BelSU Hosts Inaugural BRICS Model Summit

Over the course of three days, students from leading universities across Russia will immerse themselves in the complexities of international diplomacy, advocating for the interests of the world's largest economies. This year's central theme is “Democratization of International Institutions through Representation of Countries of the Global South.” Participants will assume the roles of official representatives from their selected countries, formulating and defending their positions on pressing global issues.

During the opening ceremony, Nikolai Tsybulya, Vice-Rector and Director of the Department of International Cooperation at Belgorod National Research University (BelSU), welcomed the participants and shared impressive statistics on the university’s international student body. Currently, BelSU hosts over 4,500 international students, nearly 2,500 of whom hail from BRICS and partner countries. These numbers highlight BelSU's status as a premier educational platform for young people from these regions.

“The culmination of this summit will be the declaration of the first Belgorod Model BRICS Summit,” noted Tsybulya. “Through analysing speakers’ reports and engaging with summit materials, participants will develop research theses that will serve as the foundation for significant academic publications by both students and faculty. This work will also support students in completing their coursework and final theses.”

Vasily Dudarev, a leading researcher at the Institute of General History of the Russian Academy of Sciences and First Vice-Rector of the State Academic University for the Humanities, addressed the attendees with an inspiring welcome.

“It is a great honour for me to welcome you today,” Dudarev stated. “You are embarking on an exciting journey at a pivotal moment in history. We are witnessing the emergence of a new world order and global structure. I am confident that with your insights and expertise, those gathered at Belgorod University can achieve remarkable things.”

The event’s agenda is packed with three days of intensive work, negotiations, and the preparation of a final declaration. The inaugural Belgorod Model BRICS offers students a unique opportunity to learn about shifts in global politics and prepare themselves for future roles in shaping these dynamics.