On Friday, September 1, the Temp Center for Sports and Youth Initiatives hosted a celebration dedicated to the Knowledge Day. It was attended by first-year students, including international ones. In total, about 2,500 international students from more than 45 countries of the world are studying at Penza State University.

The guests of honor of the university, the teaching staff of PSU gathered in the stands, but most part of the spectators and participants were first-year students. By tradition, at the celebration marking the beginning of the new academic year, first-year students were addressed by the city and the university leaders.

Oleg Melnichenko, Governor of the Penza Region, recalled that he was the university graduate twice, and noted that PSU is the largest and one of the most sought-after higher educational institutions among the inhabitants of the region: “Here we must remember the traditions of the Penza Polytechnic University, which graduated and continues to graduate excellent engineers, which actually formed Penza engineering school. The students who have chosen technical study fields are sure to have a good promising future. At the same time, PSU is not only engineers, it is also teachers and educators. I want to say that you have also chosen good study fields - now the state is more than ever dealing with the problems of education and upbringing.”

PSU Rector Aleksandr Guliakov congratulated the first-year students on the start of a new path: “During this time, we have trained more than 170,000 highly qualified specialists in various fields. Among them are 82 winners of awards for scientific and technical developments, 16 Olympic champions, 2 cosmonauts. I have no doubt that there are talented people here now who, after graduating from the university, will also reach incredible heights. The best university professors will work with you! I congratulate first-year students, senior students and the university teaching staff on the Knowledge Day. Long live PSU!”

International students from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, India, China, Egypt, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Jordan took part in the traditional parade of institutes and faculties of Penza State University, after which 2023 first-year students traditionally took the oath, uttering a solemn promise. The celebration also involved concert performances prepared by students, including international ones.