From 7th to 11th of September Flensburg (Germany) hosted the second Penza-Flensburg Congress. The Congress was attended by Penza State University representatives: Head of International Project Department K.Korolev, Head of “Foreign Languages” Department N.Pavlova, associate professor of the Department of “German and Methods of Teaching German” O.Martynova.

The cities of Penza and Flensburg have been connected by partner relations for seven years. They are represented by close cooperation between Penza State University and University of Flensburg, educational and medical institutions of both cities. The shift to the congress type of cooperation which took place in summer 2013 (the first Penza-Flensburg Congress) is a logical way of developing relationships between the two cities.

The organizers of the second Congress are: University of Flensburg, Penza State University, Old Gymnasium (Flensburg), Gymnasium no. 44 (Penza), DIAKO clinic (Flensburg), company Meesenburg (Flensburg), European Union for National Minorities Affairs (Flensburg).

The work of the Congress included six main spheres: “University”, “School”, “Health”, “Society”, “and International activity”, “Economics”. The representatives of PSU took part in all the sections of the Congress, making reports and discussing the key issues concerning the cooperation between Penza State University and Flensburg institutions.

As a result of the Congress work the parties agreed to expand the programmes of academic exchange and mobility between the universities, to continue implementing mutual educational projects and courses, to participate in Erasmus+, DAAD programmes in order to get financial support for mutual projects, to expand the spheres of network cooperation with educational, medical and societal institutions of Flensburg.

The PSU delegation visited Flensburg administration and met President of the city Svetlana Krechmar. The representatives of PSU were included into the distinguished visitors’ book of Flensburg.

The Congress was concluded with Penza and Flesburg Friendship Society meeting, in the course of which its members discussed ways of further cooperation and regular meetings of scientific, educational and social communities representatives of both cities, in particular, the holding of the third Penza-Flensburg Congress in Penza in 2015.