Main Image for Smolny Beyond Borders

Smolny Beyond Borders

Smolny Beyond Borders (SBB) is a courageous initiative, born from the collaborative spirit of former Smolny College faculty and the steadfast support of Bard College Berlin and Bard College Annandale-on-Hudson. Smolny College was the first Russian liberal arts college, previously located in St. Petersburg, Russia, as well as Bard College’s first international dual degree partnership. The goal of SBB is to continue a tradition of liberal arts education in the liberally-minded, internationally-oriented Russian language community, especially for those students in Russia and countries of Eurasia whose education has been interrupted by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the declining educational situation in those countries.
This initiative is not only a lifeline for the faculty who have left Russia but also a vibrant platform committed to attracting and nurturing new talent. Its vision transcends geographical borders, offering expansive educational and research opportunities designed to shape a future wherein Russia is a proactive, responsible member of the global community.
The SBB Office at BCB

The SBB Office at BCB

The SBB office at BCB is a nexus of coordination and support for our online programs, fellows, and the burgeoning Smolny alumni community in Europe. It's a hub where promising academics find their footing and contribute to the renaissance of the Liberal Arts tradition, not just as a European movement but as a future cornerstone of Russian academia.

History and Current Status of Smolny College

  • Mid-1990s: Bard College and St. Petersburg State University (SPSU) partner to establish Smolny College, Russia's first liberal arts college.
  • 1999: Smolny College opens its doors to degree-seeking students and welcomes its first US exchange student.
  • 2000: Smolny students begin studying at Bard College. Student and faculty exchanges between Smolny and Bard College become regular, with the addition of courses offered through "virtual classrooms."
  • 2000s to 2020: Ongoing student and faculty exchanges, along with various conferences hosted by Smolny College.
  • Fall 2020: Plans are made to transform Smolny College from a department within St. Petersburg State into an independent university with a strong research component and a focus on liberal arts principles.
  • June 21, 2021: Bard College is labeled an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government, marking an unprecedented attack on liberal arts institutions. This development is seen as a prelude to the events in Ukraine.
  • Fall 2022: Smolny Beyond Borders Initiative (SBB) is established with support from Bard College. It aims to continue the mission of bringing liberal arts education to Russian-speaking audiences through online courses and public programming.
  • 2022 - 2023 Academic Year: SBB offers 15 courses, resulting in the issuance of 200 certificates.
  • Fall 2023: SBB expands its online course offerings to 18 courses, receiving more than 1400 applications and accepting over 500 students.
  • Expected, Spring 2024: SBB plans to offer 20 courses, furthering its commitment to providing liberal arts education in the region.

Smolny Beyond Borders Partners

  •   
    Gagarin Center at Bard College
    The Gagarin Center for the Study of Civil Society and Human Rights (Gagarin Center at Bard College) allows Russian scholars forced to leave Russia as a result of the war on Ukraine, and risks of political persecution, continue to pursue research and educational activities focused on contemporary social, economic, and human rights issues in Russia. Previously, the Gagarin Center, supported by the Gagarin Trust, was a core component of Smolny College.

    Institute of Global Reconstitution
    The Institute for Global Reconstitution (IGRec) is a research initiative that pursues a theory-minded, historical, and imaginative scholarship aimed to fully understand the reasons of the crisis and to reconstitute—imagining a new political architectonic that would allow to overcome it
  •   
    Russian Independent Media Archive
    The Russian Independent Media Archive is preserving the last two decades  of independent Russian journalism, guarding this irreplaceable historical record against erasure as media outlets not aligned with the regime of President Vladimir Putin are shuttered and their reporters and editors cast into exile. Launched with the content from more than a dozen outlets and a half-million entries, the digital archive will eventually include more than 70  independent national, regional, investigative, and cultural news outlets publishing since President Putin took office in 2000. The archive will make the journalism of this pivotal period accessible to the reporters, historians, political scientists and other researchers who will make sense of Russia’s past and whose work counters propaganda-driven manipulation of the historical narrative.  
Contact Information

Contact Information

Philip Fedchin, Manager of Smolny Beyond Borders Initiative / Director of the Gagarin Center
Email: [email protected]
SBB Website: https://www.smolny.org

Quick Links

Quick Links

Apply Now to BCB