2nd Caspian Forum of Foreign Students Opened

Today the 3rd National Session of Foreign Students and the 2nd Caspian Forum of Foreign Students have officially been opened at Astrakhan State University. During the two days of the agenda, the events participants will discuss relevant issues that foreigners studying in our country have to face.

The whole official part has been held in the assembly hall of ASU. Both events have been opened by Professor Vladimir Filippov, Rector of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, who is also Chairperson of the Council of Trustees of the Association of Foreign Students in Russia (AFS). The participants have been greeted by Prof. Alexander Lunyov, Rector of ASU, whose speech emphasized an essential role that foreign students play in activities our University performs. According to our Rector, foreign students are among the most active people of Astrakhan State University. Dr. Anisette Gabriel Kochofa, the founder of AFS, and currently Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of Benin to Russia, has said that foreign students enjoy more rights and opportunities now, and their accommodation conditions are getting better. Yet, according to him, there are still particular issues to resolve; the main issue is legislation that needs improvement. “Many laws hinder a more efficient export of Russian education, while Russia has an outstanding potential in this area”, Dr. Kochofa said. The participants of the Session and the Forum have also been welcomed by Mr. Yao Nicaise Adou (President of AFS) and by Dr. Vitaliy Gutman, Minister of Education & Science of Astrakhan Region.

The working part of the events agenda has begun right after the official opening ceremony. The participants are to discuss issues that foreign students have to face in Russia and prospects of their solution. The most crucial themes are issues of legislation, which should be enhanced not just to increase the number of foreigners at Russian universities, but also to improve their accommodation conditions. A vivid discussion has accompanied the speech given by Mr. Oleg Artamonov, Chief of the Directorate of External Links of the Federal Migration Service of Russia. The first-day agenda has also included reports concerning activities of AFS branches at Russian universities, reports, and selection of a venue to hold the next Session.

The second day of the two-day agenda has been as productive as the first one. Besides its working part, which is full of content, the agenda includes a river voyage along the Volga River, a students’ musical ‘The Lion King”, and the Party of Culture of World’s Peoples.