University strengthens cooperation with China

Polytechnic to open a center in China to prepare students for admission to Russian universities

Agreements with partners were reached during a visit to China by Elena Prokofyeva, Head of the Office for International Students, and Elena Shipanova, Director of the Center for Supplementary Training. They met with leaders of schools and universities where a comprehensive preparatory center could be opened, where schoolchildren and students will study Russian and the specialized subjects they will need to take for admission to Russian universities. Potential partners for Samara Polytechnic include Tangshan University, Tangshan Vocational and Technical Institute of Industry, North China University of Technology, vocational education centers in Luannan and Qian’an, and various secondary schools.

The Polytechnic’s own center for supplementary training for international students has existed for more than seven years. It currently enrolls 130 students, which is the maximum number the center can accommodate.

“Our center for preparing international students is considered one of the best in the region. Interest in us is strong. But our facilities do not allow us to accept everyone who wants to join, so we are exploring alternative options, such as organizing courses on partner campuses,” said Elena Prokofyeva, Head of the Office for International Students. “The university is fully ready to launch the project in China. We have accumulated enormous experience, developed teaching materials, and the university’s teaching staff is very strong and experienced.”

Elena Shipanova, Director of the Center for Supplementary Training, emphasizes that for Chinese pupils—many of whom are still minors—it is especially important to create favorable conditions for learning and for studying Russian language and culture.

“Chinese students are very modest, disciplined, and relatively independent,” she said. “From sixth grade they live on campus during the school week and only go home on weekends. Even so, students feel much more comfortable studying in their home country. Opening a center in China will allow them to prepare calmly for entrance exams to Russian universities and later adapt more quickly to the Russian-speaking environment.”

The project’s launch is planned for next year. By that time, Chinese partners must complete the legal formalities with the Chinese Ministry of Education.