PSU hosted II University Science Conference of foreign students “cross-cultural communication in the modern world ". The total number of foreign students who took part in the conference exceeded 150 people, reports were made by about 60 foreign students from eight countries: Turkmenistan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Moldova. The participants are the students of three Russian universities: Penza State University, Penza State University of Architecture and Construction and Ogarev Mordovia State University.

The conference was organized by the Institute of International Cooperation, Penza State University. The organizing committee was headed by Tatyana Razuvaeva, PhD, Head of Department “German and Methods of Teaching German”, Deputy Director for International Projects.

The work of the conference included four sections:
Section 1: “Studentship as an educational policy subject at the global, national and institutional level”
Moderator: Head of the Department of Student Affairs S.Ivanchin.
Section 2: “Russia as seen by foreigners: creating images without clichés”
Moderator: Vice-Dean of “Foreign Languages” Department” N.Lakina.
Section 3: “Languages in the globalization period: the Russian Language in the world”.
Moderator: PhD, Head of “Russian as a Foreign Language” Department, V.Shmelkova
Section 4: “Stability of financial systems: global challenges and national models of overcoming crises”
Moderator: PhD, Associate Professor of “Business Administration” Department, K.Korolev

The conference was opened by O. Meshcheryakova, Director of the Institute of International Cooperation. She emphasized that more than 850 students from 39 countries study at Penza State University and that the conference gives an opportunity to simulate, discuss and find agreement”.

The guests of the conference took part in the work of the plenary meeting: President of Penza regional non-profit organization “The Azerbaijani Community” Babaev Rovshan Khalil Ogli, Deputy Chairman of the local Tajik national cultural autonomy of Penza, co-founder of the regional non-profit organization “Uzbek Community” Ulugzod Firuzgaht, Coordinator of International Relations Office of Ogarev Mordovia State University Tatyana Nazarova, Chairman of Foreign Student Association of Penza Region Kishine Makhamat.

Foreign students discussed the following actual issues: the unique system of education in Russia, students’ self-management in Russian universities, culture shock for foreign first-year students and how to overcome them, teaching Russian in different countries, international legal status of the Caspian Sea, export-import relations between countries.

The conference was very productive and resulted in the conference proceedings. Each participant got a personal certificate. The best reports were awarded diplomas of the first, second and third degree.
The first degree diplomas were conferred to: Achilova Jeren (PSU), Khatamova Madina (PSU), Nyu Anna (PSU), Matveeva Tatyana (PSU).
The second degree diplomas were conferred to: Takhyrov Chinghiz (Ogarev MSU), Danilcheva Irina (PSU), Ibraghimova Dinara (PSU), Li Vanjiao (PSU), Rakhmanova Sayara (PSU).
The third degree diplomas were conferred to: Radu Vyacheslav (PSUAC), Abdyeva Yevgenia (PSU), Abdulaeva Merjen (PSU), Alla Al Saadi (PSU), Byashimov Azat (PSU).