Results of Lobachevsky/RU International Olympiad summed up at UNN

On March 26, the closing ceremony of the eighth Lobachevsky/RU International Olympiad in Russian as a Foreign Language took place at Lobachevsky University. In 2021, the Olympiad was included in the list of events recognised by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, granting winners and prize-winners the opportunity to study for free in Master's programmes in Russia under an intergovernmental quota.

In her welcoming address, Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, expressed gratitude to the Lobachevsky University team for maintaining the tradition of holding the Lobachevsky/RU Olympiad, which has been ongoing since 2018.

"It’s very encouraging to see the number of participants growing every year. The scale is impressive, and the tasks are getting more difficult, but this doesn't stop students from demonstrating their Russian language skills and becoming prize winners. We are truly honoured that you choose Russian universities and the Russian language for your higher education," Olga Petrova emphasised.

This year, the Olympiad attracted 1,140 international participants from 90 countries, including students from foreign educational institutions and Russian universities. The top 10 countries by the number of participants were Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, China, Egypt, Turkey, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Angola. Last year, there were 1,019 participants from 88 countries. The number of participants from Mexico, Kazakhstan, and Angola has increased.

Significant support to the Olympiad  is provided by the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo).

Pavel Shevtsov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, congratulated all participants on the Olympiad’s conclusion via video link: "Year after year, we observe the Olympiad gaining momentum and becoming increasingly global. With 85 centres in 72 countries, Rossotrudnichestvo actively disseminates information and attracts new participants, contributing to the Olympiad’s growing popularity. Together with Russian universities, we work to support teachers of the Russian language and subjects taught in Russian abroad.Our goal is to enable students from around the world to learn and develop a passion for the Russian language and culture. We would like to thank the organisers for their hard work. We plan to expand the Olympiad further because it stands out as one of the most notable Russian Olympiads in the global arena."

The Ministry of International and Interregional Relations of the Nizhny Novgorod region also assists in organising the traditional Olympiad. Olga Guseva, the head of the ministry, addressed the participants:"Today, the Russian language unites more than 200 million people around the world, and interest in learning Russian is steadily rising in Asian and European countries. We see this trend in our region as well: there are currently about 7,000 international students from 130 countries studying in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The prestige of Russian education is undeniable, and I sincerely hope that the winners and prize-winners of the Olympiad will join the ranks of students at Lobachevsky University, choosing Nizhny Novgorod as their starting point for a professional career."

Following the two stages of the competition, 153 participants were interviewed by the jury, who selected 40 winners and prize-winners of the eighth Lobachevsky/RU International Olympiad in Russian as a Foreign Language.The finalists represented 19 countries, including Peru, China, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Turkey, the Republic of Congo, Italy, Tajikistan, India, and Kazakhstan.

"It is a great joy and honour to welcome the participants of the eighth Lobachevsky/RU Olympiad in Russian as a Foreign Language, which brought together 1,140 people from 90 countries around the world. The University embodies traditions that pave the way for innovation and progress. For us, the Olympiad has become a remarkable tradition that connects people who study, appreciate, and cherish the Russian language, culture, and education. We take pride in promoting the Russian language globally for many years, together with our partners and friends. Our Olympiad is about fostering mutual understanding, expressing thoughts and emotions, sharing culture, and discovering what truly matters in life.Of course, true understanding can only be achieved when people are willing and eager to do so.We look forward to welcoming everyone to Lobachevsky University, where our aim is to make the educational experience enriching, engaging, and pleasant. With students from nearly 100 countries studying here, we sincerely hope that this year's prize-winners and participants will join their ranks," said UNN Rector Oleg Trofimov.

One of the prize-winners in the language competition was Sara Adragna from Italy. She thanked the organisers for the opportunity to take part in the Olympiad:  "It’s a great honor for me to be part of this prestigious international competition, which allowed me not only to practice Russian but also to make friends with people from different countries. I have participated in similar events before, but here I was studying Russian with genuine interest and engagement for the first time. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone for such an amazing opportunity. It has been a truly valuable experience," Sara noted.