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“Foreign students – real Russian ambassadors in their countries”

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“Foreign students – real Russian ambassadors in their countries”

18.03.2018

Russian higher education becomes more and more popular abroad. The best confirmation is the growing number of foreign students in Russian universities. The guest of 11th Russian Mir Assembly, the President of Association of Foreign Students in Russia Adu Yao Nikez talks about life of foreign students in Russia.

– How long has been around the Association of Foreign Students in Russia, what assignments and obligations it has?

Our Association was created in 1996 for protecting legitimate rights of foreign students. First of all, we conduct preventive and also cultural and educational events for the better adaptation of the students in all Russian regions.

Adu Yao Nikez. Photo: utimenews.org

I've started leading the Association in 2013. I'm an attorney, and came from Côte d'Ivoire to continue studies in the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. I've received a bachelor's, then a master's degree and defended my candidate's dissertation thesis. Now I hold the Associate Professor University title and teach in RUDN.

– What are the main challenges that foreign students face in Russia, what is needed for the better adaptation?
– There are few important moments: domestic problems such as visa and registration issues, as well as hard time finding a part-time job. Students come without knowing Russian language and without understanding that it's compulsory to follow visa application and place of residence registration deadlines. Subsequently, some of them miss important deadlines and face deportation, which means all the paperwork has to be redone.

There are also other problems. Our students are grown-ups. Many of them can't be supported by parents and try to find some job. We guide them how to legally earn their living.

– Why young people from other countries consider Russia as a place to study? Your thoughts?
– The reason is obvious - great traditions and high quality of the Soviet education well preserved until now. Many students from developing countries used to study here back in the day. I would call it a kind of an “old-times advertisement.” By the way, students don't come only to the Russian capital. Yes, Moscow is still a leader, but currently we see a significant trend to study in the Russia's regions. For example, there are many foreign students in Kazan, Saint Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Tula, Ryazan, Siberian universities.

– Is it true that Russian education is mainly popular with students from Asian and African countries? Are there also Europeans in your association?

– The recent trend is following: students come to Russia from all over the world. Traditionally many of them (around 50%) come from CIS countries. It is understandable from historical point of view. The quantity of young scholars from Africa, the Middle East and Europe is continuously growing at the same time. Especially that Russian institutions have a number of joint programs with many European universities. Hence, the geography is very diverse.

At the Student of the Year awards ceremony

– How does their views on Russia change during the study process?
– Many people come here without knowing anything about this country. Imagine, some of them still think that bears walk down the streets here! Others are stuck with the idea that Russia is a very closed country; once they learn opposite they are really surprised. Step by step they become acquainted with the local culture and traditions, also it happens at our events. Foreigners visit Russian regions since we conduct our events all around Russia. It is a perfect opportunity for our students to know more about the country.

– When the students are graduated and go back to their countries, is it possible to claim that they become some kind of ambassadors of Russia?

– Experience has shown that everyone who's studied in Soviet times and now are real Russian ambassadors. There are many alumni associations of Russian universities around the world. Graduates maintain relations, and that's a good thing. These people are real patriots on their own land. This is a bond for life – they meet, recall their university years, sometimes recount their life in Russia with tears in eyes.

The goal of our Association is to make foreign students feel comfortable in Russia. To leave good memories about the time they spend in Russia.

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