# Northwestern State Technical Remote University
**Wikidata**: [Q4412476](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4412476)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/northwestern-state-technical-remote-university

## Summary
Northwestern State Technical Remote University was a public university located in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Founded in 1930, it functioned as a major technical institution for distance learning and was formerly known as the Northwestern Correspondence Polytechnic Institute. The institution has since been replaced by the Saint Petersburg Mining University.

## Key Facts
- **Location:** Saint Petersburg, Russia (Coordinates: 59.94528, 30.32889).
- **Inception:** Founded in 1930.
- **Former Names:** Northwestern Correspondence Polytechnic Institute (1957–2000); Central Industry Correspondence Mechanical VTUZ (until Dec 31, 1956).
- **Student Enrollment:** 14,168 students (recorded in source data).
- **Current Status:** Replaced by the Saint Petersburg Mining University.
- **Instance Of:** University / Academic institution for further education.
- **Website:** http://www.nwotu.ru/
- **Also Known As:** СЗТУ, СЗПИ, Северо-западный государственный заочный технический университет.

## FAQs
### Q: Where was Northwestern State Technical Remote University located?
A: The university was located in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Specifically, it was housed in a service building of the Marble Palace.

### Q: What happened to Northwestern State Technical Remote University?
A: The university was replaced by the Saint Petersburg Mining University. It is no longer an active independent entity under its former name.

### Q: When was the university founded?
A: The institution was founded in 1930. It operated under different names throughout its history, including the Northwestern Correspondence Polytechnic Institute.

### Q: How many students attended the university?
A: According to recorded data, the university had a student body of 14,168.

## Why It Matters
Northwestern State Technical Remote University served as a significant educational institution in the Soviet Union and later Russia for nearly a century. Established in 1930, it played a crucial role in providing accessible technical and engineering education through remote and correspondence formats (indicated by its Russian name "заочный," meaning correspondence or remote). By offering an alternative to traditional on-campus study, it allowed thousands of students—peaking at over 14,000 enrollees—to pursue further education while maintaining professional careers or residing outside major urban centers. Its eventual integration into the Saint Petersburg Mining University marks a consolidation of its academic legacy into one of Russia's oldest and most prestigious technical institutions.

## Notable For
- **Specialization in Remote Education:** Focused on correspondence and technical education, indicated by its designation as a "Remote" and "Correspondence" institute.
- **Historical Legacy:** Operating from 1930 until its replacement, serving both the Soviet Union and modern Russia.
- **High Enrollment:** Maintaining a substantial student body of over 14,000 individuals.
- **Prime Location:** Being situated in a historically significant building (the service corps of the Marble Palace) in Saint Petersburg.
- **Institutional Affiliation:** Associated with notable figures such as the computer scientist and librarian Arkady Sokolov.

## Body

### History and Naming
The university was established in 1930. Throughout its operational history, it underwent several name changes reflecting its academic scope and organizational structure:
- **Central Industry Correspondence Mechanical VTUZ:** This name was used until December 31, 1956.
- **Northwestern Correspondence Polytechnic Institute (СЗПИ):** This name was adopted in 1957 and used until the year 2000.
- **Northwestern State Technical Remote University (СЗТУ):** This was its final designation before the institution was replaced.

The university is currently listed as being **replaced by** the Saint Petersburg Mining University.

### Location and Facilities
The university was physically located in **Saint Petersburg**. Its facilities were situated within a historically notable structure, identified visually as the service building of the Marble Palace (Мраморный дворец, служебный корпус). The precise coordinates of the location are 59.94528 latitude and 30.32889 longitude.

### Academic Profile
The institution was classified as a **university**, serving as an academic institution for further education. It maintained a significant distance learning program. Historical data indicates a student population of **14,168**. The university maintained an online presence at `nwotu.ru` and a Facebook presence under the handle `univerSZTU`.

### Affiliated Personnel
The knowledge base indicates an affiliation with **Arkady Sokolov** (1934–2023). Sokolov was a noted Russian librarian, computer scientist, and university teacher.

## References

1. Unified State Register of Legal Entities
2. [Source](http://www.nwotu.ru/)
3. [Source](http://abitur.nica.ru/new/www/vuz_detail.php?code=728&region=0&town=0&opf=0&type=0&spec=0&ed_level=0&qualif=&substr=%F3%C5%D7%C5%D2%CF-%FA%C1%D0%C1%C4%CE%D9%CA%20%C7%CF%D3%D5%C4%C1%D2%D3%D4%D7%C5%CE%CE%D9%CA%20%DA%C1%CF%DE%CE%D9%CA%20%D4%C5%C8%CE%C9%DE%C5%D3%CB%C9%CA%20%D5%CE%C9%D7%C5%D2%D3%C9%D4%C5%D4&page=1)