Russian scholarships, language lessons offered

Zimbabweans now have the opportunity to study in Russia and learn Russian as a foreign language under a scholarship programme to be implemented by various partners.

The Presidential Office for National Scholarships, the Management Training Bureau and the Russian embassy in Harare on November 18 held an open lesson for candidates to study in the Russian Federation and everyone who wants to join the study of Russian.

Russian teachers spoke about Russia, its culture, history, geography, customs and traditions.

First Secretary of the embassy Natalia Muzhennikova said at 125, the number of scholarships allocated by the Government of the Russian Federation for academic year 2023-24 had almost doubled compared to previous years.

"Thanks to close cooperation with the Presidential Office for National Scholarships, it is possible to send the most talented and promising young people to Russia.

"The process of admission to Russian universities is open to everyone. You only need to register your application on the website education-in-russia.com and pass the selection.

Lecturers from St. Petersburg State University also highlighted that in addition to the free scholarship programme in Russia, Zimbabweans could study on a paid basis and outlined admission conditions.

They stressed that the main step to enrol was knowledge of the Russian language and encouraged Zimbabweans to learn it while they were still in Zimbabwe.

An awards ceremony was held for those who took part in the embassy's events dedicated to the Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War and the Day of the Russian Language.

"On November 19 (2022) in Harare, with the support of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Management Training Bureau and the Russian Embassy in Zimbabwe, Russian teachers of the Language Testing Centre of St. Petersburg State University organised the first full-time exams of Russian for Zimbabweans.

"Russian as a foreign language in Zimbabwe has been taught online since March 2021. Three sets of students have already been held. The total number of applicants across the country exceeded 1 000 people; among them are students, businesspersons, journalists, representatives of various ministries and departments.

"The courses are free and to register, you need to fill out the registration form. Now the fourth intake is being held. All the necessary announcements are posted on Facebook and Twitter of the embassy," said Ms Muzhennikova.

Classes are expected to begin in early February. We look forward to further cooperation with the Management Training Bureau in the further organization of Russian language courses. We are confident that their expert opinion and organizational capabilities will bring the teaching of Russian as a foreign language to a new level.

Ms Ludmila Skachkovskaya, Senator of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, made an address via video conference.

She said those who have chosen to study the Russian language would benefit from the works of the great Russian writers - Pushkin, Tolstoy, Mendeleev, Repine and a lot of other people who significantly contributed, by their talent, to the development of the world culture and science.

"Today the Russian language is not only a means of communication, it is a living one, helping to preserve our traditions and values.

"We care about it, we preserve it and we are happy that the Russian language has new friends in Zimbabwe. This gives us an impetus to increase the offer of scholarships in different areas.

"I'd like to applaud the efforts of the St Petersburg State University, the Ministry of Higher Education in Zimbabwe and the Management Training Bureau for pioneering this area that helps to enlarge the possibilities for foreign students to study in Russia.

"Language gives us the advantage to understand better each other," said Ms Skachkovskaya.