Chinese students - teachers in the field of music education – graduated from Penza State University for the first time. Nine specialists received diplomas, two of them graduated with honors.

Tatyana Shipilkina, Head of the Department of Music and Methods of Teaching Music, noted that the process of interaction was two-way: “Both the students studied with us, and we studied with them. This is an exchange of experience, cultural traditions and different approaches to music. We are very glad that the musicians once chose Penza State University for education, and today we are graduating real specialists!”

During their studies, the students not only received valuable knowledge, but also were engaged in research - they have publications in the RSCI journals. In addition, the students took an active part in international and all-Russian festivals - contests of performing skills. But the most memorable, according to the graduates, was taking an internship in Russian schools. “The most difficult part was to overcome the language barrier. After a while, it became much easier - the practice of communication helped, and we became more fluent in Russian. And it is especially gratifying that schoolchildren showed interest in our culture: in the classroom we even tried to sing national Chinese songs,” said Li Kunyi, a 2020 graduate.

A cooperation agreement with Lianyungang Normal College (China) was signed in 2016. It took almost a year to develop a joint educational programme. According to it, for the first 2 years students study in the PRC. Upon their arrival in Russia, they spend a year studying the Russian language at the preparatory department, and then for two years they study at the Department of Music and Methods of Teaching Music, the Faculty of Pedagogy, Psychology and Social Sciences. Upon graduation, students receive two higher education diplomas at once - Russian and Chinese.