The administration of Baikal State University held a meeting with representatives of the Commercial Institute of Linyi (PRC). The representatives of the Chinese delegation were given a presentation of Baikal State University, showed a new movie about BSU in Chinese, and had a tour of the university.
The result of the meeting was the signing of a cooperation agreement between Baikal State University and the Commercial Institute of Linyi, Shandong Province (PRC). The agreement was signed by Mikhail Kuz’min, Vice-Rector for International Relations of BSU, and Mr. Liu Tao, Director of the Institute.
It is not the first time the delegation of the Chinese institute visits Irkutsk. However, now the representatives of the Chinese education system are interested in more intensive cooperation and exchange of experience, first of all it concerns bilateral education of students and schoolchildren. The adult population of China expresses a great desire to teach Russian to their children. It is beginning to be taught in many universities of the province, and today about 100 students are ready to come to Baikal State University for training.
In Baikal State University 13 students from Shandong Province received education. They have already finished their studies, returned to their homeland and all of them remember the years of study in Irkutsk with warmth.
Linyi University is the most advanced and sought-after university in Shandong Province. From next year, its subdivision Commercial Institute plans to start teaching Russian language to schoolchildren and students, so the main task is to create international standards of education and strengthen ties with foreign partners.
Anna Litovkina, Dean of the International Faculty of Baikal State University, told the guests about language internships, BSU Preparatory Faculty, where Chinese students can enroll without exams, and the final test at the end of the preparatory faculty will be an entrance exam for BSU bachelor's degree. Moreover, being still students of the preparatory faculty, students can choose the direction of study at the university in advance.
The Chinese partners showed a high interest in sending not only schoolchildren and students, but also teachers to study at BSU.
Mikhail Kuz’min drew the guests' attention to the fact that the BSU preparatory faculty is one of the best in the country. This is due to the professional qualifications of teachers, their vast experience of working with scientific and educational organizations of the PRC, as well as competitive prices for training.
"Baikal State University has a joint educational program with China. If Chinese students have been trained at the preparatory faculty in China, they have the opportunity to continue their education at the BSU undergraduate program. For Chinese students our preparatory faculty is ready to organize internship courses of different duration - one, two or three months to make it easier for them to decide on their plans to enter our university. Also, BSU has an opportunity to improve the qualification of Chinese teachers who do not speak Russian, with the issuance of Russian state certificates" - said Mikhail Kuz’min, Vice-Rector for International Relations of BSU.