HSE University–St Petersburg Students Participate in World Youth Festival Assembly
Expert sessions, an introduction to Russian culture, and international networking—on September 17–22, Nizhny Novgorod hosted the World Youth Festival Assembly. It united more than two thousand people from 120 countries and various Russian regions and universities, including HSE University–St Petersburg.
The festival participants were young leaders developing skills in media, creative industries and creativity, public administration, entrepreneurship, sport, education and science, IT and digitalisation. The programme included expert sessions, sections for introducing international students to the Russian culture, and recreational activities.
To participate in the festival, students had to pass a competitive selection process. From over 60,000 candidates, the organisers chose 2,000 people—1,000 from Russia and 1,000 from other countries.
Tiam Athari a second-year student of the Bachelor's programme 'Political Science and World Politics' from Iran, took part in the World Youth Festival for the first time. She underscored that the sessions of the Public Administration track were useful and interesting, and the energetic atmosphere at the event impressed her.
'I had a wonderful opportunity see presentations by famous experts and political figures from all over the world in which they shared their ideas and experience. New acquaintances, communication with people from various countries, and participation in unique events gave me unforgettable emotions and memories. Special thanks to the volunteers—I am sure they played a huge role in ensuring the assembly went smoothly, and they were always friendly and approachable,' shared Tiam.
Habiba Abdelgelil is a third-year student of the Bachelor's programme 'Political Science and World Politics'. For the student from Egypt, getting to know Nizhny Novgorod and its sights was a memorable highlight of the event.
'I was surprised by the number of international participants who gathered in one place with common goals and interests—to learn more about Russia, its culture, and people. Over the four days of the festival, I visited several sessions devoted to the future—the influence of artificial intelligence on the world, relations between Russia and Middle Eastern countries, and other topical issues. I had a chance to meet people from across the world. I will definitely apply for the Assembly next year,' shared Habiba.
Gisel Sarahi Vergara Herrera from Mexico, student of the Master's programme 'Arts and Culture Management,' took part in the World Youth Festival 2024 as secretary of the National Preparatory Committee of the Mexican delegation, head of the Mexican dance company, and a volunteer. This time, she visited the Assembly as an attendee.
'I attended workshops, joined the discussions on such sessions as the Culture of Soft Power, the Future of Animation and Artificial Intelligence, and the Economics of Heritage. Another important thing is that our delegation met colleagues from Moscow, Perm, and Nizhny Novgorod. I think such meetings are useful as they help to make sure that all campuses are united by common goals. For me, HSE University is not just one of the leading universities but also an international innovation hub. My opinion only grew stronger when I found out that several students from our campus became a part of such a huge event,' said the student.
Arina Vanuyto, second-year student of the Master's programme 'Finance,' participated in the media track of the festival. During panel sessions, speakers discussed new formats and ways of interacting with the audience, developing critical thinking and fighting fake news, as well as the influence of artificial intelligence on the media sphere.
'The festival united outstanding participants with unique experiences and opinions, which entailed lively discussions. Many of them are already carrying out projects in their regions or countries. It's truly inspiring. But the main thing is the feeling of unity: regardless of different cultures, we are united by common values and aspirations,' shared Arina.
By order of the Russian president, such events will become annual. In 2026, the World Youth Festival will gather 10,000 participants, and in 2030, the event aims to attract 20,000 people. Between the large-scale events, there will be thematic assemblies.