3rd Caspian Forum of Foreign Students to Be Held at ASU

Sanan Gamidov, Director of the Unit of Strategic Planning & Student Projects Management, has told us about the upcoming event.

“The 3rd Caspian Forum of Foreign Students will be held from September 01 to September 05, 2015. It’s already become a tradition that foreign students studying at universities of Moscow, St.-Petersburg, Elista, Kazan, Volgograd, Penza, Stavropol, Astrakhan, and other cities take part in it. Dr. Anisette Gabriel Kochofa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Benin in the Russian Federation and the CIS, and Dr. Yao Nicaise Adu, President of the Foreign Students Association in Russia, will be honorable guests at the Forum.

The event aims to discuss issues related to foreign students’ adaptation to life and studies in Russia. I’d point out that’s rather a long and a complicated process: you have to get used to a different climate, to a different culture, and to a different language. The Forum is also of image-making character; such events contribute to enhancing the host university’s competitiveness at the international market of educational services.

It’s already the third straight year that ASU unites foreign students within one discussion site; they share their problems, make new friends, and get valuable consultations in issues that interest them – for example, in employment or in changing their university. I can say for sure the problem of foreign students’ employment in Russia has been resolved completely. Foreign students find a job at their alma maters (just as me), as well as in the catering industry. As some caterers say, they gladly employ foreigners, as they have fresh, unusual views on many things – from cooking food to serving clients.

A bright and an eventful agenda is awaiting the Forum participants; it includes master classes, round-table talks, discussion sites, project workshops, excursions to our University Technopark, Cultural Center, Art Salon, Center of Creative Industries, and a number of other facilities. Our guests will visit the Beryozka Camp of Recreation & Education; they’ll sail up and down the Volga River by motor vessel.

Such events don’t imply just sharing experience and making new friends. After the 1st and the 2nd Forums, Ambassadors of African and Arabic countries have visited Astrakhan State University. As a result of their visits, numerous students from those countries have come to study at our University.

I can say for sure we’re now one large family thanks to the Forum. We’re looking forward to meeting our regular participants and new guests”!

Interviewed by T.Yu. Gavrilkina (the Innovative Laboratory of Information Linguistics of ASU)

Russian original photo source: S.S. Gamidov