Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The leaders of Russia and Vietnam have declared 2026 the Year of Bilateral Cooperation in Science and Education. A delegation from St. Petersburg Polytechnic University actively participated in educational events in Vietnam, including a large-scale "Applicant's Day" and the first Rossotrudnichestvo exhibition of the year, "Russian Universities – The Best Choice."
SPbPU was represented by Maria Bocharova, Director of the Center for International Recruitment and Communications of the Office of International Education (CIRC), and Daria Balitskaya, Senior Lecturer at the Higher School of International Educational Programs.
The first major event was the "Higher Education Admissions and Career Guidance Day 2026," organized by the Teiche newspaper and the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Human Resources. The event was held at the Hanoi University of Technology (HUST), the country's leading technical university.
Applicant's Day is the largest event for Vietnamese schoolchildren applying to universities this year, both in Vietnam and abroad. It's the 24th year it's been organized by the Teiche newspaper and the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Human Resources. The two main events take place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on March 8, bringing together approximately 20,000 participants—students and parents. This is the second time Russian universities have participated with a single stand, presenting not only their programs but also Russian education in general. "This greatly helps reach all applicants: they are brought in groups by bus at designated times so they can calmly consult and ask questions," noted Mai Nguyen Tuyen Hoa, First Secretary for Education at the Vietnamese Embassy.
SPbPU was represented at the national stand "Education of the Russian Federation." University representatives held hundreds of individual consultations for applicants interested in engineering and natural sciences. Vietnamese youth were particularly interested in the opportunities to participate in real-world research projects and modern laboratories at the Polytechnic University while still studying.
The next event of the program was the opening ceremony of the "Russian Universities – The Best Choice" exhibition at the Russian House in Hanoi. Vladimir Murashkin, Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Representative Office in Vietnam, welcomed the guests and participants of the exhibition: "Leading universities of the Russian Federation have come to us today to talk about all the advantages of Russian higher education. Every year, the Russian government allocates 1,000 free places for Vietnamese citizens under a quota. Any schoolchild or student can test their skills by registering with the Education in Russia system and subsequently enroll in a Russian university for free. A Russian education is not just about studying, but also about career advancement."
Leading Russian universities presented their programs to hundreds of Vietnamese schoolchildren, students, and their parents. SPbPU's programs generated considerable interest among the technically minded youth. Applicants were attracted by the opportunity to participate in real-world engineering and scientific projects in the university's modern laboratories during their studies. During individual consultations, Polytechnic University representatives provided detailed information on admission requirements under the Rossotrudnichestvo quota, campus living conditions, and graduates' career prospects.
SPbPU representatives also joined a working meeting with Russian language teachers and parents of applicants at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture. The event provided an opportunity to discuss practical issues, including the level of language proficiency required for admission, pre-university preparation programs, and student adaptation during their studies in Russia.
On the first day of the exhibition, a delegation from SPbPU visited Ha Noi Metropolitan University. The university's Vice-Rector, Doctor of Sciences Nguyen Van Tuan, called the visit of their Russian colleagues an important step in developing academic cooperation. Polytechnic University representatives presented the university's educational programs and research capabilities, laying the foundation for future joint projects and academic exchanges.
That same day, the delegation visited Tung Thien School, where a presentation was held for students. The students were actively interested in choosing engineering majors and the admission requirements at SPbPU.
The visit continued in Haiphong. Following a meeting at Red Star University, the delegation visited two specialized schools for gifted children: Nguyen Chai School and Tran Phu School. Students at these schools are dedicated to studying Russian, participating in academic competitions, and considering Russian universities as a priority for higher education. SPbPU representatives spoke to the students about engineering and IT programs, research opportunities, and career prospects. The students' enthusiastic response and numerous questions confirmed that interest in Russian engineering education in Vietnam is steadily growing.
A separate and important mission for SPbPU representatives was their participation on the jury of the 19th Vietnamese School Olympiad in Russian and the 23rd Student Olympiad. Daria Balitskaya, a senior lecturer at the SPbPU Higher School of International Educational Programs, has been a jury member representing the Polytechnic University for several years. Vladimir Murashkin, head of the Russian House, noted that the presence of experts in Russian as a foreign language from leading Russian universities elevates the selection process to a whole new level.
The business program culminated in a visit to the Ministry of Education and Human Resources of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The meeting was opened by Nguyen Thi Thanh Minh, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department. She emphasized the Ministry's support for initiatives in the area of bilateral Russian-Vietnamese educational cooperation.
Vladimir Murashkin, Director of the Russian House in Hanoi, noted: "We have traditionally collaborated with Vietnam in the field of education for many years. This year, our pilot program reached a new level: over three thousand students registered and expressed their desire to study in Russia. We see that this is no longer just a choice of higher education, but a conscious choice of specialization—engineering, graduate programs, and science."
The Vietnamese identified priority areas for personnel training, highlighting artificial intelligence and digital technologies for industrial and economic development. Polytechnic University representatives confirmed that the university possesses all the necessary competencies to train specialists in this field.
The trip to Vietnam confirmed the enormous interest in Russian engineering education here. Thousands of schoolchildren at the "Applicant's Day," lively discussions with colleagues from ministries and leading universities in Vietnam, and serving on the jury of the Russian Language Olympiad—all of these are important steps in building long-term ties. The schoolchildren deserve special mention. They are specifically studying Russian; many started from scratch and demonstrated a high proficiency within a year. In specialized schools in Hanoi and Haiphong, we saw how carefully the traditions of Russian language learning are preserved. We were convinced that Vietnamese students are motivated, talented, and truly want to study in Russia," Maria Bocharova, Director of the Center for Modernization and Cultural Studies, concluded.
The participation of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in the 2026 exhibition events in Vietnam not only attracted applicants but also strengthened partnerships with the country's leading educational institutions.
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