Foreign Students’ Life in Russia Becomes Happier

Astrakhan State University has hosted the 3rd National Session of Foreign Students; its agenda has included the 2nd Caspian Forum of Foreign Students. For several days, ASU has been the main site of discussions of all the key issues that foreign students face in Russia.

The main working part of the Session and the Forum lasted two days. It was Professor Vladimir Filippov, Rector of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Chairperson of the Council of Trustees of the Association of Foreign Students in Russia (AFS), who has been moderating the main blocks of the two events.

During the Plenary Session, Prof. Alexander Lunyov, Rector of ASU, has emphasized that foreign students are among the most active people of our University. Dr. Anisette Gabriel Kochofa, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of Benin to Russia, ex-Chairperson of AFS, has said that he sees positive dynamics in tackling a number of issues that foreign students face in Russia; yet, there are still many issues to be resolved at the top level. The participants of the Session and the Forum have also been welcomed by Mr. Yao Nicaise Adou (President of AFS), by Dr. Vitaliy Gutman (Minister of Education & Science of Astrakhan Region), and by Mr. Oleg Artamonov (Chief of the Directorate of External Links of the Federal Migration Service of Russia).

 The participants of the Session and the Forum have considered ways to tackle the most relevant issues for foreign students – legislation issues, availability of budget-financed positions for prospective students, sums of grants, etc. Improved activities of the Association of Foreign Students have become another key issue that was under special consideration. The event agenda has also included a contest in Russian as a foreign language and the round-table talk “Issues of Foreign Students’ Status in Russia” that involved staff of the Federal Migration Service.

An entertainment program has been prepared for almost 200 participants of the Forum. Besides teambuilding games and a disco, the event organizers have prepared a river voyage along the Volga River, the students musical “The Lion King”, and the Party of Cultures of World’s Peoples.

According to the organizing committee of the two events, the most remarkable results have been achieved while discussing migration and legislation issues. As Sanan Gamidov from ASU said, delegates of the Forum will address Russian federal authorities to increase the quota for budget-financed positions for foreigners. The Association is also planning to open special accounts to provide material help for foreign students.