Testimonials

Stan Kesrtjens

The integration of cultural and academic activities were very fitting for the "Open your mind to Russia" course. The elements of Russian language, history, and business culture come alive in the contexts that St. Petersburg and it surroundings provide. My views of Russia and its values have changed as much as could be expected from a three-week program, due to the flexibility of the programme both in and outside the classroom. Exceeding the formalities of the programme, the uniquely internation composition of the student population, spanning east and west, offers a remarkable environment reflecting the international position of Russia.

Stan Kesrtjens, Maastricht University, Netherlands (Summer School 2016, module “Open Your Mind to Russia 2016”)
Michele Paravano

The whole program exceeded my initial expectations. The courses I followed were well structured and the teachers well prepared. I feel like I gained much knowledge and will certainly help my curriculum and my university studies. Saint Petersburg has amazed me in terms of its greatness: the historical buildings are richly decorated and full of history. I have nothing but dear memories from this experience and I hope I’ll be able to go back to Saint Petersburg soon!

Michele Paravano, Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy (Summer School 2018 “Biomedical Engineering”, “Russian Language for Business Communication”)
Javier Sanz Saez

This summer in Saint Petersburg has been quite a life-changing experience. I have always loved everything related to space programs and space communications, and this course has shown me a really interesting approach to this field. Above all, I loved the internationality of the course, which has allowed me to make very useful acquaintances.

Javier Sanz Saez, Technical University of Madrid, Spain (Summer School 2018, “Space Technologies”)
De Souza Lucas Eduardo

Now that I have just finished my studies in Russia I can say with no doubts that I have a deeper comprehension about this unique country. What I most liked about my experience in the Summer Program was the opportunity to study and live together with many people from all over the world, Bulgaria, Finland, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, Romania, the United States, including also other places from Russia! For sure this is not a mere opportunity, but an exercise for peace and fraternity. It is also incredible when you have a group of professionals who are ready to welcome you and offer the foreign students a valuable assistance in so many ways. The trips organized by the coordinators are the highest point of a mature project which learnt that a complete educational experience must go beyond the ordinary classroom. Furthermore, Saint Petersburg is one of the places with greater cultural potential in the world! I strongly recommend this international experience!

De Souza Lucas Eduardo, UNESP, Brazil (Summer School 2015, module “Open Your Mind to Russia”)
Mario Nogales Pastrana

I would have never imagined how a three-week course could change someone in such a good way. Nowadays, I am definitely not the same person who landed in Saint Petersburg on the 16th of August. Behind me, I left a great university, one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited and many nice people I am sure I will meet again. But I am taking back home much more. I have discovered a new country and a new culture from inside with the help of local people (such as our tutors, coordinators and teachers) and with the company of a diverse international group that both contributed to make a brilliant and unique experience

 

Mario Nogales Pastrana, Polytechnical University of Madrid, Spain (Summer School 2014, module “Civil Engineering and Design”)