Belgorod State University host Inter-University Commission conference on building comfortable environment for international students

Among the conference participants there were vice-rectors and representatives of international offices of regional universities – V.G. Shukhov State Technical University, BGIIC, BUKEP, I.D. Putilin Belgorod Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Belgorod State Agricultural University, STI NITU “MISIS”. The meeting was attended by Alexey Rostovsky, the Second Secretary of RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representative in Voronezh, and Irina Tarasova, the Head of Visa and Invitation Letters Division of the Department of Internal Affairs of Belgorod Regional Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

During the brief tour the guests of Belgorod State University were introduced to BelSU facilities for international students. Thus, they visited the Peoples' Friendship Centre, DobroTvorets Volunteer Centre, the centres of Chinese and Arabic languages and culture.

During the meeting Anna Rogova, the Director of International Information Centre, reported on the perspective results of “Belgorod - University City” project, being implemented under “Prioritet-2030” Program, and invited the representatives of other regional universities to participate in its work.

Mr. Ahmed Mansur, BelSU Ambassador of in the Middle East and North Africa, the Head of the Association of International Alumni and Students of Belgorod Region Universities, presented the Association concept. Over 6000 international students are currently enrolled at the universities of Belgorod region, and the alumni number exceeds 10,000,000. The association organizers believe, that such a big body should not only help to promote Belgorod region brand abroad, but also to contribute to attracting new international students to the region's universities. It was also important to sign a cooperation agreement between Belgorod State University and the Association of International Alumni and Students of Belgorod Region Universities.

Valentina Shevchenko, the Deputy Director of the Department of BelSU Educational Policy, also shared her experience of work with the Association, including implementation of joint educational programs as an example of successful international partnership. As a result, in the academic year 2023/2024 over 700 students from the universities of China, Belarus and Uzbekistan entered BelSU.

The Commission members also covered the issues referred to migration legislation. Irina Tarasova, the Head of Visa and Invitation Letters Division of Belgorod Region Department of Internal Affairs, highly evaluated the universities’ work aimed at preventing law violations by international students.

At the end of the meeting, Ruslan Lesovik, the Commission Chairman, the Vice-Rector for International Relations of V.G. Shukhov State Technical University, and Vladislav Kuchmisty, the Deputy Chairman, BelSU Acting Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, supported the initiative of the regional universities to join the efforts in building common inclusive, safe and attractive environment for international students.