St Petersburg University opens the Centre for Open Education in Brazil
The grand opening of the St Petersburg University Centre for Open Education in Brazil has brought together figures in the field of international relations and government officials. The event was attended by Dr Nivaldo da Silva Santos, Mayor of Franco da Rocha; Mário Maurici de Lima Morais, a member of the government of the state of São Paulo; representatives of the Consulate General of Russia; and representatives of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) in São Paulo.
St Petersburg University was represented by Andrei Lesin, Acting Director of the Language Testing Centre at St Petersburg University, who also serves as Head of the Centre for Open Education in Brazil.
"Opening the St Petersburg University Centre for Open Education in Franco da Rocha is a significant step forward in strengthening cultural ties between Brazil and Russia. This centre will become not only an educational platform, but also a centre of cultural exchange," said Andrei Lesin.
In a few months, the Centre will offer a wide range of academic programmes, said the Head of the Centre for Open Education. The programmes will introduce students to how to use the Russian language in a variety of areas: from the tourism sector to the education sector.
It is planned to train at least 250 Brazilians in the six academic programmes.
The University, with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation and the Foundation for the Support of Humanities ‘My History’, is carrying out extensive activities to initiate and ensure high-quality work of full-time open education centres at St Petersburg University in 11 countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. At the end of July, the centre began operating in two Brazilian cities: São Paulo and Francu da Rocha.
The first full-time Centre for Open Education at St Petersburg University was opened in 2023 in Tanzania, where more than 150 residents of the country learned the Russian language. Over several months of intensive collaboration, the University offered advanced training courses for African specialists in the Russian language, a series of workshops, and conversation courses. It also provided extensive information about the educational potential of Russia in general and St Petersburg University in particular.
Although St Petersburg University has been introducing the Russian language and culture of Russia in Latin America since 2022, the opening of the centre is a milestone in international educational cooperation between Brazil and Russia. A large number of residents of the eastern part of Latin America will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the rich Russian culture and learn the Russian language, opening and expanding opportunities for educational and professional fulfilment.