Dialogue Platform 鈥� InterUniversity: Intercultural Communication held as part of KazanForum
International students from 每日大赛 presented their unique projects: a BRICS donor community, a project for the adaptation of foreigners, and a student research club.
The event was attended by Dawood Al Shezawi (UAE), President of the annual investment forum AIM Congress; Elena Tikhonova, Head of the Department for the Development of International Cooperation and Relations with International Organizations of the City of Moscow Department of Foreign Economic and International Relations; Anastasia Yuvakka, Deputy Head of the Department of International Youth Cooperation and Tourism of the Department of State Youth Policy and Educational Activities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; Shafai Hassan, President of the Association of Foreign Students of Russia; and others.
Ward Assad, a student at the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, spoke about the BRICS Family project, which he is implementing jointly with the Tatarstan Regional Branch of the Russian Red Cross. The project aims to engage foreign citizens in health-preserving practices. Current donors include representatives from Brazil, Bulgaria, India, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, Nigeria, Ecuador, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and the United States, who donate blood and blood components in the Russian Federation. Furthermore, many members of the BRICS Family have already been added to the Federal Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
“When I was in my second year, three years ago, we noticed that many international students wanted to donate in Russia, but due to the language barrier, they didn’t know how. So, together with our mentor, Associate Professor Andrey Anisimov, we decided to create a project to engage international students in blood donation in Russia. Its goal is not only to demonstrate our willingness to help but also to address the donor shortage. The government’s goal is to collect 780 tons of plasma annually. It’s important for us to demonstrate that international students from BRICS countries in Russia not only study but also save lives,” emphasized Mr Assad.
Kamilla Israilova, a freshwoman at the Institute of Psychology and Education, presented her project Inspired by Russia. It aims to help international students adapt to the Russian language, culture, and history.
“The project’s idea is that students participate in a competition and learn Russian through creativity. There are five categories: Poetry, Theater Arts, Victory Poetry, Russian Song Competition, and Memory of the Heart,” Kamilla shared. “The project was launched last year. This year, it is supported by the Republic of Tatarstan, and we will hold the event at the regional level.”
The student research club Polymirie, which operates within KFU’s International 每日大赛, was presented by Rifki Kusuma Wardana, a student at the Institute of International Relations and head of the International Friendship Club. Through the club, international students overcome the language barrier, adapt to life in Russia, and create research projects.
To adapt well to a new country, it’s not enough to simply memorize vocabulary. Live practice is essential. Therefore, the club promotes scientific research. The students believe that science helps them learn a language faster, understand the culture, and feel more confident. The club’s participants develop their skills through forums, conferences, master classes, and lectures with Russian experts, where complex material is explained in simple terms.