Campus tour for school students and teachers from Peru
On August 31, Lobachevsky University welcomed a group of 17 school students and 6 teachers from the private educational institutions Liceo Santo Domingo and Santo Domingo, El Predicador, based in Lima, Peru. Representatives of the Latin American-Russian Association (ALAR) also took part in the tour. This visit served as the closing event of the International Summer University, carried out as part of the Priority 2030 programme, and was organised within a joint initiative by UNN and ALAR to enhance international educational cooperation and introduce young people from foreign countries to the academic opportunities offered by the Russian university.
The guests started their visit at the UNN Museum, where they learned about the university’s history, its scientific traditions, and its contributions to the advancement of national and global science and education.
The participants were particularly impressed by the popular science project "Cognitive Age Calculator".
The students gained insights into contemporary research on cognitive aging and also had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with practical methods for assessing cognitive functions. During the meeting with the Peruvian school students, Alexander Bedny, UNN Vice Rector for Strategic Development and International Affairs, provided an overview of the university’s structure, key educational programmes, opportunities for international students, and the university’s international projects.
"Lobachevsky University has been actively promoting the Russian language in various countries for many years, and we take pride in that. You have decided to explore the world, and you have travelled so far to discover the finest universities in Russia. It’s important to be open to new experiences, not to fear visiting new places, and to embrace learning—this fosters friendship and partnership between our nations and peoples, and contributes to your personal success. I wish you good luck and please remember: we welcome everyone at Lobachevsky University. Our aim is to make your time studying here both beneficial and enjoyable," Alexander Bedny said.
As part of their tour of the university's innovative infrastructure, the group visited the media centre of the UNN Institute of Philology and Journalism. The tour participants learned about the training of future professionals in media communications, journalism, and digital content creation. The programme concluded with a visit to the Cyberpsychology Laboratory of the UNN Faculty of Social Sciences. The guests were introduced to modern research methods for studying human behaviour in a digital environment, including the use of eye-tracking technology to analyse user behaviour.
In June of this year, Lobachevsky University and ALAR jointly organised the Pushkin Week in Latin America festival in an online format to promote the Russian language and culture in the region. The programme featured open classes in Russian "Learning Pushkin’s Language", a lecture "Pushkin’s Fairy Tales", a conversation club "Reading Pushkin together", a virtual tour of the Boldino Museum-Reserve and a creative competition named "My Pushkin".
The Latin American-Russian Association (ALAR, Asociación Latinoamericana Rusa) is a private non-profit organisation with its headquarters in Lima, Peru. It has branches in several countries in the region, including Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. The association was established to facilitate scientific, academic, and cultural exchange between Russia and Latin American countries, primarily in the interests of young people and professionals. Key areas of work include organising free courses on the Russian language and culture, conducting joint seminars and symposia, supporting research projects, and assisting in inter-university exchanges. Since 1999, ALAR has served as the authorised organisation for recruiting applicants from Latin America to study at several Russian universities, including Lobachevsky University. To overcome the language barrier, the association offers preliminary courses and organises Olympiads to identify talented applicants.
In the 2021-2022 academic year, a joint programme between UNN and ALAR was launched. Foreign students first studied the Russian language at ALAR's virtual platforms in Latin America and then could continue their studies remotely or on the UNN campus starting from the second semester. Participants in the project included students from Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Ecuador.
