Exchange Student From Armenia on His Studies at HSE University–St Petersburg
Daniel Minasian came from Armenia as an exchange student to spend a semester at HSE University–St Petersburg. Majoring in Korean Studies, Daniel chose courses offered by the Institute of Asian and African Studies. Read on to discover how his exchange studies went and what this experience brought him.
— Your major is Korean studies and your primary interest in this topic is relations between Korea and Armenia. How did your interest in Korea develop and why did you choose such an unusual combination of two countries?
— I've always been drawn to Korea because it's one of the Asian Tiger countries. Its economy performs well every year. I believe that relations between Armenia and Korea, as well as between Russia and Korea, in particular, can reach a new level. And I, in turn, can be that element, the bridge between two countries, that will help take these relations to a new stage.
— What are your impressions of studying at HSE University–St Petersburg? How is HSE different from the Russian–Armenian University (RAU)? What do you like most about HSE so far?
— At HSE University–St Petersburg, as I've noticed, there's a greater emphasis on practice. At RAU, however, it's more about theory. It's about how you absorb all this new knowledge and apply it to yourself and your work. In fact, both are useful for sure, but I guess it would be much better if there was some kind of synthesis, so that both knowledge and practical training can help students bring into reality their potential as professionals.
— One of the goals of your exchange is to meet people from similar professional fields and to exchange experiences between RAU and HSE in the field of Korean studies. Why did you choose HSE University–St Petersburg as your destination? In your opinion, is the Institute of Asian and African Studies at HSE University–St Petersburg strong, from an academic point of view?
— I've actually studied at three universities in my life. I spent my first year in Russia, at Altai State University, and then transferred to the Russian–Armenian University in Yerevan. I considered various options for the mobility programme, but I felt that HSE, being one of the best universities in Russia, would help me gain exactly the experience I needed.
I'm truly grateful to HSE University–St Petersburg: I’ve learned a lot here, particularly about Korea and young experts in Korean studies, how they find their path after graduation, and what they do professionally.
— Was it easy for you to adapt here? How would you rate the support provided by the International Office?
— Everything was great! I can't say I experienced any problems. I would like to thank the International Student Mobility Office in particular, as the staff truly takes full responsibility for foreign students. This is incredibly rewarding, as students don't feel alone at all.
Regarding the adaptation process, I should mention that this is my first time in the European part of Russia. I've lived my entire life in Barnaul, in Altai Krai, so St Petersburg had something new to offer me for sure. The first few weeks were probably a bit challenging, but I then adapted, and now everything is great.
— How do you find St Petersburg in general? Which sights have you already visited, and did any of them stick in your mind?
— As I’ve already mentioned, this is my first time here. But I especially remember the day we went to Vyborg with other international students in October. There, I met new people who became my friends. We still keep in touch. Trips like these are very useful – they help you get to know St Petersburg and its suburbs much better.
As for the iconic sites of St Petersburg, I visited the Hermitage—it's a wonderful place; I really liked it. I also visited the Peter and Paul Fortress. Of course, there's so much more I want to see.
St Petersburg has a huge amount of cultural attractions. There are so many of them here, and I even know people who have lived here their whole life but still haven't seen or visited all of them.
— Do you plan to continue participating in international events like student exchanges in the future to broaden your horizons? Do you want to visit Korea, since it's your primary academic interest?
— Yes, of course. In fact, I would advise all Korean studies students to go to Korea, because it's the country we’re actually studying. It's one thing to study it all here, but of course, you need to see everything with your own eyes, as that's the best and most effective way to learn new things about the country and its unique features. Do I plan to do so? Of course, I'd like to. I'm planning to apply for a master's degree—not in Asian studies, by the way—since I want to try my hand at something else. We'll see if there is an opportunity to participate in an academic mobility programme then.
— Many HSE students are interested in participating in academic mobility programmes. What advice would you give yourself before mobility, based on your current experience? What can you recommend to future exchange students?
— My main advice is to make the most of the exchange experience. Of course, it's worth visiting as many places as possible in the first week to get to know the country and the city you've come to. And it's also crucial to plan ahead to avoid any unexpected difficulties!
Interviewed by Ekaterina Evzelman, 2nd-year student of the Bachelor’s programme ‘Political Science and World Politics
