Distance learning in Russia due to the novel COVID-19 pandemic

The Ministry of Science and High Education of the Russian Federation, under the instruction of the Government of Russia Federation, recommends to all the Universities to continue the education process in on-line regime in order to decrease as much as possible the emergency of coronavirus outbreak in Russia (https://minobrnauki.gov.ru/common/upload/library/2020/03/main/397.pdf)Due to the declared state of emergency in Russia, being obliged to follow the recommendations by the Ministry, the Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University, the flagship University of the Komi Republic, has decided to close the campuses since March, 16 till April, 12. All courses will be delivered online and other support services will be available through remote accesses. Furthermore, at the moment we cannot be sure that the off-line courses will be resumed on 12.4.2020: there is a possibility that the courses will be continued to be offered online for some time after that. We will keep students updated. In order …

UN model 2020

On February 26-27 the Institute of Humanities of the Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University hosted the XII annual youth forum called “UN Model “. Russian, international and also high school students took part in the event.The UN model is a conference where participants play the roles of diplomats and represent the country at simulated meetings of UN committees . Students select one out of 193 participating Countries and then discuss issues on their Committee’s agenda.— I am glad that in this game you will show not only your knowledge of the world politics and topical issues, but also offer ways to solve them. I wish you heated debate and objective decisions, — Yulia Ilyina, the Director of the Institute of Humanities, greeted the delegates.The agenda for the UN General Assembly was the domestic violence, its legal and socio-cultural aspects. The delegates presented their reports, outlining the current situation, measures and …

The Native Language Holiday in the Youth Library.

On February 19, the event called “Dona Kyv” (“My dear language” in Komi), dedicated to the International Day of Native Language, was held in the Youth Library of the Komi Republic. The Holiday itself is celebrated worldwide on February 21.International students of the Medical Institute of the Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University took part in the event. They were the 1st and 2nd year students from Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Syria and India.The students had a chance to learn about the culture of the Komi region at nine different event sites: they played folk outdoor games “Gorelki” and ” Mouse-mouse, give me a corner», drew ornaments on sand, translated names of the household items from Komi into Russian, put together puzzle mosaics “The Komi Republic” and “The Komi hunting calendar”. International students have even had a chance to try a flat bread with smashed potatoes– the Komi national cuisine dish.— I …

One day in the life: foreign student

A new guest of our column was a student from Egypt — Mohamed Musa. He entered in Syktyvkar State University in early 2018. He is studying Russian now.— Tell me about your morning. In what time do you wake up and what do you have on breakfast?— My morning starts at 8 a.m. I prefer scrambled eggs for breakfast because it has a lot of protein and it is a quick dish to prepare. Then I wash my face and go to the University. It is about 15 minutes to go from my dorm to the University, so I slowly get ready and go.— Are you going to the university alone or with somebody?— Usually, I go with friends, but sometimes I’m very slow in the morning, and my friends don’t wait for me. Frankly, even some teachers noticed that I should be faster and get rid of laziness (laughs).— …

Ramadan far from home: is it easy?

One of the most sacred events of the Islamic calendar is the Holy month of Ramadan (Ramazan). Period, saturated with many rites, traditions and taboos that every believer awaits with trepidation. In 2019, the days of the month of Ramadan fall on the period from May 5 to June 3, when Muslims observe a strict fast(sauwm), completely refusing food and water in the daytime. There are students in Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University who are professing Islam. We asked the guys from Palestine, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan and Algeria to tell us about the month of Ramadan in their lives and how they keep the sauwm far from their homeland.Bakai Sydykov, Kyrgyzstan, 20 years oldAt the beginning of fast (sauwm), every Muslim expresses his or her personal intention to fast. The words of consent are pronounced daily putting as much sincerity into them as possible. Every year the dates of fasting are …

Foreign students about study, weather and Syktyvkar

With the beginning of the academic year the ranks of students of Syktyvkar State University were filled with students not only from Russia but also from other countries. So, 86 students from India, Nepal, Ghana, Sudan, Libya, Syria, Zambia, Palestine, Jordan, Algeria, Iraq, Egypt and CIS countries came to our University to study. Arriving from warm countries, most of them immediately plunged into the northern climate of the Komi Republic.Verbum asked them how they were experiencing the Russian cold, what interesting things they discovered in Syktyvkar, how they study in Russia.Hana Hani, from Egypt, 1st year, Medical InstituteAbout Syktyvkar: I like the city and the weather in it, but sometimes it is very cold. It’s a little inconvenient. About study: It’s cool to study at the University. I want to be a real doctor. The study is going well, but I noticed that the Russian language is very difficult! Sometimes …

All languages obedient to food.

What surprises our foreign students in Syktyvkar stores?Now about 150 foreign students study at our University. Verbum launches a permanent column “Exchange students”, where we will talk about the life of foreign students, their taste preferences and national dishes. The first topic for discussion is food. Our correspondent talked to students from different countries and looked into their food basket.Over the last academic year, the number of foreign students at the Syktyvkar State University has doubled compared to 2015 – now there are 142 of them. 97% of students came to Syktyvkar from the former Soviet Union. This is not surprising, because all foreigners, one way or another, are studying in the “great and mighty” Russian language. In addition, we have students from Germany, interns from Finland and the United States, and since the fall there were five guys from South Africa.Many of them are studying not the first year, …

In the new academic year, more than 100 students from India are expected to arrive at Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University

Last week in Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University ended with a meeting of the administration and Indian representatives of the recruiting companies. The introductory visit of Dr. Navin Saxen, director and founder of “Sky Topper Consultants”, is not the first one in Syktyvkar. However, this time four recruiters came with him to get acquainted with the material and educational base personally, to meet with teachers and students of the university.The meeting was held within the framework of the priority national project “Export of the Russian education”. According to Olga Kushnir, Vice-rector of Academic Affairs of the university, the key goal of the project is to increase the attractiveness and competitiveness of the Russian education on the international market of educational services. Today 48 international students study in the University, 18 of them are from India.“Sky Topper Consultants” and “Edplus Educational India Pvt Ltd” cooperate with each other, annually recruiting more …