‘I always had that feeling of being at home and supported’

 The press centre of Penza State University received a letter from a former international student from Kazakhstan who spent an academic year at our university:

‘Dear editorial staff of the university newspaper,

I would like to send the words of sincerest gratitude for the opportunity to study for an academic year since September 1st, 2015 in Penza State University as part of the master’s programme in ‘Social Work’, that was part of the cooperation agreement between Penza State University and Kokshetau State University (Kazakhstan) on  students and teachers academic mobility.

Thanks to your university, I received deep knowledge in theory and techniques of social work, acquired a lot of friends and was able to share experiences. I was provided with comfortable living in the hall of residence for international students.

Penza is a fantastic city, warm and cozy place in the heart of Russia. It is an interesting city with European-style pedestrian street – Moskovskaya, and it will always remain in my soul. I felt like I was at home here. And  I always felt support.

I visited complex centres of social service and libraries, as it was part of the work on the master’s theses ‘Improving the System of Social Service for Senior Citizens’. In November I had my research and teaching practice. I had my teacher’s debut – among the 3rd year students of distant studies in social work. I also had a demonstration lesson in a classical school-gymnasium № 1.

I would like to give my personal thanks to the Rector of the university - A.D. Gulyakov, the head of the International Projects Department – K.Yu. Korolev, my research supervisor – M.A. Lygina, my teachers E.N. Sinev, O.N. Bogatikova, E.V. Viktorova, T.G. Skorokhodova, head of the department ‘Theory and Practice of Social Work’ – T.V. Lavrenova, and surely the Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy, Psychology and Social Sciences – A.B. Tugarov.

I was very happy to be near you! To be a guest, a student, a friend! To enjoy the beauty of the nature.

I hope we will meet again! I will come and visit you, and I will always remember you!

Asemgul Khamzina,

Master of Social Work , journalist, sociologist.