HSE Students Complete Language Internship at Jilin International Studies University

© HSE University

A group of HSE University students and teachers has returned from Jilin International Studies University, where the students took part in a summer language internship. A total of 85 undergraduate and postgraduate students from various faculties across all four HSE University campuses travelled to China. The programme included intensive Chinese language study, in-depth immersion in Chinese culture, history, and contemporary life, as well as ethnographic and recreational trips.

During the five-week internship, students followed the core academic programme, which involved intensive Chinese language study tailored to their proficiency levels. They also took part in activities organised by the host university and received academic mentoring while conducting ethnographic and social projects along with other research.

The busy schedule and combination of educational and cultural activities opened up new academic and professional opportunities for participants. Since 2024, the trip has been organised by Maria Efimenko and Weidali Senotrusov, teachers at the School of Asian Studies, Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at HSE University.

Ekaterina Pilipenko, a first-year student on the Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication in Business programme at HSE University in Perm, particularly enjoyed the academic seminars, which were held twice a week. ‘There was always an atmosphere of mutual interest in the room: everyone listened attentively to the presentations, engaged with the topics and asked the speakers questions,’ she said. ‘I particularly enjoyed the research on Chinese history, local urban studies, and the diversity of regional cuisines.’ Ekaterina believes that the materials prepared by the students helped them expand their knowledge of the country and gain a better understanding of Chinese culture and everyday life. ‘I am grateful to the teachers for their valuable feedback after the presentations and for giving us the opportunity to work on topics that genuinely interested us. This allowed us to develop in-depth and meaningful projects,’ she noted.

© HSE University

Renata Fatkullina, a first-year student on the Asian and African Studies programme, also appreciated the academic seminars included in the programme for HSE University students during their stay in Changchun. ‘We met in the university’s conference hall and shared updates on the progress of our field research. Each student group had its own unique topic: some conducted sociological surveys among local residents, others analysed architecture, while a third group explored the religious traditions of the city’s inhabitants,’ Renata explained. ‘Our research was accompanied by summary tables containing statistical data and comparative charts. There was a great deal of work going on throughout the trip.’ She also considers it valuable that students had the opportunity not only to hear about the conclusions their peers had reached through their research, but also to receive feedback from teachers. ‘After each presentation, everyone asked questions that helped us broaden or, conversely, narrow down our research topics and establish a direction for future work. Taking part in the academic seminars organised as part of the HSE University initiative was just as beneficial for me as attending the language classes at the host university,’ Renata shared her impressions.

Vitalina Lomnitskaya, a first-year student on the Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication in Business programme at HSE University in Perm, described the academic seminars as an excellent complement to the language courses offered by the host university. ‘We were given several topics to choose from for our projects, ranging from Chinese culture and cuisine to transport infrastructure, architecture, and other subjects,’ Vitalina said. ‘As a result, all the groups produced excellent projects with practical value. I enjoyed attending the meetings and discovering a new side of the country. Besides, it was exciting to work on my own project comparing the transport infrastructure of Changchun and Perm.’ Vitalina gained a better understanding of the city and became familiar with the specific features of China’s public transport system. As this was her first visit to China, she thanked the organisers for the interesting programme, their guidance, and the assistance throughout the internship. ‘Thanks to the trip and the courses, I not only acquired new knowledge and skills, but also visited some amazing places, including the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, Heaven Lake on Mount Paektu, and many others. Moreover, I experienced China not through the eyes of a tourist, but from the inside, as an ordinary city resident. This helped me gain a deeper appreciation of its culture,’ Vitalina emphasised.

© HSE University

During the internship, students were also introduced to a wide range of opportunities for exploring China both in groups and independently. These included a joint trip to the Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve, home to sacred mountains for the Korean and Manchu peoples, as well as independent visits to traditional festivals and other authentic locations and events around the city.

Walks through Changchun’s protected parks and visits to the city’s museums and exhibitions made a lasting impression on the students. They particularly appreciated the exhibitions showcasing classical and contemporary art, as well as China’s scientific and technological achievements. One of the most memorable experiences was a visit to the 25th China International Agricultural Exhibition. There, students saw the latest achievements of China’s engineering industry and sampled food products from every region of the country.

© HSE University

The internship concluded with a graduation ceremony. During this special event, participants not only received their certificates, but also had the opportunity to watch interviews they had previously given in Chinese.

The summer school format enabled students to significantly improve their Chinese language skills, offering them a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in another culture, broaden their professional horizons, and develop their academic research skills. Educational projects of this kind not only contribute to students’ professional development, but also lay a solid foundation for new joint international initiatives, strengthening ties between higher education institutions.

Kirill Magomedbekov, a first-year student on the Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication programme, also visited China for the first time. ‘The trip was full of laughter, wonder, excitement, and a love of life in general. Every time I went out into the street, it turned into an adventure. I made new friends, visited dozens of extraordinary places, tried a million different activities, and savoured every moment,’ Kirill recalled. ‘It is hard for me to believe how much I packed into the trip. It was an intense and profound experience.’

The trip to China left Alexandra Petrova, a first-year Master’s student on the Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication programme, with many lasting impressions. She became acquainted with the culture and people of the country and, by observing some aspects of Chinese people’s everyday habits, was able to look at her own life from a different perspective. ‘This gave me an opportunity to reflect on my personal perceptions of certain events, how I could respond to them, and how to act in different life situations,’ Alexandra explained. ‘The Chinese language classes followed a format that was somewhat unfamiliar to me, but this helped me adapt to the pace of natural speech used by native speakers. By the end of the trip, my comprehension of what people were saying had improved considerably, which pleasantly surprised me.’