Cultural marathon at SPbPU: international students celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Preparatory Faculty

In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Preparatory Faculty of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, a series of events dedicated to the history and culture of our country were held for international students.

20 best students from Angola, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Palestine, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Yemen and Vietnam went on a three-day cultural and educational intensive «Polytechnic in History and Culture» to Holomki Estate. The students were immersed in the atmosphere of Russian manor life in the historical complex associated with the name of the first director of St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute, Prince Andrei Grigorievich Gagarin.

Participants not only learned about the prince’s life and the fate of his estate, but also visited Gagarin’s grave in the village of Bielskoe Ustye, paying tribute to the founder of the university.

It brought us together even stronger! Thank you for the opportunity to relax, make friends and celebrate the anniversary of the faculty, shared Mustafa Rozyev from Turkmenistan.

The educational program was prepared by the teachers of the Higher School of International Educational Programs (HSIEP): team building trainings, quizzes on the history of Russia and modern culture, as well as a volleyball match where international teams of students competed with teachers. Indian student Gupta Purvi described the volleyball as the highlight of the trip: It was fun and adventurous! And the teachers turned out to be as adventurous as we were.

Jonathan Abel from Indonesia admitted that the most memorable part of the trip was the nightly campfire songs under the stars: The teachers sang so beautifully that even those who didn’t know the words picked up the melodies.

Yemeni student Al-Falah Naif expressed his delight poetically: Nature whispered its secrets to us... These days will be a page in my future novel.

Before returning to St. Petersburg the group honored the memory of the victims of Nazism at the memorial «Dulag 100» near Porkhov, where during the war there was a transit camp. They were reminded that this year Russia celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Another group of students from Mexico, China, Turkmenistan, France, Thailand and Slovakia visited the State Museum of History of Religion. They began their journey with the halls of Christian symbols, where the guides spoke in detail about ancient icons, church utensils and the history of Orthodoxy in Russia. Particular attention was drawn to rare exhibits, such as a reconstruction of a 17th century altar with preserved frescoes. Then the group moved to the Catholicism section, where the participants learned about the connection between European religious traditions and Russian culture.

Students from Turkmenistan especially noted the halls dedicated to Islam. Matyakub Yusupov, one of the tour participants, shared his impressions: It is unexpected to see familiar religious symbols in Russia — it brings us closer together.

The events not only strengthened intercultural ties, but also became a bridge between the past and present of Polytechnic University, reminding of its rich heritage, as well as creating a sense of belonging to the cultural heritage of students who came from other countries. The organizers are confident that such projects help international students to understand Russia more deeply and feel part of a large university family.