From St. Petersburg to Dorpat and Back: On Academic Migration and Communication between Universities in the First Half of the 19th Century

Abstract

The paper studies forms of academic interaction between the Universities of Dorpat and st. Petersburg such as student migration, targeted training of scientists for russian universities at the Professors’ institute of Dorpat, book exchange, participation of representatives of two universities in joint commemorations and scientific expeditions. The University of Dorpat, included in the system of universities of the russian Empire and in that of educational districts, served as a channel for the transfer of scientific personnel, as well as models of behavior adopted in the student society and going back to the traditions of German universities. Many graduates of the Dorpat University have made a brilliant scientific career in the capital of the Empire, among them P. i. Preiss, E. lenz, and F. G. W. struve. The medical faculty of the University of Dorpat acquired importance as an all-russian training center for civilian and military doctors. The majority of the specialists who came to the University of Dorpat from the “interior” universities of the Empire were teachers of the russian language.