# Smolensk State University

> Russian University

**Wikidata**: [Q4424975](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4424975)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smolensk_State_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/smolensk-state-university

## Summary
Smolensk State University is a Russian higher education institution founded in 1918 located in Smolensk, Russia. It offers various academic programs and has historically functioned as both a pedagogical institute and university throughout its existence.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1918 as an educational institution in Smolensk, Russia
- Located at coordinates 54.78477 latitude, 32.0456 longitude in Smolensk
- Operates under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia
- Official website is http://www.smolgu.ru/ with multiple social media accounts including Twitter (@press_smolgu)
- Has various identifiers including ISNI 0000000092746053, ROR 04gmqtx37, and GRID grid.446133.7
- Known by multiple aliases including Smolensk State Pedagogical University, Смоленский государственный педагогический университет, and Смоленский государственный педагогический институт
- Previously known as Smolensk State Pedagogical Institute (1930-1998)
- Has VIAF identifiers 168568917 and 136096168
- Has a YouTube channel with ID UCzruV6pBPT0RrhWIx2pBAtg

## FAQs
### Q: When was Smolensk State University founded?
A: Smolensk State University was founded in 1918 as a higher education institution in Smolensk, Russia. It has undergone several name changes throughout its history, most notably operating as Smolensk State Pedagogical Institute from 1930 to 1998.

### Q: Where is Smolensk State University located?
A: Smolensk State University is located in the city of Smolensk, Russia, at coordinates 54.78477 latitude and 32.0456 longitude. The institution operates from this location and serves the educational needs of the region.

### Q: What is the administrative affiliation of Smolensk State University?
A: Smolensk State University operates under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia. As a state institution, it is funded and overseen by this government ministry responsible for higher education in the country.

### Q: What are the alternative names of Smolensk State University?
A: Smolensk State University has been known by several names including Smolensk State Pedagogical University, Смоленский государственный педагогический университет, Смоленский государственный педагогический институт, and abbreviations like СмолГУ and Смоленский университет.

## Why It Matters
Smolensk State University plays a crucial role in providing higher education in the Smolensk region of Russia. As one of the educational institutions in the area, it contributes to the educational development and human capital formation of the region. The university's existence since 1918 demonstrates its long-standing commitment to education through various historical periods including the Soviet era and modern Russia. Its evolution from a pedagogical institute to a comprehensive university reflects broader educational trends in the country. The institution serves as an important center for knowledge dissemination, research, and professional development, supporting the educational needs of the local community and beyond.

## Notable For
- Long history dating back to 1918, making it one of the established educational institutions in Russia's Smolensk region
- Evolution from a pedagogical institute to a comprehensive university, reflecting changes in Russian higher education
- Bilingual operations in both Russian and Belarusian, as evidenced by its official name "Смаленскі дзяржаўны педагагічны інстытут" in Belarusian
- Extensive network of institutional identifiers across multiple international academic databases and registries
- Active digital presence with multiple social media platforms and a YouTube channel, demonstrating modernization efforts

## Body
### Historical Background
Smolensk State University was founded in 1918 as an educational institution in Smolensk, Russia. The institution underwent several name changes throughout its history, most notably operating as Smolensk State Pedagogical Institute from 1930 to 1998. This period represents a significant part of its institutional identity as a specialized teacher training institution. The university evolved from this pedagogical focus to a more comprehensive model, though details about this transition period are limited in the provided information.

### Location and Identity
The university is located in the city of Smolensk, Russia, at precise coordinates 54.78477 latitude and 32.0456 longitude. It operates from this location and serves the educational needs of the Smolensk region. The institution is known by multiple names including Smolensk State Pedagogical University, Смоленский государственный педагогический университет, Смоленский государственный педагогический институт, and abbreviations such as СмолГУ and Смоленский университет. These names reflect both its official designations and colloquial references used throughout its history.

### Administrative Structure
Smolensk State University operates under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, indicating its status as a state institution. This administrative affiliation places it within Russia's system of state-controlled higher education institutions. The university is structured to provide higher education programs, with its field of work explicitly identified as higher education. As a state institution, it likely follows national standards for higher education while maintaining some degree of autonomy in specific academic and operational matters.

### Identification and Recognition
The university possesses multiple identifiers across international academic databases and registries:
- ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier): 0000000092746053
- ROR (Research Organization Registry): 04gmqtx37
- GRID (Global Research Identifier Database): grid.446133.7
- VIAF (Virtual International Authority File): 168568917, 136096168
- Library of Congress Authority IDs: n84184090, n99037849
- Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued): 38120545

These identifiers facilitate the university's recognition and integration into international academic networks and information systems.

### Digital Presence
The university maintains an active digital presence through multiple platforms:
- Official website: http://www.smolgu.ru/
- Twitter handle: press_smolgu (account ID: 3646779973)
- Facebook page: SmolenskStateUniversity
- YouTube channel: UCzruV6pBPT0RrhWIx2pBAtg

These digital platforms allow the institution to engage with current students, prospective applicants, alumni, and the broader academic community. The YouTube channel, in particular, appears to focus on institutional communications and academic content.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. Czech National Authority Database
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Google Knowledge Graph
5. Unified State Register of Legal Entities
6. [Source](http://www.smolgu.ru/)
7. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
8. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
9. YouTube API