Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Students and teachers of RUDN spent four busy and productive days on the shores of the deepest lake in the world. At the International Youth Forum "Baikal" they attended dozens of lectures and master classes and held a panel discussion where they shared our university's experience in attracting students to science, internship programs, as well as the work of creative studios, communities and other extracurricular organizations.
The RUDN delegation consists of:
Mobin Alibafgi (Iran), Medical Institute, major in General Medicine; Yulia Ivanova (Russia), Medical Institute, major in General Medicine; Alfred Osman Kamara (Sierra Leone), Medical Institute, major in General Medicine; Keturah Musonda (Zambia), Medical Institute, Resident, major in Pediatrics; Polina Shcherbakova (Russia), Institute of World Economy and Business, Master's student, major in International Business and Finance; Sultana Bilkis (India), Institute of Russian Language, Postgraduate Student, major in Russian Literature and Literatures of the Peoples of the Russian Federation; Anastasia Voronchikhina (Russia), Faculty of Philology, Bachelor's degree, major in Advertising and Public Relations; Sofia Saakyan (Russia), Institute of World Economy and Business, Bachelor's degree, major in Linguistics; Al Daoud Jaafar (Syria), Institute of Russian Language, postgraduate student, Linguistics, specialist at the Educational and Scientific Information Library Center of RUDN University.
"Our team became one of the brightest and most active at the International Youth Clubs platform. At the plenary discussion organized by RUDN, I talked about how to combine scientific creativity with interdisciplinary approaches. Assistant of the Department of Histology, Cytology and Embryology of the Medical Institute Enar Dzhumaniyazova shared her experience of working at the Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine of RUDN and highlighted the main areas of scientific research of the department. The event resulted in a project session with opinion leaders of the International Friendship Clubs. Experts and participants together developed solutions that will help young people in their professional activities. In general, the forum flew by in an instant, but nothing ends after the trip. We are already continuing active cooperation with our colleagues and intend to implement the projects that our students developed here," – Elena Kaverina, PhD in Medicine, Associate Professor of the Department of Public Health, Healthcare and Hygiene of the Medical Institute of RUDN.
Space for dialogue and transparency
One of our students, Polina Shcherbakova, put forward her project for the Rosmolodezh.Grants competition, which took place during the forum. The girl came up with the idea of the international digital platform Hummman.
"This will be a space for dialogue and transparency. Here, students from different countries will be able to first take online courses in areas of interest, and then team up and work on joint projects. The best will be able to participate in offline projects and attend lectures, forums and other similar events in different countries. In my opinion, this way we will kill two birds with one stone. Firstly, we will solve geopolitical issues by showing that Russia is not an aggressor, but an open and friendly country. And secondly, we will attract young people from different parts of the world for further joint work. There is an idea to involve the UN and UNESCO in the project, so that it has even greater significance and weight," Polina Shcherbakova, a master's student at the Institute of World Economy and Business, RUDN University (International Business and Finance, 2nd year).
Our student failed to win the grant this time, but the experts of the competition committee became interested in the project. They advised the girl to refine the idea a little. In particular, to find partners and select a team of like-minded people who will understand that they will have to work for some time on a voluntary basis. After making adjustments, according to the experts, the student will be able to apply for the grant competition again. This is what Polina intends to do.
Also at the forum, RUDN students and teachers developed a project aimed at the adaptation of foreign students. The guys called it "Matryoshka of the World: Discover Russia and the World in the Game."
"We plan to create board games that will help foreign students integrate into the Russian educational space. They will introduce them to the culture, geography, history of Russia and other countries of the world. So, in one of the games "Where is Valera?" one person will receive a map with his location. The other players must take turns asking him questions to figure out where he is. The host should not answer directly, but in such a way that it is difficult to guess. In general, the results that we expect from the project are facilitating the process of adaptation of foreigners to life in Russia, reducing their stress levels and developing communication skills," – Keturah Musonda, resident of the RUDN Medical Institute (Pediatrics).
Songs for the soul
To give students a break from intensive educational work, the forum also prepared an entertainment program for them. Including evening concerts, where students showed off their talents. Participants of the RUDN folk studio "Nettle" Anastasia Voronchikhina and Sultana Bilkis sang the Russian folk song "Prolegala Put Dorozhka", and Keturah Musonda sang the hit by Alsou "Zimniy Son".
"We also attended lectures with top speakers, including famous athletes Roman Kostomarov, Nikolai Valuev, pilot and Hero of Russia Damir Yusupov. We participated in sports events. But I was especially impressed by the jeep excursion through the Tazheran steppes, where we saw petroglyphs and heard legends of the Irkutsk region and Buryatia," says Yulia Ivanova, a student at the RUDN Medical Institute (General Medicine major, 4th year).
And the main thing that all forum participants noted was that the days on Baikal were filled with an atmosphere of happiness, love and friendship.
"The Baikal Forum left an incredible impression! As a foreign participant, I was literally captivated by the unique energy and the opportunity to communicate with so many ambitious and goal-oriented young leaders from all over Russia and the world. Several days of intensive work and productive discussions against the backdrop of the stunning nature of Lake Baikal flew by in the blink of an eye. It was a perfect symbiosis of gaining new knowledge, networking and cultural exchange – an experience that dramatically expanded my horizons," – Al Daoud Jaafar, PhD student at the Institute of Russian (Linguistics).
“From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the breathtaking beauty of Lake Baikal — its crystal clear waters, serene landscapes, and vibrant nature created the perfect environment for dialogue, learning, and collaboration. The forum brought together young leaders, innovators, and change-makers from different cities. Through workshops, panel discussions, and cultural exchanges, I gained a new perspective on global issues and the role of youth in developing sustainable solutions. Beyond the sessions, the forum facilitated meaningful networking. I met incredible young people whose ideas, passion, and energy were truly motivating. Sharing experiences, learning different perspectives, and celebrating our cultures enriched my understanding of what it means to be part of a global youth community,” — Alfred Osman Kamara, RUDN Medical Institute student (General Medicine major, 6th year).
About the forum
The Baikal Forum was held from August 11 to 15. This year, 600 people from 46 regions of Russia and 15 countries took part in it, and about 150 speakers — regional and federal experts, entrepreneurs, scientists and public figures — spoke at its venues.
The event was dedicated to the development of competencies of successful young people in various spheres of life and activity, their personal and professional self-realization, the formation of a communication environment and conditions for supporting youth initiatives.
The forum had seven platforms:
"Tourism"; "Entrepreneurship"; "Young politicians"; "Young teachers"; "Ecology"; "Leaders of municipalities"; "International youth clubs".
The event was organized by the Irkutsk Region Government, the regional Ministry of Youth Policy, with the participation of the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Siberian Federal District, and with the support of Rosmolodezh and the general partner, the Irkutsk Oil Company (INK).
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