Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication visited by representatives of Shihezi University

The Institute hosted a meeting with an official delegation from Shihezi University (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China), headed by Zhang Huning, Dean of the Russian Department at the School of Foreign Languages. The visit focused on exploring strategic areas of collaboration and deepening bilateral academic ties.

The guests began their visit to the Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication at the Belem (Knowledge) Museum, dedicated to the history of education in Tatarstan. The delegation then toured key facilities across the institute: the Dulqyn (Wave) Professional Development Center, where student media projects were showcased; the Jalinga video studio, highlighting video lecture production; and the EduTech space, featuring teacher professional development programs.

During the visit, Zhang Huning met with nine exchange students from Shihezi University who arrived in September for a one-year program in Russian as a Foreign Language. She reviewed their study conditions, academic curriculum, and campus infrastructure, expressing high satisfaction with the preparation and facilities provided for the trainees.

The centerpiece of the visit was a working meeting where both parties outlined three key priority areas for cooperation:

• Expanding academic mobility programs, including credit-bearing study abroad programs for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in Russian as a Foreign Language, year-long internships, and summer schools to foster deeper language immersion.
• Advancing regional and country studies, involving the exchange of expertise and collaborative research on various regions of Russia and China.
• Developing joint educational degree and training programs in Russian as a Foreign Language, with specific formats to be finalized in upcoming consultations.

The meeting also highlighted the ongoing training of Shihezi University students enrolled in the supplementary general education program Russian Language and Cultural Horizons at the Logos Center for Continuing Education. This year, nine students arrived at the center, settled into university dormitories, and completed their administrative onboarding.

«Our center runs programs tailored for international citizens. This year marks the first time students from Shihezi University have joined our ten-month Russian language program. They have arrived safely, moved into the dormitory, and are finalizing their paperwork,» stated Aigul Irgalina, Head of the Logos Center for Continuing Education.

The curriculum was tailored to meet Shihezi University’s specific requests. In addition to the four core language skills, it incorporates a comprehensive module on Russian literature and visual culture.

«Our program is designed to help students speak Russian more fluently. This is reinforced by regional cultural immersion, which includes visits to cultural sites, guided tours, and related activities,» explained Dinara Timurshina, Head of the Department of Russian Language and Applied Linguistics.

Special emphasis was placed on drafting a memorandum of understanding, which will establish the legal foundation for joint educational and scientific initiatives. Concluding the talks, both sides expressed confidence in realizing these plans and reaffirmed their shared commitment to training highly qualified Russian-speaking specialists.

«We are well acquainted with your university; it is renowned both in the People’s Republic of China and in the Russian Federation. We would certainly welcome expanding our partnership into additional areas of cooperation,» remarked Radif Zamaletdinov, Director of the Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication.

The meeting was also attended by key Kazan Federal University representatives, including Anton Afanasyev, Dean of the Leo Tolstoy Higher School of Russian Philology and Culture; Elzara Gafiyatova, Dean of the Jan Baudouin de Courtenay Higher School of Foreign Philology and Intercultural Communication; and heads of university departments and centers.

Shihezi University is a prominent higher education institution jointly administered by the Ministry of Education of China and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), recognized under the national Project 211 initiative as a key university. The institution currently enrolls over 30,000 students representing every Chinese province, as well as international students from eight countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Offering academic programs across economics, law, medicine, agriculture, and the humanities, the university consistently maintains an undergraduate graduation and passing rate above 90 percent.