A Welcoming Campus: BelSU’s World Café Connects Cultures

Belgorod National Research University (BelSU) brought together international and Russian students for a “World Café” event designed to break down stereotypes and build genuine cross-cultural understanding. The informal gathering was organized jointly by the BelSU VPITIPE Coordination Centre and the International Information Centre as part of the Region for the Young Project.

The “World Café” format encourages free-flowing conversation as participants move between tables, discussing topics related to culture, traditions, national identity, and common misconceptions. Students shared what their home countries mean to them, which dishes they would cook for foreign guests, and which traditions they find most unusual. They also challenged popular myths about their cultures and discovered unexpected common ground.

The event is part of a broader series titled “World Code,” aimed at fostering intercultural and interethnic dialogue within the university community.

Organizers emphasized that true understanding emerges from exactly this kind of relaxed, open exchange.