Bridging Cultures: BelSU Celebrates Russian Students' Day with Palestinian Connections

At the invitation of the Palestinian side, the Mahmoud Darwish Center for Arabic Language and Culture at Belgorod National Research University (BelSU) organized the teleconference in collaboration with the Russian House in Bethlehem. 

Elena Nazarenko and Mai Alradwan, staff members from the BelSU International Cooperation Department, along with Dr. Mohammed Hassan Najadjra, Director of the Sergei Yesenin Centre for Russian Language and Culture at Al-Istiqlal University, hosted the event. Hani Marwan Hashem Rajab, a BelSU resident physician and the founder and general coordinator of the international initiative RusJo, also participated in the meeting.

Ekaterina Barakat, the coordinator of the Science and Education Department at the Russian House in Bethlehem, addressed the international audience, congratulating both undergraduate and graduate students on the January holidays – Russian Students’ Day and Postgraduate Student Day. She emphasized that these online meetings, now a tradition between the Russian and Palestinian centres, play a vital role in strengthening ties between their respective countries.

The teleconference provided students at the Russian House in Bethlehem with insights into the traditions surrounding Student Day in Russia, as well as information about the life and scientific contributions of the renowned Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov. Participants also learned about the activities of the BelSU Mahmoud Darwish Centre for Arabic Language and Culture and had their questions answered regarding life and study in Russia, including educational programs at BelSU and the university's scientific and sociocultural initiatives.

Palestinian students showed particular interest in the university's “Belgorod Lilac” project, which involves launching a small satellite carrying lilac shoots cloned at BelSU. Thanks to the efforts of university scientists and specialists from the Botanical Garden, lilacs bloom at Belgorod State University each winter on St. Tatyana’s Day.

A highlight of the teleconference was a speech by Hani Marwan Hashem Rajab, who discussed the professional and academic opportunities available to international students in Russia. He also introduced participants to the mission of the RusJo initiative, which fosters cultural and professional connections between Russia and Jordan.