African Students at Baikal: INRTU Hosted International Summer School on Sustainable Development
In August 2025, Olkhon Island became a five-day international environmental headquarters for youth from 12 African countries. The Irkutsk National Research Technical University (INRTU) hosted the International Summer School “Sustainable Baikal: Discussions, Cooperation, Solutions”. The event was organized as part of the Summer Multidisciplinary University of the “Russian-African Network University” (RAFU) consortium and combined an intensive educational program with full immersion in the nature and culture of Siberia.
The school brought together 30 students from 12 African countries studying at Russian universities. Participants came from Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Egypt, South Africa, Niger, Sudan, Togo, and others.
The summer school’s program, designed with a focus SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), extended far beyond traditional lectures. The educational block was hands-on and interactive.
Guided by international expert research engineers at the Siberian School of Geosciences of INRTU, Onamoun Desire Lucien Ayemoun (Côte d’Ivoir) and Mohammed Abubakar (Nigeria), participants delved into various topics, from the importance of biodiversity to strategies for forest restoration. A large-scale simulation of a United Nations session took a central place in the program, with participants representing different countries engaging in diplomatic debates and crafting joint solutions to global environmental problems, honing their critical thinking and negotiation skills.
The school concluded with participants-developed projects, presentations, and certificates awarded for successful completion of the program.
The cultural program was the heart of the school: from team-building games and soccer to excursions to the Shaman Stone and swimming in Lake Baikal. Particularly memorable for participants were the talent evening and bonfires, during which they shared songs and dances of their peoples, turning the gathering into a true bridge of friendship between continents.
By the end of the school, participants not only gained knowledge but also found inspiration for their personal contributions to making the world a better place, and forged strong friendships with young leaders from different countries.
Stepan Bykov, INRTU Vice-Rector for International Affairs, emphasized the symbolic significance and importance of holding such a school on the shores of Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site:
“We aimed to show African students model of a fragile ecosystem in need of protection and inspire them to apply this experience in their own countries.
I am confident that the knowledge gained about the principles of sustainable development, combined with the unique immersion in the Baikal ecosystem, will help these talented young people become agents of positive change in their home countries. For us, this is another step in strengthening research and educational cooperation under Russian-African partnership, demonstrating our shared commitment to addressing global modern challenges”.
