'Let the Whole World Know That We Study at the Best University in Russia'
In March, the educational centre 'Sirius' hosted the World Youth Festival (WYF-2024). More than 300 thousand students from 188 countries applied for this event. Seven students from HSE University-St Petersburg were selected and took part in the festival programme.
Over a week, the festival featured 800 events for 20 thousand Russian and international young leaders in the fields of business, media, international cooperation, culture, science, education, volunteering activities and sports. Among the event partners were also companies-trustees of HSE University-St Petersburg: Rostelecom and 'VKontakte'.
Anastasia Tuvaleva and Maria Erofeeva, 3rd- and 4th-year students of the School of Economics and Management and the School of Social Sciences, had already had some experience with volunteering activities at SPIEF and other large events in St Petersburg. The trip to Sochi was the first large-scale one for them. The girls shared their impressions of the workshops, lectures, shows and concerts which took place on the territory of the centre every day.
Maria Erofeeva
4th-year student of the Bachelor's programme 'Sociology and Social Informatics'
'People from two hundred countries, various regions and parts of the world gathered in one place in our country. I went to the WYF to make up my mind about what I would do after university. That is why I tried to attend lectures, meet new people and practice language skills. During workshops, we didn't just have fun and communicate: in the atmosphere of unity, perhaps, everyone understood that right at that moment, we were making useful contacts and from here on out, we started working for our best future'.
Anastasia Tuvaleva
3rd-year student of the Bachelor's programme 'Logistics and Supply Chain Management'
'I didn't even have time to call my mum! After all, there are so many active people around, and each of them inspires with their openness and readiness to take everything from this festival. The WYF is about great work, development and communication'.
Among the festival participants were also international students of HSE University-St Petersburg: Michael Batsa (Ghana) and Wang Fengchen (China). It was their first time in Sochi, and they were especially impressed by the Caucasus Nature Reserve.
Wang Fengchen
PhD student at the School of Economics and Management
'I got prepared for the trip to the festival and took a bunch of HSE leaflets. To everyone who came up to me asking about where I studied, I gave a leaflet and pointed to the university positions in the rankings. Let the whole world know that I study at the best university in Russia!'
Maria Bilikhodze and Galina Mironenko, students of the Bachelor's programme 'Sociology and Social Informatics', wanted to have a look at such a huge event from the inside: they spent almost two weeks in 'Sirius' as volunteers.
Maria Bilikhodze
2nd-year student of the Bachelor's programme 'Sociology and Social Informatics'
'I was an attache of an international delegation. Among my tasks was accompanying the delegation from the United Arab Emirates: from arrival to departure back to their country. They are fluent in English, and thanks to my educational programme at HSE University-St Petersburg, I had no problem communicating with them'.
Galina Mironenko
2nd-year student of the Bachelor's programme 'Sociology and Social Informatics'
'I met honoured guests at the airport: professors—from HSE University, Venezuela, Bahrain—and also representatives of culture and sports. Not many volunteers spoke English but it helped me a lot. While some guests were waiting for their transfer, I entertained them with communication and learnt a lot of new things from such important and interesting people'.
The participants came back inspired for new heights and wished HSE students to use all the opportunities which the university and country offer.
Wang Fengchen: 'I had had an opportunity to go to the festival before but my priorities used to be different. Having attended the festival this year, I wish HSE students to be brave and apply for participation in the future and enjoy both the environment and yourself. Come and define what your world can be like'.