- 14.01.2026 09:19
The first child should be born at university
"It's important to start a family and have a child at the right time. And it's best to do this during your student years!", says Oleg Aleksandrovich Kravchenko, Rector of Tula State University.
The university's rector sounded this idea on January 14 during a meeting with student families dedicated to Russian Student Day.
Currently, 157 women with children are studying at the university, 112 of whom are full-time students. Five young mothers already have the status of having many children. In total, 65 married couples are studying at Tula State University, 44 of whom are full-time students.
The number of such couples, emphasizes Marina Olegovna Panfyorova, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, is constantly growing. This positive trend is encouraging.
The couples eagerly shared their stories of how they met with Oleg Alexandrovich.
For some, it was the trade-union committee events where they found happiness that turned out to be life-changing. Others attended gymnasium together in their hometown and then chose Tula State University. Still others were brought together, in a positive way, by the internet. Their virtual interactions were so engaging that they wanted to continue them in the real world. Two more met in their first year and never parted.
Professionally, some families could easily be called blended. For example, he's from the V.P. Gryazev Institute of High-Precision Systems, and she's from the Medical Institute. Or he's from the Polytechnic Institute, and she's from the Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture. The latter two actually met each other in joint physics and mathematics classes, so these subjects turned out to be family-forming for them. In this regard, the rector of Tula State University was quick to point out the importance of shared, so-called core, classes for young men and women.
The couple from Tajikistan is studying to become doctors in general medicine. They have a four-month-old baby. The father of the family explained that his mother helps the young parents. She came to Tula and now she is looking after the child. Thanks to this support from her mother-in-law, his wife is able to continue her studies.
"Children are a blessing!" Oleg Alexandrovich emphasized. "And who better than a grandmother can help in such a situation?"
The university's rector admitted that he was deeply touched by the kind story of family support. At Tula State University, he noted, student families are a constant focus.
Oleg Alexandrovich elaborated on the support measures.
Tula State University provides financial assistance for marriage registration and childbirth. Additional payments are available for maternity registration. Young mothers can count on one-time and monthly financial support.
Furthermore, the university offers individualized curricula for combining studies with motherhood, priority transition from fee-paying to state-funded education for mothers who give birth while studying, and comfortable dormitory accommodations for families with children.
The Solnyshko University Kindergarten now has a mother-and-child room and short-term stay groups for children.
Oleg Aleksandrovich recalled that 54 support programs for families with children are available in our region. These programs are designed for all categories of families, but priority is given to large families and young student families. Special programs are being implemented that provide both one-time payments and housing reimbursement.
The rector gave young couples some good advice.
He emphasized, in particular, that maternity leave during education, especially when all the necessary conditions have been created for this, is significantly easier than during working life.
"That's why your first child should be born at university!" Oleg Alexandrovich said.
Tatyana Krikunkova
Photographs by Mikhail Gindin
