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The International Winter School was organized by the University’s Centre for International Short-Term Educational Programs. The educational program was prepared by the Institute of Engines and Power Plants. It should be noted that the program “Production and Testing of Aircraft Engines” was first implemented in the autumn of 2022, in online format, for students of Jilin University, and in the summer of 2023, the program was first realized in offline format at Samara University. In the winter of 2024, the Centre held the 1st International Winter School in offline format for the first time since 2020, after a long break.
Victoria Bolgova, Vice Rector of Samara University, notes, “Now, at the University, there are international students from over 70 countries. We have quite a lot of Chinese students, so we welcome boys and girls from China to study on our short-term educational programs and are glad to expand collaboration with various universities in China, since this area of collaboration is currently considered one of the priorities.”
Northwestern Polytechnic University is a partner of Samara University and implements joint educational programs, as well. “This university has been collaborating with us for long, we together implement joint bachelor’s degree programs. It is also not the first time for students to come to our Summer and Winter Schools. They have excellent knowledge in the professional field, so it is very pleasant and comfortable for us to work with them”, comments Ekaterina Blinova, Director of the Centre for International Short-Term Educational Programs.
As part of the educational program of the International Winter School, the students attended classes and laboratories to study aircraft engines. The Institute of Engines and Power Plants leading teachers told them about the design and construction of aircraft engines, demonstrating the world’s largest collection of aircraft engines and power facilities, as well as introduced Soviet and Russian technologies, and modern production technologies at the University’s CAM Centre. The students also immersed themselves in the dynamics and strength of aircraft engines, learned about combustion chambers of engines and intensification of heat-exchange in engines and air systems, studied in detail turbo machines and the process of automation and control of gas-turbine engines in applications. In framework of this educational program, its participants listened to introductory lecture about Russia, attended a workshop dedicated to Russian traditions, where they listened to traditional Russian songs accompanied with gusli and lyre, and tried to write phrases and words in Russian, visited the Museum of Aviation and Cosmonautics and the Laboratory of Magnetic Pulses.
One of key features of international schools is an extensive and vibrant cultural program aimed at getting to know Russian culture better and exploring Samara. Lada Uvarova, an officer of the Centre, emphasizes that the Centre’s team has developed the rich and interesting cultural and leisure part of the International School program, so that guests could see beauty and charm of Russian winter, as well as feel breadth of Russian hospitality.
So, the participants in the International Winter School decorated nesting dolls as a homemade souvenir, made a wish map for the Chinese New Year, visited the ballet “Swan Lake” and took part in celebrating Student’s Day in the University’s Manege, admired views of old Samara and the Volga from observation decks, had fun at the film evening, got acquainted with inhabitants of the Samara Zoo. Volunteers helping international schools prepared an exciting quiz with questions about Russian music, interesting facts about Russia, Russian sayings and proverbs, and space. On the first day, the sightseeing tour with visits to Kuibyshev Square, Stalin’s Bunker, Pushkin Square and the Iversky Monastery was held for the guests.
For the students, the most impressive and unforgettable events were winter fun and sports: hovercrafting along the frozen Volga, cross-country skiing at the “Chaika” Ski Base, figure skating at the city ice rinks, tubing and ice skating, made snowmen and playing snowballs. “International schools make it possible for Samara University’s students to find friends from other countries, letting them see Russia and Samara with their own eyes. For example, this winter, the boys and girls took a walk through courtyards of old Samara, made a snowman on the frozen Volga, and tasted traditional Russian cuisine”, told us Maria Klevina, an officer of the Centre.
Comments:
Dai Lixin, student:
Samara has stunning winter landscapes. And it’s also so spacious in the city! I’m thrilled! I really like the Winter School: I can skate outdoors, play together with Samara University’s students. In Russia, there is very tasty chocolate too. I am very happy that I was able to celebrate my birthday with my new friends from Samara. This is unforgettable experience for me, because I not only learned a lot of new things in my area, but also really felt beauty of winter and Russia!
Shen Guangjun, student:
I love you, Samara! I love you, winter! Thank you! Due to communication with volunteers and the interesting cultural program, now I know several important words and phrases in Russian. I am very happy and proud to be a participant of the Winter School and one of representatives of my university! The whole program was wonderful: the classes were exciting, the excursion to the Engine Museum was great! For me, Samara is now associated with chocolate, engines and beautiful girls! I will definitely recommend the program to my classmates and friends!
Li Yuhan, student:
The teachers are amazing at teaching classes. We were able to work in special application programs and even do small tasks. This is very exciting experience. To be honest, I fell in love with the Winter School! Thanks to the program, I gained new knowledge in my professional field, made friends with volunteers, and tried new for myself international experience. I really liked the cultural program and the Russian food! I am glad that I have been able to visit Russia!
For reference:
The Centre for International Short-Term Educational Programs was established in 2019 on the basis of Samara University’s Institute of Economics and Management. The Centre has been implementing its programs in offline format since 2015. Over the past eight years, more than 617 international students from 45 countries and 74 leading world universities, as well as 49 teachers of Samara University and 13 foreign lecturers have participated in the Centre’s programs. Since 2020, the Centre has also been organizing educational programs in online format.
Text: Gleb Uvarov, student of Group 6301-090301D; Lada Uvarova, specialist of the Centre for International Short-Term Educational Programs
Photo: Illuminator Photo Club (Ksenia Romanova, Anastasia Mityaeva), Olga Zharkova, Jiahao Zhang, Galina Vdovina, Kristina Moiseeva, Ivan Botnev
