INRTU International Students Took Part in Training for Interethnic Harmony
INRTU students joined a city-wide training session on promoting interethnic harmony and supporting international students' adaptation. They delivered lectures and participated in interactive activities. The event was held in October at the Irkutsk Youth House.
The training was overseen by the Ministry of Youth Policy of Irkutsk Region with the support of the International Friendship Club. The project involved 100 people, including Russian and international students from Irkutsk State University, Banzarov Buryat State University, Irkutsk State Agrarian University named after A.A. Ezhevsky, Irkutsk State Medical University, and the Irkutsk Law Institute, branch of the All-Russian State University of Justice, as well as members of youth public associations. INRTU students from Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and China from showed interest in the event.
The first two days were dedicated to theoretical studies. Afterwards, the participants moved on to the practical part, which focused on teamwork and collaborative problem-solving.
The program included a simulation game aimed at developing skills for constructive communication and working in a multinational environment. The interactive session was led by the Chairman of the INRTU Trade Union Students Club and a lecturer from the Russian Society “Knowledge”, Anton Koshkin. With his guidance, participants learned to build dialogue, find common ground, and strengthen mutual understanding through gameplay.
The training was further supplemented by lectures from INRTU staff. A report on “Prevention of Inter-Ethnic and Inter-Confessional Conflicts among Young People: INRTU's Experience” was delivered by the Director of the University's Coordination Center, Anna Rozhkova. She shared the university’s practices aimed at creating a comfortable atmosphere for students of different nationalities.
A lecturer from the Baikal School of BRICS, Ilia Kruchinin, shared his experience in organizing English-language events to enhance intercultural communication. In his speech, he emphasized that the university's cultural initiatives help students not only improve their language skills but also get better acquainted with Russian traditions and culture.
Andrian Amsheev, a specialist from the Center for International Services, discussed how sports clubs can help improve the integration of foreigners into Russian society. He explained that sports activities are an effective way for international students to integrate into their new environment:
“Joint training and participation in competitions allow students to feel like part of a team, develop a sense of team spirit, and help them overcome the language barrier. Through sports, the students adapt faster, becoming more confident and open”.
In the final stage, the teams faced a practical challenge called "Find a Solution", during which they brainstormed ideas for events that would promote intercultural understanding. The collaborative effort allowed participants to not only apply the knowledge they had acquired but also to forge new professional and personal connections.
Following the training, representatives of INRTU and the organizers from the Ministry of Youth Policy of Irkutsk Region agreed to continue holding similar events in the future.
Information provided by Andrian Amsheev
