Ex-Rector of Astrakhan State University Aleksandr Lunev Celebrates His Birthday

Prof. Lunev’s colleagues and fellows addressed plenty of cordial words to the hero of the celebration, expressing their admiration for the professional and personal qualities of the person who headed ASU for 18 years.

Aleksandr Lunev took the position of ASU Rector in 2000, but the history of his relations with the university is far older. Prof. Lunev has been occupying different key positions at the university for more than 35 years — he started in the position of Vice-Rector for Academic Activities and then became ASU Rector. Under his very management Astrakhan State Pedagogical Institute enhanced its status to «pedagogical university» in 1996, and in 2002 it became the first and only classical university in Astrakhan region.

The guests of the celebration were unanimous that the current high status of ASU as the largest innovative academic centre of the Caspian region would have been impossible without the progress made during the glorious Lunev times. The list of Prof. Lunev’s mentioned merits included the strengthening and buildup of the university’s infrastructure and technical facilities, HR growth and development, increasing number of Ph.D. candidates among teachers and administrative staff, development of scientific schools, foundation of dissertation councils and VAK journals, joint Master’s degree and double-degree programmes, introduction of the pedagogical management and lean production principles and launch of the student socialization project.

Now Aleksandr Lunev keeps working for ASU as Research Supervisor of the university. Besides, ASU Rector Konstantin Markelov noted that the university president election campaign has already been initiated, and the candidacy of Aleksandr Lunev for this position seems more than deserved.