Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Association of International Students is a community whose main goal is to support international students in Novosibirsk, strengthen friendships, host events celebrating cultural diversity, provide academic support to students at Novosibirsk universities, and much more.
At the beginning of the meeting, Roman Karbushev, a specialist in the NSU Education Export Department, outlined the key objectives:
This year, we have a lot of work ahead of us, related to the development and promotion of our branch's activities. Our team is full of enthusiastic individuals with plenty of ideas for how to further develop our activities, and I hope there will be even more of them today. The main task today is to present a report on the past year, share our plans for the future, and, of course, welcome new members to our team.
Next, Evgeny Sagaydak, Head of the Education Export Department at NSU, delivered a welcoming speech:
According to last year's data, 9,500 international students from 60 countries were studying in the Novosibirsk Region—a significant number. The region has ambitious goals: to increase the number of students by 50% by 2030. The city is open to welcoming international students, and its universities are also ready to welcome students from abroad. A specially developed regional program for the development of education exports aims to not only increase the number of international students but also create a comfortable environment for them to live in the city, so that during their studies, your university becomes an alma mater you will remember fondly.
Olga Naumova, director of the Yunost art residency, also addressed the participants: "I am pleased to welcome you today, including on behalf of Vasily Viktorovich Noskov, head of the Novosibirsk Region Department of Youth Policy. I hope that your activism and interest in developing the International Students Association will benefit you, the region, and those young people in your home country to whom you will share your experiences in the Novosibirsk Region."
Avishka Alagiyavanna, president of the Novosibirsk branch, presented a report on the AIS's work, sharing with activists what the association has accomplished over the past year.
AIS, together with the leaders of the International Friendship Club, held a joint meeting with Irina Yuryevna Sukhorukova, Head of the Permit and Visa Department of the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Novosibirsk Region, where they discussed migration legislation, medical examinations for international students, and other topics. The association plans to hold another meeting with the Ministry of Internal Affairs after the migration legislation has been amended.
A mini-football tournament was held at NSTU, hosting six teams from seven universities. AIS also attended the International Youth Forum "Russia Made Us Friends 2025," which aims to bring together international student leaders from Russia, train them to work at the AIS RF branch, and introduce them to the diversity of Russian culture.
From August 27 to 29, 2025, the Russian Association of Foreign Students Media School was held in the Moscow region. This large-scale event brought together 85 students from 31 countries, representing universities across Russia. Among them were seven students from Novosibirsk, including representatives of Novosibirsk State University.
For three days, participants immersed themselves in the world of media and digital technologies. The Media School program included a media quiz, where students learned to create engaging content; design workshops and Figma sessions; development of new sections for regional AIS branches; and training sessions on teamwork, time management, and an active social media presence.
"When I learned about this forum, I immediately knew I had to participate. The topics covered at the media school align well with my desire to provide as much information as possible to international students coming to Russia to ease their adaptation. Initially, they face a number of challenges related to learning new languages, a different education system, and so on," noted Josué Pudiugo, a second-year doctoral student at the Faculty of Natural Sciences at NSU and a participant in the Media School.
According to participants, the Media School became not only an educational platform but also a place for sharing experiences, pursuing creative pursuits, and expanding their network. Here, students not only mastered current media trends but also met inspiring people, made new friends, and strengthened their international connections.
"Initially, I was offered to attend the 'Heart of AIS' forum, and to be honest, it wasn't a priority for me. But then, when I arrived and saw the atmosphere, my eyes lit up, and I came back so energized that I want to make an even greater contribution to the development of our branch this year. This was my first trip with the guys. I had a great time the entire two days, and I'm glad I met AIS participants from all over Russia and worked with them on content creation," added Laylo Abdurakhmanova, a student at SibUPK.
The Association's immediate plans include holding the traditional Indian festival of Diwali at the Novosibirsk House of Scientists and preparing an event to coincide with National Unity Day.
Material prepared by: Varvara Frolkina, Ekaterina Mukovozchik, NSU press service
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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