why the forum that we opened today is being held at Derzhavin University.
The three-day program includes the session "Young Family - the Present and Future of the State" - foresight planning of measures of state, regional and university support for young families; "Healthy Family - Healthy Russia" - maintaining the physical and psychological health of young people and young families. Participants will enjoy workshops, trainings and business games, an extensive excursion and leisure program.
– Our family is one and a half months old, we came to the forum “Family – the Fourth Mission of the University” from Novocherkassk, – say Viktor Orishchenko and Anastasia Plaunova. – At the forum, we want to communicate with students from other cities, take part in trainings and master classes. We also plan to get to know Tambov. We are here for the first time, and we are very interested in everything.
Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin is implementing a set of measures aimed at creating favorable conditions for the formation of student families, the birth and upbringing of children. The University has the following support measures for student families, mothers (fathers) with children:
- mother and child room and short-term stay room for children. This is a special room on the University campus where student mothers can leave their children under the supervision of qualified caregivers during classes. This allows young mothers to successfully combine motherhood with the educational process;
- a single window for young families. To simplify the interaction of young student families with government agencies, a single window system has been created in Derzhavin University, through which emerging issues concerning housing conditions, academic workload, social assistance and other aspects of the life of the University's student families can be promptly resolved;
– targeted cash payments are allocated to provide financial support to student families;
– psychological support – consultations with psychologists and social workers are organized to help young student families cope with the difficulties associated with combining study and family life;
– cultural and leisure events – the University regularly hosts events aimed at strengthening family ties and popularizing traditional family values among young people.
