Professors from Zimbabwe and Namibia participate in Russian language intensives at university in Kaliningrad

The Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University (IKBFU) is hosting an intensive for university teachers from Namibia and Zimbabwe under the educational programme "Russian as a Foreign Language for Science, Education, Culture".

During ten days, 9 guests of the university will have a rich cultural and educational programme, as well as excursions, meetings with scientists, and various master classes. It is expected that teachers from Africa will be trained in Russian not only for communication in everyday life, but also for business, science and education. The university staff will introduce them to natural and architectural sights of Kaliningrad and the Baltic coast.

The classes are organised within the framework of the international project "Promotion of the Russian language and Russian education in African countries", the operator of which is the Russian Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia. The media partner of the project is TV BRICS.

Alexander Fyodorov, Rector of IKBFU, met with the project participants. He spoke about the neocampus project and the university's scientific plans. Tatyana Tsvigun, Advisor to the Rectorate of the university on the Russian language and development of humanitarian education, head of the educational programme, pointed out the uniqueness of the initiative implemented with African countries.

"This project gives our colleagues from the universities of Namibia and Zimbabwe an opportunity not only to immerse themselves in the language environment, but also to feel involved in the life of a modern Russian university, to get acquainted with leading scientists and their developments. That is why the educational block of the programme has a multidiscursive and multiformat character. In Russian, participants learn to speak on various topics – from mastering the language of everyday life to AI technologies, from practices of Russian folk culture to strategies for the development of modern university education. The programme is focused on interactivity and is built largely as a project platform, which will end with a round table and presentation of small startup projects by the participants," she noted.

TV BRICS shared its experience in promoting the Russian language abroad. Tamara Skok, head of the network's international project "Modern Russian", spoke about linguo-country studies TV bridges, which allow to engage foreigners in an interesting and informative conversation not only about the Russian language, but also about national traditions.

"TV BRICS International Media Network's teleconferences touch upon both linguistic and cultural aspects, promote interest in cultural and everyday traditions, and reveal profound coincidences in the moral values and attitudes of people from different countries. We hope that teachers from Africa will be able to use the media content of TV BRICS in their work in order to improve their Russian language skills and learn more about contemporary Russia. We are ready to provide them with professional support if necessary," Skok said.

One of the project participants, Paulus Shitekela, studied in Tambov, then in 2014 completed his postgraduate studies at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Today, the young specialist manages the information support department at one of Namibia's private universities, teaches computer science, and develops Russian-African relations as vice president of the Association of Russian Graduates.

"I love Russia very much for the honesty and openness of the people, for the quality education I received and now I can improve this sphere in my home country. Russia and Namibia have a rich history of co-operation. Such federal projects, of course, strengthen this work," Paulus said.

For the second year in a row IKBFU is taking part in the federal project "Popularisation of the Russian language and Russian education in African countries". In 2023, 11 teachers from Zimbabwe took part in the professional development programme at the Kaliningrad university.