May 13-17th, a Volga Educational Centre of International Students “POLIS” took place at the Penza State University with active participation of the Association of International Students in Russia.

Many international students from Penza- inviting city, and other Russian cities such as Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Orenburg, Moscow, Novomoskovsk, Saint Petersburg, Tula, Ivanovo, Saransk and Astrakhan were invited to take part in events.

The interested students came from various corners of world: Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iraq, Jordan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Chad, Botswana, Benin, Congo, Nigeria, Namibia and Lebanon.

The purpose of the Centre was to form the practical skills of a public and project activities for effective adaptation of foreign students during studying in Russian universities.

The Centre was attended by the honoured guests. Among them are Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Gabriel Anicet Kotchofa (Benin), Yusuf Abasalleh (Chad), Else Nizigama Ntamagiro (Burundi), and Seko Intchasso (Guinea-Bissau), Yao Nicaise Adou, the president of the Association of International Students in Russia, and Mahamat Ya-Ya Kishine, head of the Penza branch of the Association of International Students. The guests took part in the round table "Public Diplomacy" and shared with the participants their views on the concept of "leader" and public diplomacy role in our life.

The first day the quest on Russian fairy tales with different tests passed. Even the rain did not stop the game, and students got a lot of positive emotions for all following days, the jointed work raised the team morale.

Not only entertainments were organized, but also master-classes on various themes such as “Motivation to a positive future”, “Project activity at University”, “Cultural mass events at University. Practical Recommendations”, “Developing of communication skills”, “Self-Presentation”.

One of the objectives of work in the Centre was to teach students to create network designs. The participants presented to the experts the most interesting ideas that will be developed and implemented. The best project is the project "Together we are family". The aim is to create a network of volunteer mobile troop of foreign students to assist newly arrived international students to quickly adapt to life, studying in Russian universities.

The last day visited the student State Lermontov Museum - Tarkhany Reserve. The excursion-tour was dedicated to the 200 anniversary of the birth of M. Lermontov.

Internet Site: vk.com/polis_psu