Education in Russia: Samara University Develops Cooperation with Kazakhstan

In November, Samara University’s delegation held a number of career guidance events for educational institutions and centers in Kazakhstan.

The University was represented by Elena Kirpa, Head of the Mobility and Recruiting Office, Anna Kharchistova, specialist of the Mobility and Recruiting Office, as well as Arina Danilova, a laboratory researcher at the Engineering Centre. Samara University’s delegation visited educational centers and leading educational institutions in Uralsk, Aktobe, Almaty. Main objectives of the career guidance tours: popularization of Russian education, promotion of the brand of Samara as a powerful center of engineering education and Russia’s space capital, as well as growth in the number of foreign citizens who would choose Samara University for getting higher education.

“Our meeting with representatives of Samara University was an important step in establishing cooperation between our institutions. Samara National Research University is my alma mater, and I can confidently speak of high-quality education and its value in the labor market. We discussed with the colleagues various formats for expanding cooperation: for example, preparatory courses intended for our students to successfully adapt to the educational process in Russia. I am convinced that joint efforts will improve the level of education and help our students achieve their full potential. We are ready to actively work on ensuring high-quality training of our students and support them at every stage of the training”, commented Elena Polulyakhova, Head of the Educational Centre “100 Points”.

At Samara University, there are over 18,000 students, including more than 800 foreigners from 68 countries. A quarter of international students – 205 people – consider Kazakhstan their homeland. This is more than from any other country, and is an indicator of Kazakhstani students’ growing interest in getting Russian education. Russia ranks first in the ranking of countries that students from Kazakhstan choose to get education. This circumstance emphasizes the high level of trust in Russian education and transparency of the universities to international students.

Rossotrudnichestvo is an important partner in strengthening cultural and educational relations between Russia and Kazakhstan, because it provides necessary information support for Kazakhstani enrollees, as well as facilitates receiving a grant for getting education in Russia.

During the meeting with representatives of Rossotrudnichestvo in Uralsk and Almaty, the University’s delegation discussed developing integration processes and involving talented young people of Kazakhstan in studying in Russia, at Samara University.

“The Russian House in Uralsk is ready to especially assist in promoting universities located in the Samara Region in the cities of the consular district – Uralsk, Atyrau, Mangystau and Aktobe: firstly, Samara University is the flagship of higher education in the Volga Region, and secondly, Samara is the most convenient destination in terms of logistics and a comfortable millionaire city for starting a career trajectory”, stressed Konstantin Pogorelsky, Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Representative Office in Uralsk.

There are several admission formats for students from Kazakhstan to Samara University. One of the key opportunities is participation in the International University Olympiad, the winners of which are awarded a grant for studying at the University.

Besides, the University is a member of the Association “Global Universities” and is a partner of the International Olympiad “Open Doors”, the winners and prize-winners of which receive a quota for studying at the University.

Upon admission to the University, Kazakh schoolchildren, for the most part, take entrance tests conducted by the University. It is also possible to enroll based on the results of the Unified State Exam (USE), but few enrollees choose this track. The USE is just one of the options to demonstrate your knowledge and training.

Kazakhstani students who have already made their choice in favor of studying in Russia, note accessibility and transparency of the admission process. The parents are also happy. For example, Natalia Startseva, the mother of one of the students, shared her opinion, “We have heard a lot of positive things about Russian universities. My daughter entered the Major “Fundamental and Applied Chemistry”. I see that at Samara University, she has been developing, and this makes us confident in the right choice. There is a comfortable atmosphere, many extracurricular activities, a very convenient campus: it takes just several minutes to walk from the hostel to academic buildings. I would especially like to emphasize the high level of the teaching staff: the university teachers are not only true professionals in their fields, but are also always ready to support and help students in their aspirations”.

Thus, Samara University turns into an important platform for international cooperation, opening its doors for students from Kazakhstan and providing them with prospects for a successful career and scientific achievements. Active cooperation with educational centers in Kazakhstan creates favorable conditions for future students.

“From year to year, we see that in Kazakhstan, Russian education is in the focus of attention of the cleverest schoolchildren, especially the technical area. There is a lot of competition between universities, so our task is to expand presence of the Samara University brand in the educational market of Kazakhstan. In future, these are not only traditional tools in the formats of exhibitions and Olympiads, but also joint competitive and informational events arranged in partnership with the Russian House, courses on preparation for entrance examinations, student ambassadorship, advanced training courses for teachers conducted by the University’s teachers. It is important to note that when deciding on admission, parents and schoolchildren focus primarily on positioning the city for further residence, therefore, a separate block of work is the program of interaction with parents of schoolchildren in collaboration with universities representing the Samara Region”, shared Elena Kirpa, Head of the Mobility and Recruiting Office, plans for interaction.