<Title language-id="en_US">Far Eastern Federal University - gateway to Russia

July 12-19, 2012 Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok will host an International summer school for foreign students.

The primary goal of the FEFU International multidisciplinary career-oriented summer school is to acquaint future students from abroad with the university’s educational programs and  new campus, and also to showcase the beauty of the Primorsky region along with the best of  Russian culture.

During the first part of the program participants will learn about various fields of scientific study available at FEFU as well as about other interesting specialties that are particularly important for the Asia-Pacific region. The second part of the program will provide immersion in Russian culture, and will include a variety of creative workshops intended to develop the skills necessary to work effectively as part of an international team.

Though this is the first time FEFU has hosted an international summer school, the number of applicants far exceeded expectations. The project will make use of all the services the university has to offer, and will include volunteers from the FEFU student body. According to Uliana Sosnova of the university's Department of International Education, newsletters were sent to foreign partner universities and there was such a huge response that the university has had to limit the number of participants. Sosnova says that a total of 120 students will attend the special summer program.

The FEFU International summer school is open to foreign citizens who are interested in entering any of the university’s various faculties, including Master’s and Doctorate degree programs. The project is partially funded by FEFU with the university covering meals, accommodation in the FEFU dormitory and cultural program, while participants themselves are responsible only for their transport expenses.

The university will make a complete assesment of the Summer school upon its completion. However, the high number of participants in the project is clearly a reflection of the interest foreign youth have in international exchange programs in general, and in Russia in particular. In describing the program, Sosnova said, “This project is interesting for us not only in terms of attracting applicants but also as an opportunity to showcase the region to our neighbors from the Asian Pacific countries. Two of the main features of the Primorsky Region are its openness and tolerance. 128 different ethnic groups live together here, and each of them brings something special to the region.”

Reference information

The Far Eastern Federal University is one of the federal universities designed to make the elite of higher education in Russia. The FEFU was established by presidential decree in October 2009 based on four major Far Eastern universities whose history exceeds 120 years. The FEFU Development program is aimed at building a scientific and educational center of international level representing Russia in the Asia-Pacific region. The priority directions of the university development are ‘Resources of the world ocean', ‘Energy resources and energy saving technologies’, ‘Industry of nanosystems and nanomaterials’, ‘Transport and logistics complex’, ‘Interaction of Russia with the ATR countries’, ‘Biomedicine’.

A unique educational environment that is created on Russky Island (Vladivostok) will be available not only for students but also for residents of the Primorye region providing them with perfect conditions for studying and implementation of creative potential. Already in September 2012 a new FEFU campus will open its doors immediately after the APEC Summit.