South Ural State University pays much attention to work with students: here everyone can display their talents, find a hobby, or receive assistance. The SUSU Acting Vice-Rector for Student and Social Affairs Anton Manuylov shares on what opportunities are open for SUSU students besides studies, on the adaptation events for freshmen, and on many other things.
– Could you please tell us what events aimed at the adaptation to university life are organized for freshmen?
– Every year, South Ural State University develops a whole series of events aimed at helping freshmen adapt to the educational process. And those start already from day one of studies. First and foremost, this is the World of Opportunities festival for freshmen, which was held in front of the main university building on August 31st. The event began with a welcome speech from the Rector, a figurative hand over of the Student ID Card to freshmen, and closed with a celebratory concert.
The next key event intended to help our university’s first-year students adapt is the Successful SUSU event. This is another traditional event, which is held at our university every year. The main goal is to introduce students to the multitude of various public organisations and student associations, which are functioning at our university, so that each student could find an activity to their liking and spend their free time on it.
In addition, we are preparing a number of interesting sporting events. In particular, in September we are planning a bicycle race, in which more than 50 freshmen will participate, along with our other colleagues and university staff members. During the 2 hours of the race, the participants will cover the distance from the monument to Kurchatov to the future interuniversity campus. Also, the SUSU Tourist Club is planning to organize a camping trip.
Another key event for freshmen will, of course, be the students’ visit to our Museum of SUSU History. We hope that all first-year students will manage to visit this museum during the period from September through October. The museum staff will prepare a fascinating excursion for them.
Besides that, the university schools and institutes will also come up with their own events aimed at helping freshmen adapt to the educational process.
– What events await all SUSU students during this academic year?
– There is no doubt that all the traditional events that we held last year will be organized this year as well. First and foremost, those include such important for students events as the SUSU’s Best Representatives, when we honour our best students, who become winners in certain nominations. This year, we will organize many interesting campaigns dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of our university: an exhibition of student works, a festive gala concert, a flash mob that will engage the whole university, and much more.
Also, we are planning many events for the second academic semester: Students Day, and events dedicated to the holidays of February 23rd and March 8th.
This year, we are launching many new interesting projects. In particular, a student tourism project has already started. On one hand, within this project, our university will welcome students from other universities and regions, and on the other hand, we will also send our students on various trips to other regions.
In addition, we have launched a new project called “I Take Pride” student patriotic club. It is aimed at providing students with information, knowledge and teach them to adopt values of their small Motherland. Within this project we will hold events dedicated to the history of our university, our city and our region. Those will include round tables, conferences, various topical events, film screening, and so on.
– What student associations are functioning at our university?
– First and foremost, this is the Student Union, which will be happy to welcome all students. Those also include unions within the university schools, institutes, and dormitories, where students can create communities for organizing their recreation activities, solving problems, or interacting with the administration on this or that issue.
Also, there is a Student Trade Union Committee, which provides students with an opportunity to, among other things, participate in and organize various events. Our university has multiple student creativity teams: dancing, choir, vocals, music, KVN association, and many others.
As for sports, SUSU also has many sports clubs to offer. Among the key ones are the Polytechnic ice hockey team, football and basketball teams. Sports are being actively developed at the university, and we hope that freshmen, among other activities, will also join the sports life of our university.
In fact, there is quite a variety of opportunities for SUSU students. All depends on your willingness to apply your talents in this or that field. As for the university, we are always ready to provide the opportunities for self-fulfilment of students in any type of activity, be that sports, science, creativity, public affairs, or student self-government.
– What does civic and national education include at SUSU?
– Patriotic education at our university is included in all events. It is important to note that patriotism is not just the love to your our own country. It also means the love to your small Motherland, that is, to your university and your city. And it is very important to teach students the knowledge and adopt the values of our university and our region.
Obviously, these include the key events related to the history of our country: National Unity Day, Defender of the Fatherland Day, International Women's Day, and Victory Day. The most crucial thing is that the format of the events is, first, an interesting and interactive one, and second, a useful and informational one, so that students could learn something new and important for themselves.
This year, we have successfully held the annual Victory Waltz, already as a city-wise event, where students from other universities also took part. I think that next year we will continue this nice tradition, and our university will become the city venue for holding this milestone event.
Also, during the academic year, many students will get a chance to combine their studies with working in student construction teams. Some of them will be engaged in the works related to construction of the new interuniversity campus.
– What could you wish to SUSU students? What is the best way for them to uncover their potential at our university?
– You must remember that you have only 24 hours every day, but you can do it. Obviously, first and foremost, you must study, obtain knowledge, skills and quality education so that you could succeed in life.
But education only is not enough. That is why you must seize all the opportunities our university has to offer. So, I wish the freshmen to not be afraid of trying and applying their talents and capabilities in various activities. You will definitely find something to your liking.
I would also like to say that this year we will continue to form a comfortable environment at our university. Just recently, we have opened a new space for students and university staff members – a cafeteria in the laboratories building. Currently, we are completing the works on opening the second student centre, which will be located in dormitory No.2. This will be a new place of attraction, a venue for students, where they can organize their events, meetings, or simply socialize. And we also have grand plans on improving our other functioning spaces.
I sincerely wish that our students also get involved in this work. The main principle of our university’ youth policy is that everything is being done not only for students, but also with the effort of students themselves. We cannot do without their active participation. That is why I wish that all students are not afraid of trying their hand at new fields of activities, be enthusiastic and feel free to participate in the fulfilment of our most interesting projects.