Welcome Week takes place for international students at Polytechnic University

Traditionally, in early September, Polytechnic University hosts Welcome Week, a series of events for international students who come to SPbPU on exchange programs. More than 60 foreign students from 18 countries will be studying at Polytechnic in the new autumn semester. The first ones arrived in Russia at the end of August, and some are just getting ready to go: the university will be welcoming exchange students until the end of September. That’s why this year's Welcome Week will last longer than usual so that as many foreigners as possible could join it.

It can’t help but please us that this year we have the opportunity both to admit foreigners to Polytechnic University and to send Russians to partner universities under exchange programs. We are in close contact with SPbPU’s foreign partners. The autumn semester of 2021 will see students from our friendly universities such as the Polytechnic University of Milan (Italy), Middle East Technical University in Ankara (Turkey), Technical University of Munich (Germany), Technical University of Dresden (Germany), and many others start their studies at Polytechnic. And more than 30 students of the Polytechnic University will study in Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (Finland), Istanbul Technical University (Turkey), University of Granada (Spain) and many others, said deputy head of the Department of International educational programs and academic mobility Elisabeth Sukhova.

One of the key events of the Welcome Week was a kick-off meeting during which coordinators gave foreign students detailed information about education, accommodation, registration and migration rules, etc. The students also received student cards, passes, and sets of souvenirs with the university symbols. And at the end of the meeting, they had a brief excursion into the history of Polytechnic University.

An important task of Welcome Week is the process of international students adapting to life in Russia. For this purpose, a series of entertaining and informative events are held, in the organization of which TutorForces takes an active part. At the very beginning of Welcome Week tutors organized a quiz about Russia. The participants answered questions about the cultural characteristics, history, and traditional dishes of the Russian cuisine. Most of the answers were correct - the tutors noted the extensive knowledge of our country. Against the background of the discussed questions, the participants were able to get to know and get to know each other better.

One Sunday evening the international students had a master class in Zumba which was held by choreographer Ekaterina Savchenko. Thrilling music and energetic dancing left nobody indifferent. The participants learned new and original choreography and got a charge of energy and a positive mood.

We are very grateful for the help, starting with meeting us at the airport, taking a PCR test, and buying a SIM card. After a long trip, it was all very important and timely. We enjoyed the Welcome Week activities and made new friends right away. The teachers are always in touch, if there are any questions, they are always ready to help. They also shared with us interesting information about the city and the university. All in all, it was a great experience filled with fun events and pleasant excitement. Thank you! shared Adrian SCHOEBEL, a student from Germany.

Welcome Week consists not only of the group but also individual events. One of them is a Day with Student Tutor. Every foreign student is assigned a tutor who makes an appointment with him and shows him some interesting places in St.Petersburg - it can be a museum, an exhibition, or a cozy coffee house. In this format, the international student has the opportunity not only to get acquainted with the city but also to talk about their experiences, to get support and attention.

Shortly, tutors will hold a Speed Friending communication game for newly arrived students. During the game, participants will have 10-20 mini-meetings with other students in which they will discuss questions that will be prepared by the facilitator. The interlocutors change every two minutes, as do the issues discussed. This format helps students get to know each other better, find common topics and interests and make new friends. Another planned event is an excursion around “Atypical St. Petersburg”, during which participants will get acquainted with the city and visit its unusual places.

Prepared by the SPbPU International Office