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Structure of the Bard-Smolny Study Abroad Program

As Smolny College is a joint venture between Bard College and St. Petersburg State University, the structure of the administration of the Bard-Smolny Study Abroad Program is complex and can sometimes be confusing for participants. Smolny College is officially part of the Philology Faculty of St. Petersburg State. It has its own administration (including a director and dean), faculty members, and facilities, but is still a part of St. Petersburg State University and follows Russian laws on state higher education.

Bard College co-founded Smolny and is involved in all facets of Smolny as an institution. Bard continues to play a pivotal role in Smolny's growth and development. Bard has a permanent representative stationed at Smolny and several staff members at Smolny. Other members of the Bard College administration and faculty make frequent visits.

While Smolny College is a joint project, and all of its operations including the curriculum and academic program are jointly administered, the study abroad program for North American students at Smolny is largely run by Bard College through its Institute for International Liberal Education (IILE). The IILE works on Bard College programs around the globe, including collaborative programs in South Africa and Budapest, in addition to the program in St. Petersburg. All of IILE's programs are based on a commitment to genuine international exchange based on mutuality and equality.

Click here for further information about the administrative staff of the Bard-Smolny Program.