The Russian Language across the ocean.

Russian Language and Culture Institute of Saint Petersburg State University took part in the ICEF international educational workshop in Latin America. This event has been taking place from September 29 – to October 01, 2023 in the world’s forth largest city in the world and the region’s economic centre in the South America – São Paolo, Brazil.

Largest educational workshop saw 85 institutions from 17 countries and 5 continents gather in São Paulo to meet 137 quality student recruitment agents from 14 countries throughout Latin America. Reflecting the strength of the market, approximately half of the agents at this event came from Brazil.

It should be noted that the level of university education in Brazil is considerably high. The amount of brazilian highschool graduates and university entrants participating in international exchange programmes increased by 40% in 2010 alone. In spite of geographical remoteness Brazil and Russia start to cooperate not only within BRIC Alliance. At present, there are over 200 institutions to study Russian in Brazil. Among them are high and secondary schools and colleges, language courses.

“Days of Russian language and education” organized by our Moscow collegues from People’s Friendship University of Russia and finished on the 17th of June this year also favoured the growth of interest to the Russian language in Brazil. There are auspicious conditions not only in scientific and research, but in touristic sphere also: the agreement between the Russian Federation and Brazil about visa-free travel is valid from the 07th of June, 2010. It is supposed that brazilian citizens may visit our country for the period of 90 days unimpeded. And Saint Petersburg has a lot to show: more than 200 museums (the Hermitage, the Russian museum), over 100 theatres, parks and palaces in the suburbs of the city constituted a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Russian Language and Culture Institute brought to Brazil several educational programmes for students of different levels of language competence. The conference agenda included 20 meetings with student recruitment agents from Brazil, Argentina, Guatemala, Colombia, Paraguay and Ecuador.

Thus, Russian Language and Culture Institute participation in this workshop let its guests know about the possibilities of studying Russian in Russia, about educational programmes of Russian as a foreign language offered by Saint Petersburg State University. Partners were especially interested in programmes for enrollment to the following faculties: Philology, Arts, Journalism, International relations and Economics. They were quite pleased with the prices for tuition and accommodation in the university dormitories and Russian host families.