On September 27, Saratov State University hosted the opening of the University Shifts educational and tourist programme for high school students from the People's Republic of Donetsk. 48 schoolchildren from a new Russian region arrived at the university intensive.

Alongside the guests of the PRD, the opening ceremony was attended by SSU Rector Aleksei Chumachenko, Chair of the Saratov Region Youth Policy Committee Angelina Belovitskaya, Chair of the Council of the regional branch of the All-Russian social and state movement of children and youth, Movement of the First, Anna Popova, as well as activists of the Council of Undergraduates and Postgraduates. The members of the SSU Student Club had prepared creative performances for the guests.

‘University Shifts is a unique opportunity for many students to get acquainted with our university, its infrastructure, laboratories, courses. This is the introductory career guidance course that will help you, the participants of the project, find your future professional vocation in an interesting and entertaining way,’ Vladislav Kovalenko, the host of the event, a student of the Faculty of Sociology, addressed the audience.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the flags of the Russian Federation, Saratov Region, and the university were hoisted.

SSU Rector Aleksei Chumachenko in his welcoming speech told the participants of the shift about the opportunities that the university provided. ‘Usually, from three to four thousand first-year students gather at this square on September 1, we tell them about our university, its great history, and the contribution of the staff and students to the victory in the Great Patriotic War. But the main thing is the opportunities. These are the courses, research, and social projects. We want to show you much more than there is at the university – to tell you about all the projects that are available to young people today.’

On behalf of the regional government, Chair of the Saratov Region Youth Policy Committee Angelina Belovitskaya congratulated the high school students on the opening of the shift. ‘We welcome you to our city and Saratov State University. Many historical events have taken place in our region – the opening of the first theatre for young viewers, the first provincial conservatory, and the first cosmonaut landed here. There are opportunities for everything first, important, and iconic here. And these opportunities will be widely demonstrated for you today by the largest university in the region. Unique people are concentrated here. We are ready to share our knowledge and skills with you here, we have gathered innovative approaches both in research and work with young people,’ Angelina Belovitskaya assured the project participants.

Chair of the Council of the Movement of the First regional youth department Anna Popova addressed the schoolchildren. ‘You are really very lucky, you have come to our warm city, a university with a world name and a unique teaching staff. I would like you to gain new knowledge and get impressions about Saratov and its sights these days, as well as get acquainted with our culture and make friends with the people you will meet here.’

The second point of the shift opening programme was the meeting of the SSU rector with Donetsk schoolchildren. The moderator was Maria Chevtayeva, a youth worker of the Office of Youth Policy, SSU. High school students watched a video about Saratov State University, learned about the achievements of its scientists, athletes, social activists, the history of the campus, outstanding personalities who had left their mark on the biography of the university.

‘University Shifts is not only a university. Wider horizons are opening up to you. Do not miss the opportunity to get to the top, which today, perhaps, seems unattainable to you,’ the rector addressed the participants. By personal example, he explained that anything was possible when you had a goal and a desire to develop.

The schoolchildren asked a lot of questions to the rector about the peculiarities of the studies, scholarships, the number of state-funded places, and admission rules.

After the official part, they went on a tour of the campus.

The educational shift for schoolchildren from the PRD is held at Saratov State University from September 26 to October 5. For ten days, the children will have a rest and an eventful programme as part of the project, which is supervised by the Russian Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the Russian Ministry of Education, and the University Shifts Russian Movement of Children and Youth.

The University has prepared for the guests a lot of educational and entertainment events, as well as lectures from the leading teaching staff. The schoolchildren will visit the SSU laboratories, centres, and classrooms, Saratov museums, theatres, and see local attractions.

Creative meetings will be held with the Hero of Labour of Russia, Honoured Teacher of Russia Lyudmila Kornilova. Besides, the Good Deed of the First socially useful project, and the Implement Social Projects game will also take place.

SSU is the only university in the region that trains teaching staff, so the shift of the profile camp was called The Teachers of the Future.