On February 16th, students from the People's Republic of China, who are obtaining their education at South Ural State University, together with their Russian friends and teachers, celebrated the coming of the New Year according to the traditional Chinese calendar.
More than 1300 students from China study at SUSU. And celebration of the Chinese New Year has long become a good tradition for our university, so that these students can feel at home even if they are thousands of kilometres away from it.
A bright and colourful festivity was held at the Sigma university building: students had prepared a festive program with creative performances and interesting master classes.
Vice-Rector for Student and Social Affairs Anastasiia Lapo congratulated the students:
“I am happy to welcome all of you to our traditional festive event. There is a big community of namely students from China at our university, and it is important to preserve your culture where you study and to enrich the cultures of each other. Today we will learn how New Year is celebrated in our countries!”
Our exchange students, who are currently obtaining their education in China, had recorded a greetings video conveying the festive atmosphere at the Chinese students’ home country.
Head of the International Student Support Dariia Korotkhikh congratulated the students on behalf of the International Office:
“Here in Russia, we have a wonderful tradition: summarizing the results of the year that is about to pass on the New Year’s Eve. So, today I would like to share with you on all our joint victories and achievements! More than 2500 international students from 57 countries study at SUSU, and 1336 of them are students from China! Our university and the People's Republic of China have a long history of partnering relationships. On behalf of the International Office, my congratulations on the Chinese New Year to all of you!”
Students from the Institute of Linguistics and International Communications had prepared music and dance performances: Russian students sang songs about love and home in Chinese, while students from China sang New Year songs in Chinese and English.
In addition, two master classes were held for the festivity participants: one on calligraphy, and the other on making Chinese New Year ornaments.
Over the course of the whole event, students had a chance to take part in a quiz and test their knowledge of Chinese traditions. To wrap up the festivity, Head of the Methodical Support Office of the National Unity Centre Olga Pilogeikina talked to the students about the Russian traditions of celebrating New Year.