The introduction to the special issue of the journal gives a brief characteristic of the organization of geological education in Irkutsk, closely connected with the formation of geological science in the south of Eastern Siberia, the state of the geological faculty at present and the authors' vision of the future of the faculty in connection with the demand of society for scientific and industrial geological works.

Sixty years have passed since geologists graduated from Irkutsk State University, but still warmly remember the time of admission, student life, features of the organization of the educational process. During their studies, thanks to the active and wise participation of the teaching staff, the students have deservedly reached the level of specialists capable of solving the professional tasks of production. Achieved successes in the labor biography of each student allow the university and faculty to be deservedly proud of their graduates.