Association of Foreign Students as Essential Constituent of Healthy Multiethnic Climate at ASU

11.06.2014

Association of Foreign Students as Essential Constituent of Healthy Multiethnic Climate at ASU

Astrakhan is well-known as one of the most multiethnic and at the same time one of the most tolerant cities in our country. It goes without saying that Astrakhan State University, which assumes the leading position within Astrakhan Region’s educational space, is constantly attracting foreigners who wish to get a higher education in Russia. That is why the Astrakhan Branch of the Association of Foreign Students in Russia was launched at ASU in 2012.

It was our University that initiated the launch of the Branch. To arrange a constituent commission, Mr. Aniset Gabriel Kochofa, then President of the Association of Foreign Students in Russia, was invited. Mr. Kochofa is still keeping an eye on the organization that he was heading for such a long time. Now he is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Benin to Russia & CIS; he combines his diplomatic career with active promotion of Russia’s system of higher education, as well as the Russian language and culture all over the world.

According to Mr. Sanan Gamidov, Chairman of the Astrakhan Branch of the Association of Foreign Students in Russia, it was necessary to launch the Association, as foreign students strove to unite and tackle essential issues related to the academic process, to their accommodation, and to their leisure activities. “The first aid” to a foreign student has become a crucial field of activities performed by the Association; any foreign student could get primary information upon his/her arrival, help in adaptation, and social support. Mr. Gamidov pointed out: “A foreigner who comes to study at ASU becomes a member of an expatriates’ community – depending on his or her nationality. The community helps them accommodate, tells them about the infrastructure, and involves them in active public activities. We have mentors who help folks find their way in the city and at the University, who help them adapt to the academic process”.

All the newly-admitted foreign students become members of the Association. It is quite natural that they face a lot of difficulties during their studies. Just like native Russians, they may have to fail some credit tests and exams and take them again. A habit to put everything off up to the latest deadline – this is what is common among students at any university in any country! And this is when interaction between Dean’s offices and the Association can help them. According to Mr. Gamidov, students are expelled very rarely – that is the most extreme measure.

ASU’s Administration backs the Astrakhan Branch actively. Management of the Association acknowledges that Astrakhan State University plays an active role in enhancing relations between native Russian students and their foreign peers.

“We forgot about acute everyday issues among foreign students who live in hostels; such problems exist no more. As for native Russians, we never had problems with them; we only misunderstood each other. Foreigners used to arrive without any knowledge of Russian laws or hostel accommodation rules, to say nothing of many other things. But now we began to arrange mentoring together with Dr. Nikolay Khurchak, our Vice Rector for International Relations, and with Dr. Farida Rekesheva, Chief of the PR Unit, already in early 2014. There is a traditional annual meeting with Professor Alexander Lunyov, Rector of our University. Anybody is welcome to ask Rector a question and to solve crucial problems thanks to that”, Mr. Gamidov says.

Foreign students are actively involved in ASU’s public life. The Astrakhan Branch of the Association arranges sports events, national holidays, and concerts; all the members of the Association take part in all those events, no matter what their ethnic or religious identities are. They also participate actively in national events for foreign students. It was the Caspian Forum of Foreign Students held at ASU in September 2013 that has become the largest event for the Astrakhan Branch of the Association of Foreign Students. Astrakhan State University, the Association of Foreign Students in Russia, and its Astrakhan Branch are going to arrange another multilateral meeting: the next Forum shall be held in September 2014. The Autumn Session of the Association is to be held in Astrakhan for the first time.

“We try to attract members of the Association to public activities, as foreign students are Russia’s future partners all over the world”, Mr. Sana Gamidov points out. “When I talk with newly-admitted students, I always quote Mr. Kochofa’s words. He often says the Association brings up Russia’s friends in its Branches. Such a conclusion is not made by chance: five presidents of African countries used to study in Russia; now they’re bright economic, cultural, and political partners of the country that gave them such a brilliant education”.