Saratov University organised the Russian Language Interuniversity Olympiad for international students entitled The Mosaic of Russian Words on March 25. It was held on the eve of the Fourth Festival "RCT in SSU". The event is traditionally organized by two university departments: the Institute of Philology and Journalism and the SSU Office of International Affairs.

More than 130 people studying at Saratov universities took part in the Olympiad: N.G. Chernyshevsky SSU, P.A. Stolypin PIU – a branch of RANEPA under the President of the Russian Federation, Saratov State Law Academy, Saratov State University of Genetics, Biotechnology and Engineering named after N. I. Vavilov, L. V. Sobinov SGC, SSMU named after V. I. Razumovsky, Gagarin State Technical University. Among them are students from Algeria, Afghanistan, Haiti, Honduras, Egypt, Zimbabwe, India, Iraq, Cyprus, China, Congo, Lebanon, Canada, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

The director of the Institute of Philology and Journalism of SSU Lyudmila Borisova addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. Lyudmila Sergeevna congratulated those present on the opening of the festival and wished them success in completing tasks. The director also expressed gratitude to the members of the organizing committee – the Department of Russian Language, Speech Communication and Russian as a Foreign Language of the Institute of Foreign Languages, Professor Alla Baikulova, Professor Tatyana Milekhina, Associate Professor Olga Neznayeva, and Assistant Elena Malashenkova,

L.S. Borisova gave the floor to the initiator and ideological inspirer of the festival "RCU in SSU" Professor Elena Yelina. "The role of the Russian language as the language of interethnic communication is increasing with great force. Russian is an interesting and important language and that the Russian language is an ambassador of Russian culture, mentality, and idea, which is very much in demand in the world today. Half of humanity today proudly says that the Russian language is interesting, important and that the Russian language is an ambassador of Russian culture, mentality, and idea. We really hope that the Russian language will take its rightful place in the whole world," said Elena Genrikhovna. She wished the participants good luck and expressed hope that the Russian language would open up new horizons for them.

Then SSU Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitrii Konakov addressed the students: "First of all, I would like to welcome students here, because today is your day. You are facing a difficult but interesting task. Russian Russian Olympiads, of course, will allow you to get to know the Russian language and culture better and, upon returning home, to convey your love for Russia and the Russian language to friends and acquaintances. Allow me, on behalf of the Rector of Saratov University, Professor Aleksei Chumachenko, to convey my best wishes to you. May the strongest win."

This year's program includes a round table "The Russian language in the refraction of cultures", a methodological laboratory "Successful practices in teaching RCT" and a linguistic quiz for foreign students of Saratov universities.

The results of the intellectual competition will be announced on April 5 and will be posted on the website of Saratov University. The winners who won prizes and their teachers will be invited to be awarded at the closing ceremony of the Fourth Festival "RCU in SSU" on April 6.