The Council of Rectors in the Volga Federal District agreed to establish a self-government body composed of students from around the world studying at the universities. Such self-government body is one of the most effective means of work with international students aimed at improving their academic performance, facilitating and accelerating their adaptation to local conditions, overcoming conflicts and preventing offenses. The body is responsible for developing measures focused on expanding outlook of all students, promoting interethnic integration and forming tolerant behaviour.

Establishment of the International Students Union of PSU

On 24 December 2010, Penza State University hosted the meeting of active international students studying at PSU. The event was attended by Olga Meshcheryakova, Director of the Institute for International Cooperation at PSU, Aleksey Gonchar, Deputy Dean at the Faculty for International Students Affairs at PSU, and Pavel Maslov, Chairman of the Youth Association of the Penza Region.

The meeting was aimed at discussing the establishment of the self-government body for international students, i.e. the International Students Union of PSU (PSU ISU).

The meeting brought together 13 students, who represented Chad, Afghanistan, Syria, China, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia, Sudan, Vietnam, former Soviet Union and other foreign countries. The students launched the initiative to establish the self-government body for foreign citizens studying at Penza State University. PSU administration expressed interest in the students’ initiative and promised to render assistance.

On 23 March 2011, Penza State University hosted the 1st Conference of International Students Union of PSU. 24 delegates from 20 countries were registered at the conference.

The agenda dealt with three issues: establishing the International Students Union of PSU, approving regulations for PSU ISU, and electing the governing bodies of PSU ISU.

Much work was done to prepare the final draft of regulations, and the delegates voted unanimously.

Two candidates Makhamat Kishine and Abdurasul Kadirov applied for the chairman post. Each aspirant presented his programme. Following the voting, Makhamat Kishine from Chad, the 4th year student of the Medical Institute at PSU, became the first chairman of the International Students Union of PSU. 17 delegates voted for him.

Being under the university administration, the self-government body assumed the responsibility of representing more than 350 students who came from 25 countries. Assisting in solving practical problems, addressing challenges in the educational process, holding cultural and sports events became the key focus in internal activities of PSU ISU. The event attracted substantial media attention in Penza.

Visit of Anicet Gabriel Kotchofa, President of the International Students Association of the Russian Federation, to PSU 

On 20 May 2011, Anicet Gabriel Kotchofa, President of the International Students Association of the Russian Federation, visited Penza. At that time, the association brought together about 165 thousand foreigners from 162 countries studying in Russian educational institutions. During his visit, Anicet Gabriel Kotchofa met with PSU students and they discussed problems faced by foreigners in Russia. Read more at the official website of the International Students Association of the Russian Federation.

Establishment of the International Students Union of PSUAC

On 19 April 2012, Penza State University of Architecture and Construction (PSUAC) hosted the 1st Conference of the International Students Union of PSUAC (PSUAC ISU). 44 delegates were selected from active international students of PSUAC, and then they were registered at the conference. The delegates were provided with the mandates for voting.

The event was attended by the university administration and members of the public. They were Sergey Boldyrev, PSUAC Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Oleg Zakharov, mentor at the Faculty of Foreign Citizens Training at PSUAC, Irina Rukshina, teaching and learning specialist at the Faculty of Foreign Citizens Training at PSUAC, Viktoriya Karelova, deputy chairperson in the Primary trade union organisation of PSUAC students and postgraduate students who is responsible for student affairs, Makhamat Kishine, chairman of the International Students Union of PSU, and Sergey Ivanchin, manager of the programme “Youth Union of the Penza region”.

The agenda contained two issues, i.e. establishing the International Students Union of PSUAC and electing the governing bodies of PSUAC ISU.

Two candidates Leyla Khalmuradova and Yusup Kulmuradov applied for the ISU chairperson post. They both presented the action programmes. After the campaign speeches, the delegates decided to vote by show of hands. Following the voting, Leyla Khalmuradova from Turkmenistan, 4th-year student at PSUAC Institute of Economics and Management, became the first chairperson of the International Students Union of PSUAC. 32 delegates voted for her. Congratulations to PSUAC international students on establishing the ISU (the sources is the official website of PSUAC) (in Russian).

The 2nd Conference of the International Students Union of PSU

On 30 March 2012, the 2nd Conference of the International Students was held at Penza State University. At the conference, Makhamat Kishine, the first chairman of PSU ISU, delivered a report on the work undertaken. The major item on the agenda was selecting a new chairperson. 18 international students from 17 countries contested the election. Following the open voting, Bakhadur Movlyanov, 3rd-year student of the Medical Institute at PSU, was elected the chairman of PSU ISU.

Establishment of the International Students Union of PSPU

On 10 April 2012, V.G. Belinsky Penza State Pedagogical University hosted the Conference of the International Students Union of PSPU (PSPU ISU). The event brought together 20 delegates from 6 countries. Moreover, it was attended by the university administration.

The agenda of the conference contained three issues, i.e. establishing the International Students Union of PSPU, approving the regulations for PSPU ISU, and electing the governing bodies of PSPU ISU. Significant progress was made towards drawing up the final draft of regulations. The delegates voted unanimously for this draft.

Two candidates Ilyas Muradov and Elena Veliksar applied for the post of the chairperson. Following the candidates’ presentations of their action programmes, the delegates voted by show of hands. The majority of delegates, namely 17 persons, voted for Ilyas Muradov from Turkmenistan, 3rd-year student of PSPU, who became the chairman of the International Students Union of PSPU. Elena Veliksar from Moldova was appointed deputy chairperson of PSPU ISU.

Establishment of the International Students Association of the Penza region

On 18 April 2013, Penza State University arranged the meeting where the participants discussed establishing the branch of the International Students Association in the Penza region and its chairperson was elected. This initiative was supported by PSU administration, as well as by the invited guests Yusuf Abbasalekh, Ambassador Extraordinary of the Republic of Chad to the Russian Federation, and Anicet Gabriel Kotchofa, Ambassador Extraordinary of the Republic of Benin to the Russian Federation and President of the International Students Association of the Russian Federation.

The elections comprised delegates representing the interests of international students of different regional higher educational institutions. Penza regional branch of the International Students Association promote the interests of more than 1500 foreigners studying in HEIs in the Penza region. Makhamat Kishine was unanimously elected the chairman of the International Students Association of the Penza region. It was he who was at the forefront of consolidating students in unions.

The 2nd reporting conference of the International Students Association of the Penza oblast

On 26 February 2016, the active participants of the ISA of the Penza region arranged the 2nd reporting conference of the International Students Association of the Penza region. Adu Yao Nikez, President of the International Students Association of Russia, paid an official visit to Penza and attended the conference. As part of the agenda, the elections were held for the chairman of the ISA of the Penza region. The two international students were nominated for the position of the chairman. They were:

1. Orkhan Novruzov, 5th-year student from Azerbaijan;

2. Mayank Pande, 3rd-year student from India.

The conference attracted 33 delegates from 25 countries who study at the universities of the Penza region: Penza State University, Penza State University Architecture and Construction, and Penza State Technological University.

Following the voting, Orkhan Novruzov was unanimously elected the chairman of the International Students Association of the Penza region.

Adu Yao Nikez, President of the International Students Association of Russia, personally congratulated the new chairman of the ISA of the Penza region and wished the ISA of the Penza region every success in promoting and improving its activities.

Orkhan Novruzov elected chairman of International Students Association (source – PenzaInform.ru) (in Russian).

Orkhan Novruzov heads International Students Association of the Penza region (source – BEZFORMATA.RU) (in Russian).