In 2022, graduates from 21 countries will receive diplomas from the Siberian Federal University — those who once found Krasnoyarsk on the map, chose the Siberian Federal University as their place of study and decided to spend several years of their lives here. In this article, three foreign graduates will tell how their Russian students went. Different countries, different stories. Someone completed the first stage of education in their native country, and came to SibFU only for a master's degree. And someone came to Krasnoyarsk, not knowing a word of Russian, studied the language for a whole year, then to study in the main program.
Belyak Ksenia (Kazakhstan), School of Business Management
«I came fr om Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan. I studied Project Management at the School of Business Management, and I liked the School so much that after receiving my bachelor’s degree, I decided to stay in Krasnoyarsk and entered SibFU for a master’s degree. During my bachelor studies, I was immersed in the study of the essence of projects, and now in the master’s program we deepen the theory.
I entered SibFU together with my friend — it’s coming to a foreign city in another country is not so scaring if you go not alone. We studied together, helped each other and stood at the origins of the founding of Altyn — the Kazakhstan union of students. This name was chosen in the general vote, altyn means “gold”, and for us it is about the value of friendship and unity of Kazakh students.
It is similar with all the communities within the Peoples Friendship Centre. Tajiks, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Armenians — all the guys are very open to communication. The representation of each nationality, including cultural communities, is a necessary practice for international universities.
SibFU is an international university, students come here fr om various countries, both near and far abroad. A funny fact is that we became friends with the guys from Kyrgyzstan — a close neighbor of Kazakhstan — nowhere but here, in Siberia.
For 6 years of living in Krasnoyarsk, this city has become truly dear to me. I really like to walk around the city, go to Stolby Natural Park or the Mana River. One can say that I feel like a Siberian, but it is still very difficult for me to survive the Siberian winter and a minus-40-degree frost.
After my coming graduation, I am going to stay in Krasnoyarsk, because during my studies I have made many friends and my lovey. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to continue my university career. Now my main goal is to defend my thesis and get a job suitable for my professional goals.»
Medina Pacompia Rudy Soler (Peru), Polytechnic School
«I received a bachelor's degree in my homeland — in Peru (Universidad Peruana Unión), wh ere I still have a supervisor-researcher. It was he who told me about the opportunities that I can get abroad. I felt good in my country, but I really wanted to do research and was looking for job opportunities abroad. I saw great potential in the development of technologies in agriculture in Russia, which is why I started looking for training opportunities in here.
My journey in Russia began in Belgorod, wh ere I studied Russian for six months. There were many difficulties, sometimes it seemed to me that I was the worst student in the group, but then I looked around and realized that if I was here (at a university in another country!) I was already among the best. It motivated me; I remembered why I was here. I had a goal in front of me, and I sat over books from morning to evening.
Now I live in Siberia and I am finishing my master's degree at the Polytechnic School of Siberian Federal University and I am already working at Дары Малиновки (Lit.: Gifts of the village of Malinovka) company. I work in process automation, the Internet of things, machine learning, and artificial intelligence in agriculture. For example, we can automate watering or heating. The more I work, the more opportunities I have. Work and study now is a reward for all the difficulties that I have experienced.
The first year, I got into the company of Latinos and did not miss home. I have some close Russian friends here, and I have a lot in common with these people. These people mean a lot to me — they're like a family. In Russia, I realized that friends are those who will always support you and come to your aid in a difficult moment. If in my home country friends are the ones you hang out and have fun with, then everything is different here. I am very grateful to the people around me, they are like a family, and they always help and do a lot for me. They ask me what I need and come to my aid. It’s a “wow” for me, I feel important.
When I said I wanted to be a research engineer, they laughed at me, and now I’m here. I am happy that I am doing the job I have always dreamed of, thanks to SibFU for this opportunity. I am grateful to all who are around me and help me, thanks to them I am in my place.»
Azhar Alamanova (Kyrgyzstan), School of Fundamental Biology and Biotechnology
«How did I end up at SibFU? Oh, it’s a very twisted story. The fact is that my grandfather is a geographer and an academician, my parents are environmentalists, since childhood I grew up in an environment closely connected with nature, and at school I participated in biology Olympiads. But after school, I did not immediately decide what I would like to do, and I enrolled in linguistics in Bishkek. I studied English and literature for a year, but I realized that this is not what I need. I entered SibFU on recommendation, the son of our friends studied here. Through him I found out about the university, he told me that everything is very cool here, so I decided to retrain here for a biologist.
In my 3rd year I was engaged in the mobilization of luminous bacteria for their further use as a biotest, in the 4th — started working on immobilization of enzymes isolated from these bacteria. Now, after biophysics, I am thrilled with genomics and would like to further develop in this field.
Now I am considering a master’s degree at our university, I follow my intuition. I like the approach to learning at our School. I already know some of the lecturers who work on the master’s program, I know how they teach, and I would like to continue working with them. As a scientist in the laboratory of the School, I have enough of everything. There is equipment here that I used for my thesis.
To be honest, I didn't think it would be so hard when I came here. During the first six months of adaptation, I realized that I really miss my homeland. I feel good here, but I lack what has surrounded me since childhood. It can be hard for me at times, but when I think that I will return and work for the good of my country, it becomes easier. My family supports me greatly.
In the future, I would like to develop in science and teach, but in Kyrgyzstan, I want to develop science there, perhaps contribute to education, popularization of science among young people, because back home, we really do not have enough scientists.»
