V.M. Florinskiy: in search of a Siberian model of classical university

The 19 century became an important period in the history if European higher education due to the emergence of a new model of higher education - "classical university" or "Humboldt university". The new concept changed the role of universities in society and constituted the basis for modernization of national higher education. Many Russian public and state figures of the 19 century asked themselves whether it is possible to build a university in Russia in its classical, i.e. German, understanding. The organizer of the Siberian University Vasiliy Markovich Florinskiy (1834-1899) - a multifaceted scientist and senior state official - had to formulate his own answer to that question. The author distinguishes three stages of German 'neohumanists" ideas appearing on Russian soil: 1819-1849, 1850-1860, and 1870-1880. At the third stage, a 'classical university' started to be seen as a 'research one' (Forschungsuniversitat), acquiring some specific attributes: research laboratories and institutes, museum collections, libraries, and research workshops. Being not only a state official but a multifaceted scientist himself, Florinskiy understood the needs of the University "from within" and efficiently organized the establishment of 'Siberian Alma Mater', taking into account the limited construction budget. Florinskiy realized the main problem of the Tomsk University - its location and remoteness from European centres of education. He suggested this disadvantage to be compensated for based on University's internal resources and on the rational choice in favour of scientific and research activities. From the beginning, the library and the complex of museum institutions, according to Florinskiy's plan, became an integral part of the University information system. In his administrative work, Florinskiy kept a delicate balance between state education policy and 'internal freedom' in research. Florinskiy was the first to elaborate a project for the development of the Tomsk University as a scientific and research one, first and foremost exploring the very region of Siberia. Created with the direct involvement of Florinskiy, the University library and museum complex 'Society of Naturalists and Physicians' had to embody the two main principles of 'classical university' - the unity of learning and research (Einheit von Lehre und Forschung) and the unity of the humanities and hard science (Einheit der Wissenschaft), thus creating the basis for interdisciplinary cooperation of Siberian scientists.

Keywords

Authors

References