‘As a Family, We Will Always Be Together’
On November 25th, the HSE Pokrovka building hosted the ‘The Whole World in HSE’ festival, which brought together HSE students from Indonesia, Korea, China and Armenia, as well as Europe, Latin America, and various Russian regions, to celebrate the university’s 30th anniversary.
The festival organisers decided to help HSE students learn more about the variety and uniqueness of the world’s cultures. Every participant had an opportunity to talk about their motherland, its nature and folk traditions. Attendees solved puzzles from Kalmykia, tried their hand at Korean and Chinese calligraphy, created Japanese origami paper cranes, and were treated to tea with gingerbread and sushki at a Russian teahouse.
Viktoria Panova
‘Students from 139 countries study at HSE University’, said Vice Rector Viktoria Panova, ‘The university is what brings us together, which is why we say “The whole world in HSE University”. But today we have yet another reason to come together. Our university turns 30 in 2022, and we are celebrating our anniversary.’
Viktoria Panova also said that HSE University is just slightly older than its students and much younger than most other universities today. However, its youth has not prevented HSE from earning a good reputation quickly and entering the rankings of the world’s best universities. ‘These things have happened not only thanks to us, professors and teachers, but thanks to you, dear students. Today you are with us, and as a family, we will always be together’, the Vice Rector said.
During the day, the guests were able to enjoy performances by the Force Major choir, the Armenian Club, and dancers, while a guitar song party completed the festival. The visitors also participated in interactive quizzes and workshops in English.
Some students shared their impressions of the event with the HSE News Service.
Andres Campoverde, Equador, first-year student of Economics
‘Thanks to the information on the internet, I found out that HSE is one of the best universities in Russia. I love studying here and have a lot of Russian friends. Russia is cosy, and wonderful people live here. I believe that today’s event is very important, since it gives me an opportunity to talk about my country’s culture’.
Emir Ushurov, Kazakhstan, first-year student of Economics and Statistics
‘HSE is a renowned university. What I like about it are the standards of education, an individual approach to each student, a vast choice of programmes, and the variety of interesting subjects. I enroled as part of a special competition for international students, where I passed exams in maths and Russian. I got a 70% discount as a result of my exam results, and decided to study at HSE University. I have a lot of friends here now. Each teacher considers their courses carefully, and all the students work hard. At HSE University, I feel like I fit in’.
‘The Whole World in HSE’ is an important and exciting event. We visit areas of different countries and learn about their cultures and traditions. This educates us and makes us closer to other nationalities’.
Bella Shadieva, Russia (Ingushetia), third-year student of Media Communications
I studied at the HSE Lyceum, so I didn’t even look at other universities, I only wanted to be at HSE. I like it here and have many friends from different programmes. The atmosphere at HSE University is warm, I feel at home here. Today’s festival is a great opportunity to see that not only people from different countries, but different republics and regions of our huge Russia that are studying here. I am proud to represent my ethnicity at the festival.’
Ailana Samkhaeva, Russia (Kalmykia), first-year student of Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication
‘At HSE University, I love the freedom. I studied at the HSE Lyceum, and enjoyed how teacher/student relations are built there, as well as the assessment system.
Today at the festival, many people ask us: “What flag is this?”. And we tell them about our Kalmykia—a region in the south of Russia. We talk about our history, and we show our crafts, such as our traditional puzzles, nyarn shinsh’.
Afina Gasanova, Kyrgyzstan, third-year student of Media Communications
Initially, I wanted to apply to a university in Europe. But I visited HSE University and understood that it was the university for me. I have never regretted my decision: I quickly found friends from different countries here. In addition to foreigners, HSE also has students from different ethnic groups in Russia. Today’s festival is important to understand that there are differences between different nationalities (in Russia and other countries), but they also have a lot in common’.
Abel Muhammad Abram Fajri, Indonesia, first-year student of Design, profile ‘Game Design and Virtual Reality’
‘I enroled in five universities in the USA, one in Italy, and one in Australia. But eventually I decided I wanted to study in Russia. HSE University is the best in the Russian Federation. It is difficult for us foreigners to talk in Russian, and sometimes I don’t know certain words or I’m lost in translation, so I feel like it’s hard to express my emotions. The festival helps us to be open to every culture, which is great’.
Ariunbolor Ganbold, Mongolia, second-year student of Political Science
‘Two years ago, I decided to participate in the HSE International Olympiad and won. Following this, I decided to enter HSE University. I have many friends from different countries here. I love studying here and being part of the university. The university frequently organises great events, and today’s festival gives international students an opportunity to tell others about their countries. Here, we can see many different cultures in one place’.
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