On April 30, 2009, at St Petersburg State University, the Faculty of Oriental Studies, the defence of the Habilitation dissertation by Dr I.V.Kulganek was held.

The Dissertation, entitled Minor Genres of Mongolian Poetical Folklore [Малые жанры монгольского поэтического фольклора], was written at the IOM RAS, the Department of Turkic and Mongolian Studies. Official opponents: Dr O.B.Frolova (ST Petersburg), Prof Dr L.G.Skorodumova (Moscow), Dr Ye.E.Khabunova (Elista).

The synopsis of the dissertation was reviewed by 13 scholars, 5 from Moscow (Prof Dr S.Y.Neklyudov, Prof  Dr A.D.Tsendina, Dr K.V.Orlova, Dr Ye.Ye.Baldanmaksarova, Dr K.N.Yatskovskaya); 2 from Mongolia (Prof Dr L.Dashnyam, Prof Dr S.Baigalsaikhan); 2 from Europe (Prof Dr A.Fedotov, Sofia, Prof Dr K.Reihl, Berlin); 4 from other parts of Russia (Prof Dr R.M.Valiev, Kazan, Prof Dr Ts.P.Vanchikova, Ulan-Ude, Dr B.B.Dashibalov, Ulan-Ude, Dr L.D.Badmaeva, Ulan-Ude). During free discussion several scholars delivered their opinions, such as Dr A.A.Burykin, Prof Dr S.L.Neveleva, Dr T.A.Pang, Dr S.G.Klyashtorny, Dr V.Yu.Zhukov (all St Petersburg). All the reviews were positive, the colleagues stated the academic relevance of the research dealing with the subjects, which had been far from being explored extensively; thus, the dissertation contributed much to the study of Mongolian culture. The Dissertation Council decided unanimously to petition the Russian Highest  Classification Committee for granting Dr I.V.Kulganek the Habilitation degree.