A class of 77 Chinese students were certified upon successful completion of the course on the features of Russian culture at NSU. They took the course for a year as part of the program of the joint educational institution launched by NSU and Heilongjiang University, the Sino-Russian Institute. Their instructors and the NSU administration addressed the students with parting words wishing them success in completing the program at home, in Harbin.
Evgeny Sagaidak, the Head of the International Office, welcomed the students back to NSU after graduating from the SRI in China. 鈥淚t is natural that we shall be waiting for you in a year. You can apply for our Master鈥檚 and then postgraduate programs, as well as work at our joint laboratories.鈥�
The Rector, Mikhail Fedoruk, approved the invitation and had a guess that the Chinese students would remember this year at NSU forever.
鈥淔irst of all, you felt the atmosphere of NSU and Akademgorodok and survived our Siberian winter. Even though Harbin鈥檚 winter might be not much different, it was a new experience. You made new friends. Of course, you鈥檙e welcome back as we consider you our students and are looking forward to meeting you again.鈥�
The Dean of the Natural Sciences Department at NSU and the Russian Director of the SRI Prof. Vladimir Reznikov is sure that the Chinese students took benefits of this year.
鈥淵ou learnt a lot not only in terms of your major, but also adopted some habits. For example, some of you learnt to be late, which is a bad habit of Russian students. Back in Harbin, they are going to punish you for such behavior. And I鈥檒l go and check!鈥� joked the scientist.
The SRI Director on Physics, Prof. Arthur Pogosov added that it was quite hard for students to study, but they completed the course successfully. 鈥淭he most difficult thing is what we call a language barrier. New knowledge in a foreign language is not a piece of cake. I think you made Russian friends here, who helped you to overcome such barriers.鈥�
The instructors gave the Chinese students T-shirts with logos of both universities, NSU and Heilongjiang University, as keepsake gifts.
The agreement to launch the Sino-Russian Institute on the base of NSU and Heilongjiang University was signed in April, 2011. The SRI aims at training qualified experts in chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, economics and law. Coming to NSU for a new academic year are 101 more Chinese students.
