St Petersburg University teaches Russian in three continents

St Petersburg University has been offering face-to-face classes in the Russian language in foreign countries for several years.

In 2021, St Petersburg University was the first to actively promote the traditions of the national language in the countries of the African continent by training 50 students in online courses in Russian as a foreign language, organised by the University’s Language Testing Centre.

Last year, the number of distance learning participants in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya, Tunisia and other African countries reached a record high of 2,000. Currently, more than 2,500 foreign citizens are studying in eleven centres. 

Andrei Lesin, Acting Director of the Language Testing Centre at St Petersburg University, focused on the importance of high-quality teaching of the Russian language in the international context and emphasised that the development of language platforms is aimed at strengthening cultural ties between countries. According to him, Open Education Centres are actively introducing modern teaching methods and technologies to adapt academic programmes to the needs of students from different countries.

Each of the more than ten centres is a unique platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience. The opening of the centres is an important step towards strengthening international cooperation and expanding opportunities for our students, who can now not only learn the language, but also integrate into the rich cultural environment of Russia.

Andrei Lesin, Acting Director of the Language Testing Centre at St Petersburg University

Today, the University is participating in a project to create a comprehensive network of Open Education and Russian Language Training Centres with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and the foundation for the support of humanities "My History". Free face-to-face courses are already being implemented in nine African countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Botswana, Tanzania, the Central African Republic, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, and Mozambique.

The first St Petersburg University Open Education Centre in Tanzania began its activities in 2023. The programme included in-person classes in Russian, attended by over 150 people. The centre also offered advanced training courses for Tanzanian specialists in Russian studies, workshops, conversation clubs and a Russian language festival.

In order to implement this initiative, high-calibre specialists in the field of teaching Russian as a foreign language were selected, ready to carry out educational activities in various regions of the world. Experts at St Petersburg University not only give lectures and teach using teaching materials, but also strive to make the teaching and learning process exciting and professional, contributing to the further promotion of the Russian language abroad.

Each centre offers six academic programmes, covering various groups of the population: from schoolchildren to military personnel. Students are prepared to apply to Russian higher education institutions or start professional activity in the field of tourism. They are equipped with the necessary linguistic and grammatical base for successful communication and prepared for state testing in Russian as a foreign language (TRKI). Russian language training programmes take into account the individual goals of each student.

Between 2022 and 2024, more than 6,500 people completed distance learning Russian language courses.

St Petersburg University organises at least two educational, academic or methodological events. In early September, a music festival was held in Bangladesh, which focused on the main Soviet and Russian musical works. The main goal of events of this format is to introduce the culture of Russia, the potential of Russian education, the possibilities of applying to St Petersburg University and other higher educational institutions in Russia, and to improve the professional competence of experts in Russian studies abroad.