LETI Launches Cutting-Edge Program to Empower African Students
From 29 to 31 October 2024, ETU “LETI” team is to conduct the educational program Days of Robotics and Innovative Educational Technologies in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.
The project, which is funded by Rossotrudnichestvo Federal Agency, is a part of ETU “LETI” integrated program aimed at expanding cooperation with educational institutions of African countries. The program allows international students to combine academic education and exploration of cultural, social and language environment of Russia and, in particular, Saint Petersburg.
The first stage of the program is Preparatory Departments organized in Russian Houses (the centres of science and culture functioning under the Russian Embassies) in Zambia, Tanzania and Ethiopia. The Departments were opened in the framework of the first of its kind network educational program run by Rossotrudnichestvo and four leading Russian universities. In 2024, ETU “LETI” became the project’s central university. The goal of the initiative is to establish an educational route for African students.
“The Preparatory Departments in Russian Houses will allow future applicants of Russian universities to pass the first stage of adaptation, to study Russian language and linguistic and cultural peculiarities. I am convinced that this new program in three African countries will lead to an increasing number of well-prepared and strongly motivated students”.
After that, African students can continue to explore the Russian language and Russian educational system while studying in Russia.
Many of them choose the Summer Schools that combine studying science and technology with language practice and immersion into the history and culture of Saint Petersburg and ETU “LETI”, the oldest university of electrical engineering in Europe. The Summer Schools attract students who are preparing themselves for studying at Russian universities and those who have studied the Russian language in their counties (at Russian Houses, for example), as well as all young people from Africa who want to spend their holidays in Saint Petersburg and start learning Russian.
“The Summer Schools aim to promote LETI around the world through the Russian language and Russian cultural heritage which Saint Petersburg is filled with. Participating in the Summer Schools, international applicants can learn the history of the country, get introduced to the university and the city where they might spend several years of their life once they enter the Preparatory Department, a bachelor’s or a master’s program”.
Once they enter ETU “LETI”, African students do not just study basic sciences and participate in practice-oriented classes in the laboratories but also master their skills in sport, art and even cooking. One of the events to bring such opportunities is the annual Forum Palette of Language and Cultures.
Another part of the program is Summer Camps. From July to September 2024, LETI runs the Summer Camp sLETI on Holidays for international students who have stayed in Saint Petersburg during summer. The campers take up various activities: educational courses (on money management, for example), volunteering and excursions to historical places in Saint Petersburg and Leningdrad Oblast. Moreover, this year the students have taken part in the race to commemorate the end of the Battle of Leningrad in 1994.
Days of Robotics and Innovative Educational Technologies will become a significant part of ETU “LETI”’s integrated program for international students. The event will not only allow schoolchildren, students and teachers to explore the achievements of modern robotics and VR but also introduce the opportunities to study science and technology in Russia as well as help the audience to learn about the Russian culture.
Through participating in the program and communicating with ETU “LETI” teachers, African students can get acquainted with Russian education. The next step might be applying for one of the Russian universities which are going to be presented at the Days of robotics.
The program of Days of Robotics and Innovative Educational Technologies includes workshops, presentations, interactive lectures, seminars for teacher and other educational events.