Minister of Education of the Indian Embassy in the Russian Federation thanks PSU for the high level of medical education
The Minister of Education and Social Welfare of the Embassy of the Republic of India in the Russian Federation, Subrata Das, paid an official visit to Penza State University. On November 21, Subrata Das met with PSU Rector Aleksandr Guliakov and discussed with him, as well as with representatives of the regional authorities, the prospects for developing cooperation in the field of education.
The round table meeting was attended by Oleg Yagov, First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Penza Region, Vyacheslav Kosmachev, Minister of Health of the region, Aleksei Fomin, First Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Yuvraajsinh Solanki, Director of the Chevalier Group, partner of the university, as well as members of the university administration, the staff of the Medical Institute and the students from India.
“We have been waiting for this visit for a long time and are glad to host Subrata Das,” Rector Aleksandr Guliakov opened the meeting.
Oleg Yagov emphasized that Russia and India are friendly states that have always adhered to a policy of mutual respect and cooperation. The First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the region thanked the guest for the fact that 10 years ago the choice was made in favor of Penza State University for young people from India to receive higher education. “2019 was a significant year in the history of PSU: the first students from India who entered the Medical Institute in 2013 successfully completed their studies. Over the past 10 years, the number of Indian students has grown significantly: today there are 725 of them at PSU. The university has created all the conditions for their education and living, and also has well-organized extracurricular activities,” emphasized Oleg Yagov.
Subrata Das shared that he had already met with students and got to know the university and was impressed by what he saw. “When communicating with students, I received a lot of good feedback from them,” said the Embassy representative. He also added that at the PSU museum he found out an interesting fact: the first students from India had arrived in Penza in 1991. Now in Russia, according to Subrata Das, there are 23 thousand Indian students: “A year ago there were 21 thousand. Despite all the geopolitical difficulties, the number of students increased by two thousand people.”
Subrata Das especially thanked Russia for the opportunity provided to students who previously studied in Ukraine to transfer to universities in our country. There were about a thousand of them.
“The strong partnership between our countries provides a good basis for students from India to continue to choose Russia for higher education,” said Subrata Das.
Vyacheslav Kosmachev, Minister of Health of the Penza Region, confirmed that students from India are directly immersed in the medical process, undergoing internships in medical institutions in the region during their studies. “Practical training at our hospitals should bring maximum experience and skills,” noted Vyacheslav Kosmachev. He recalled the fact that during the “Covid period” students from India were actively involved in helping practitioners and he expressed special gratitude to them.
Aleksei Fomin, First Deputy Minister of Education of the region, touched upon the practice-oriented aspect of Russian higher education. “Curricula are being revised. The practical block will be further strengthened. Separately, I would like to say about the students from India themselves: they are educated and hardworking, and also very smiling and open”.
Most of the Indian students are studying at the Medical Institute. Aleksandr Mitroshin, Director of the Medical Institute, said that PSU is trying to preserve the best traditions of the Soviet medical school: the learning process is accompanied by daily contact with patients and direct work of the teacher with students. “This allows students to quickly acquire the necessary competences to be able to provide medical care to patients,” emphasized Professor Mitroshin.
Upon returning to India, all graduates who received education at foreign medical universities pass the so-called screening test: a qualifying exam required to obtain a license to practice medicine. According to the results of the qualification exam, PSU graduates show the highest results among all universities in Russia.
“We would like to expand our cooperation not only in educational activities, but also in science,” Aleksandr Mitroshin outlined another vector.
Dr. Yuvraaj Solanki, Director of the Chevalier Group, thanked Rector Aleksandr Guliakov for the fruitful cooperation: “Over 10 years of partnership, more than 400 student parents have visited Penza State University and always say only kind words about the university and its employees.”
Gleb Sintsov, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of PSU, noted that with the support of Yuvraajsinh Solanki, a large number of events were organized at PSU aimed at improving living conditions and mastering the educational programme for Indian students: two canteens with Indian cuisine were equipped, two student halls of residence were renovated. National Indian events are held annually: Navratri, Diwali, Holi festivals, and a cricket tournament. In May 2023, the PSU cricket team won the Volga region championship in Saransk. Since 2023, PSU has been a member of the National Cricket League Association.
The Indian partner expressed confidence that PSU will become the first university in Russia where an optimal model of medical education for students will be developed, which will meet all the requirements of the National Medical Council in India. University representatives confirmed that work on this project is in its final stages.
Patil Rohit, a resident at the Medical Institute, who was present at the meeting, thanked the University for the high level of education on behalf of all the students.