During the large-scale plenary session "Working with International Graduate Students: Creating Sustainable Professional Communities," participants focused on presenting the specific ideas of developing their community in future. The goal of this work was to strengthen graduates’s cooperation and create effective mechanisms for career development with Russia.
The keynote of the session was a presentation by international students Mensa Koffi Martin, Timur Bekmuradov and Ghazi Yosser Khaled Elhosseny. They presented the collective work developed during the preliminary foresight session and shared their vision for projects that contribute to the consolidation of the “Horizons of Opportunities” alumni group.
The plenary session opened with welcoming remarks from key experts, setting the strategic direction for the entire session.
📌Areg Agasaryan, First Deputy Director of the International Youth Center at RUDN University, emphasized the "bridge-building" initiative:
"Our graduates are the main ambassadors of Russian education. Our shared goal is to create strong ties between those who have returned to their homeland and Russia."
📌The dialogue was continued by Alexander Alimov, Director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighting:
"We have gathered here to create sustainable professional communities. I am confident that our community should become a tool for realizing your personal and professional plans, and we consider this task extremely important."
📌Pavel Shevtsov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, spoke about practical support abroad and in Russia:
"Our principle is 'Our home is your home.' We are ready to help you even after your return, whether it's establishing a school or an educational center in your country. Rossotrudnichestvo will provide methodological support, successful cases, textbooks, and assistance with teacher training."
📌Stanislav Surovtsev, Vice Rector for Youth Policy, Social Work, and International Relations at MGIMO University, noted the importance of concrete actions in building the community:
"The community must live by its own calendar of events. Without this 'form,' the association risks ending before it even begins. We are already seeing a number of promising proposals ready for implementation."
📌Dmitry Ivanov, General Director of the ANO "Directorate of the World Youth Festival," spoke about upcoming opportunities for international students:
"Starting in 2026, we will launch a mechanism for direct support of foreign citizens' initiatives – a grant competition for foreign citizens and organizations. We see foreign students as our key partners – those who can convey the truth about Russia firsthand, honestly, reliably, and without intermediaries."
📌Konstantin Malyshev, Head of the Department of International Youth Cooperation at the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, concluded the expert session, assuring the participants:
"Your ideas will form the basis for the further development of the program." We will take the projects you've outlined, refine them based on expert opinions, and continue the program next year, building on your initiatives."
✨ Participants look forward to the third day of diplomatic games, master classes, and interactive seminars!