Ideas of RIAC winter school on migration are materializing into specific projects

Ural State Mining University in Yekaterinburg on April 26, 2012 hosted a round table entitled Russian Language as a Path to Russia. It was attended by representatives of the Federal Migration Service of Sverdlovsk Region, regional state authorities, foreign diplomats, heads of national public organizations, public figures, businessmen and academics.

Ural State Mining University in Yekaterinburg on April 26, 2012 hosted a round table entitled Russian Language as a Path to Russia. It was attended by representatives of the Federal Migration Service of Sverdlovsk Region, regional state authorities, foreign diplomats, heads of national public organizations, public figures, businessmen and academics.

During the event, a new structural unit of the University – Centre for Testing of Russian as a Foreign Language – was opened. The first Russian language testing of foreign nationals, wishing to acquire Russian citizenship, was held on June 7. The first 11 candidates have successfully passed the exams and after some time will receive a state-recognized certificate.

Alexey Nikolaevich Starostin (Ph.D.) is the director of the Center and author of the idea of its creation. He is the deputy head of the Department of Theology, Ural State Mining University, and a journalist for many years, specializing on the issues of Islam in Russia and Central Asia, as well as issues of migration. He was lucky to take part in the first RIAC winter school "Migration in a Globalized World" largely thanks to which this Centre was created.

Centre for Testing of Russian
as a Foreign Language

"I would like to thank the Russian Council on Foreign Relations because coming to this school, I had a vague idea of creating the Centre, which would teach Russian language to migrants and integrate them into the Russian society, – says Alexey Starostin. – This issue became particularly relevant after President Vladimir Putin's pre-election article in which he urged for migrants to be tested in Russian language, history and law. I was lucky at the Winter School to hear the views of various experts on the subject and together with other participants during business games work out the business model of such an educational centre at the university. Returning from school, I began translating this idea into practice. Thanks to the leadership of the university, the Rector, Nikolai Petrovich Kosarev, and first pro-rector Mikhail Borisovich Nosyrev, who supported this idea. We signed a cooperation agreement with the International Test Centre of the Russian Peoples' Friendship University. Training was conducted there. After a while, the abstract idea was realized. Thank you very much to RIAC for the inspiration and the drive forward on making the dreams come true".

The opening of the Centre aroused unprecedented interest among journalists. After the activities conducted by the Centre, many reports, articles, and informational messages were published. Everyone is asking why a Humanities Centre in a technical university? "Ural State Mining University has extensive experience working with foreign students. The university has a Centre for promotion of national and cultural associations, and many social projects in the field of harmonization of inter-ethnic relations have been realized at the university. Therefore, the creation of the Russian language Centre, aimed at integrating foreign citizens into the Russian society, is not accidental, but quite intentional", – adds Alexey Starostin.

The plans of the young scientist include not just to work on training and testing of migrants in Russian language, but also participating in joint (together with public organizations and public authorities) programs for the integration of migrants, development and holding of courses for them on socio-cultural adaptation. Few people are engaged in this very important and necessary work. Also, the Centre plans to conduct empirical and sociological research aimed at identifying the needs of migrants, their main problems and needs.

Centre for Testing of Russian
as a Foreign Language

Already, the Centre for promotion of national and cultural associations and the Department of Theology, at the request of the Ministry of General and Vocational Education, are holding a large-scale case study "Monitoring of ethnic and religious processes in the Sverdlovsk Region (the problems of ethnic and religious relations)", which focuses on the study of migration processes in the Middle Urals and their influence on the ethnic and religious situation in the region.

Besides, with Alexey Starostin's participation, the Moscow publishing house, Medina, is currently preparing to release a collection of articles devoted to the analysis of various problems of migration and integration of migrants in host societies. Its presentation is scheduled for autumn 2012.

"The merit of the Russian Council on Foreign Relations is that it provides an opportunity for young scientists to meet with masters in any science fields, and talk with them as equals. This is very inspiring and stimulates further achievements, – says Alexey Starostin. – I want to again thank all the RIAC staff which is made up of creative and wonderful people. I look forward to making further progress in cooperation with the Council in a wide range of areas".