Penza, 26 November 2013. PenzaNews. Alexander Gulyakov was elected to the position of Rector of Penza State University for a five-year term in the course of the second conference of academic teaching workers as well as representatives of other categories of workers and students of PSU on Tuesday, November 26. Of 239 delegates there were 231 people attending the event. 212 of them supported Alexander Gulyakov, who has been Acting Head of the university since May 2013.

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12 delegates expressed preference for the second candidate for the post of Rector Igor Averin, the head of Nano and Microelectronics department of Natural Science, Nanotechnology and Microelectronics faculty.

Voting was preceded by speeches of the candidates.

When Igor Averin was called upon to speech, he said that he does not withdraw his candidacy but he is sure that Alexander Gulyakov deserves the seat of Rector more.

“I think, to develop the university under modern conditions, we need the kind of leader who would have established contacts at the highest level of power, not only regional, but central too. Naturally, the absolute leader here is Alexander Gulyakov. Moreover, he has a great experience in organizational work in the Penza region. I am not withdrawing my candidacy, but I think that Alexander Gulyakov is a more worthy candidate for the post of Rector of Penza State University,” Igor Averin said.

The chairman of the regional government, who was invited to the conference as the guest of honor, also sent his support to Alexander Gulyakov.

“His administrative, management and, to some extent, political experience is a bonus, which is out of the question,” he stressed.

After the vote counting, Alexander Gulyakov joked that it was not his first election in his life, but he has never felt so much support before.

“I am touched. This makes me obliged to honestly and with double efforts resolve problems and questions. […] I will not betray your trust,” he said.