In Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, the final stage of an international educational initiative—organized by Samara National Research University in partnership with the Russian House in Vietnam—brought together over a hundred schoolchildren dreaming of careers in aerospace engineering.
The intensive program engaged 134 Vietnamese students, including pupils from the school at the Russian Embassy in Vietnam. Participants were divided into three specialized tracks:
- Power Engineering and Propulsion
- Robotics and Mechatronics
- Aircraft and Rocket-Space Technology
Throughout the event, teams tackled hands-on engineering challenges under the guidance of leading Samara University experts:
- Dmitry Uglanov, Professor at the Department of Thermal Engineering and Heat Engines
- Maksim Blokhin, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Automatic Control Systems for Power Plants
- Tatiana Starostina, Specialist in Educational Project Management at the Institute of Aerospace Engineering
The university delegation also included Sergey Goryainov, Ekaterina Kopshukova, and Anna Kharchistova from the Office of Student Recruitment and Support.
The closing ceremony was opened by Vladimir Murashkin, Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Representation in Vietnam and Director of the Russian House in Hanoi, and Sergey Goryainov, who emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative:
“This is our first such project in Vietnam, designed to showcase the advantages of studying in Russia and introduce students to Samara University—one of the country’s leading institutions in aerospace technologies,” said Goryainov.
“Participants aren’t just listening to lectures—they’re immersed in real engineering. We believe events like this will become a key channel for attracting motivated Vietnamese applicants to Samara University and helping them make informed choices in favor of Russian higher education.”
A highlight of the event was a meeting with Pham Tuan, the first Vietnamese cosmonaut and Hero of the Soviet Union, who urged young people to dream boldly and pursue their goals with determination:
“Mastery of the Russian language and access to the scientific and technological legacy of the former USSR—and today’s Russia—offer a tremendous advantage. This opens doors to cutting-edge global knowledge and technologies, fueling national development and advancing Vietnam’s goal of becoming an industrialized nation.”
Among the distinguished guests were Elena Bezdetsko, spouse of the Russian Ambassador to Vietnam; Alexander Kulik, Director of the Russian Embassy School; and Nguyen Nam Hai, Deputy Chair of the Hanoi Friendship Association.
The program masterfully blended foundational knowledge with dynamic competition. In the Aerospace Track, students learned rocketry basics and launched self-assembled hydro-pneumatic models into the sky. The Robotics Track featured robot design challenges and engineering races. Meanwhile, the Power Engineering Track plunged participants into thermodynamics as they built and tested radio-controlled electric vehicles. The hands-on sessions sparked genuine excitement—teams passionately tested their creations and competed fiercely in launches and races.
Winners received not only prizes but also additional admission points for enrollment at Samara University.
Nguyen Minh Hien, an 11th-grade student at the Russian Embassy School, shared her impressions:
“The program was far more exciting than I expected! We calculated, built, and launched our own rocket. Seeing it actually fly was incredibly inspiring. This experience taught me teamwork and quick decision-making.”
This international initiative marks a significant step in Samara University’s efforts to attract talented Vietnamese youth to study in Russia.
For Reference:
Samara University continues to actively expand cooperation with Vietnamese educational institutions, offering high-quality training in the most in-demand engineering fields.
For more information on admission for international students:
Department of Mobility and Recruitment
Email: admission@ssau.ru
Phone: +7 (846) 267-48-17
Website: priemsamara.ru
Author: Department of Mobility and Recruitment
