Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University was founded on 19 September 1938 as an independent higher education institution. 18 July 1958 was named after Lev Tolstoy. 29 December 1994, the university was awarded the status of State Pedagogical University. The structure of Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University (TSPU) contains Center of Scientific and Educational Literature, which deals with the university's information space development and provides the user's soft goods, services, and facilities. Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University pays special attention to sports and recreational activities, offers current conditions and material and technical resources for physical education and sport, and strengthens and develops sports infrastructure. The university is multiple winners of the All-Russian competition of Higher Education Institutions of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
The university is proud of Olympic champions – V. Petrakov and O. Slusareva participants of the Olympic Games, champions and prize-winners of the World Championships T. Pilshchikova, N. Kovyakh, E. Karpachyova, E. Savelieva, L. Chukhnova, N. Glebova, S. Flerko, D. Abramova, A. Demidova, A. Nersesian, Yu. Loseva, K. Maryasova Russian champions and prize-winners of the European championships – B. Nikulin, O. Kholandyreva, A. Loseva, P. Dudchenko, E. Ziukina, I. Zhdanova, A. Komarovskiy, V. Uskov. The university implements more than 25 significant social programs and projects, three of which (the competition of social projects Luch, the festival of the amateur for pupils and students of secondary and higher vocational education institutions of Tula Region Russia Sings in me regional competition of scientific research Great Neighbors of Tula region are included in the national priority project Education. Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University signed the Magna Charta of Universities at the University of Bologna (Italy). The university was included in the National Register of the «Leading scientific organizations of Russia. There are ten faculties at Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University, 138 basic educational programs of higher education, 24 specialties and postgraduate programs, three doctoral programs of 10 branches of science. The university provides a wide range of programs of additional education and training.
Our university has a long and rich history; thousands of people studied and worked here, who later glorified Russian Education. The university has become a leading institution of higher education among specialized universities. Our rich historical past, new research activities, fast development, and innovation let Tula State Lev Tolstoy University occupy a leading position in the Russian education system. The world is continually changing, thus the system of higher Education is changing as well: keeping the traditions of pedagogical Education, the university is integrating into the education process of the whole world. Information and computer technologies give new opportunities and demand the development of new criteria for the university, which is being successfully recognized by the university.
The university's training programs are designed for a wide range of participants: from pupils to specialists. The Center of Languages and Cultures work is based on the belief that qualitative linguistic Education can and must be available to many people. This Center combines traditional activities and new tendencies such as group lessons and individual Education. The university's activity aimed at developing the system of search and support of gifted children includes preparatory courses and creative laboratories and Leo Tolstoy TSPU Lyceum, which has been functioning for more than 15 years, and the system of university classes. Within the framework of implementing additional education programs (elective courses), the university creates teaching methods, which correspond to their individual needs and provide the principal of continuity "school-university," development of children's general and unique talents. The lyceum's curriculum is defined not only by the specialization of Education but also by the senior pupils' needs to develop their cognitive abilities. The university has a system of centers which deals with the development and improvement of the system of additional and life-long Education:
- The Center of Additional and Vocational Education
- The Center of Languages and Cultures
- The Center of Psychological, Pedagogical, and Social Help to Children and Adults Nadezhda.
